dogs (like Cochese and Preach in Cooley High) and anti-heroes like Scorcese’s Travis Bickle. We showed The Man Who Would Be King, a perfect rear-view mirror of the British Empire movies Clifford remembers. But, brilliant as Huston’s epic was, it didn’t sell very many tickets. Who wanted white men or Alexander the Great’s lost kingdom? We had our own home-grown mean streets. Hence the two kids at the box office, one clearly under age, the other hardly mature.
Afterthought 1: A fuller glimpse of the Hays Code shows its filthy underside. Buried in the list of things it prohibited ("excessive and lustful kissing,” "sex perversion,” “profanity” and "indecent or undue exposure”) is, no kidding, “miscegenation,” a word I sincerely hope you’ve either forgotten the meaning of or never knew.
Afterthought 2: Clifford Browder, mentioned in this post, is also a terrific blogger, whose beat is all things NYC. Check it out!I am, admittedly, not completely unbiased here. Jed has become one of my closest musical friends, and Producer Paul Mills is just as close. But I would encourage you strongly to give a listen to this CD. For those that already have Jed's other CD's, you may think you know what to expect. Jed will exceed those expectations. This is, hands down, his best yet. And it may be one of the best out there. No matter how you cut this one, be it lyrics, tunes, instrumental quality, arrangement, production, it is clearly one of the best CD's you will hear.
For the most part, these songs are all originals by Jed. I have come to know that there will always be at least one song on his CD's that will show his heart and his wisdom. On this CD that song is "The Locket". Jed's Mom had Alzheimer's and lived with Jed and Louisa in Dallas for a while. The story recounts the time they spent together. To me the essence lies in the line, "does she know my name today? And does that really matter anyway?". So often, and understandably so, children of aged Alzheimer's patients are distraught that there beloved parents don't recognize them. But this gentle man delivers the message that life can be cruel, but after a lifetime of love and caring, it is only important that you have the time. It is important that you remember the love. I listened to this song with tears running down my face.
"Con Este Beso" and "Mama's Lilly" demonstrate, once again, the empathic abilities of Jed Marum. He has always had a way of reading an account of an event or a life story, and sinking into it. He "feels" what this must have been like. And then he makes it come to life for us. Such is the case with these two songs.
"White Cockade" is another favorite of mine. I thought I had a secret treasure trove in an out of print book entitled "1000 Years of Irish Poetry". Our Mudcat friend, Philipa, turned me on to this one a number of years ago. Jed discovered it, and this is a song he wrote to one of the poems.
There are 15 tracks on this CD, and I haven't even begun to cover my favorites. I believe this will be his most successful effort yet. Congratulations to my fellow Beef Brothers, Jed and Paul, for an amazing effort. This project is sure to be a success.
Our big move is over.----- It's chaos here and we're living out of boxes in a too small apartment while ours is being renovated.---To relax, of course, I had to look in and see what's going on with Mudcat---and I just found this thread. --- I must join Mick in saying that I'm sure this is going to be talked about as one of the best folk recordings of the year. The entire project was a labor of love for Jed and for all the talented musicians involved. And it all comes through in the end result. It's just a fine listening experience. Jed's songs can transport the listener back and forth through time like the best of the older folksongs---but the musical tales he's giving us are real poetry from now that links us beautifully to then. Combined with Jed's fine voice and lovely tunes are, on this CD especially, an extra stellar group of backup musicians and singers. Producer Paul Mills' (Curly Boy Stubbs') stellar guitar and mandolin work is here, and I'll search out any recording that Paul is on because I know how tasteful and plain great his inventive picking always is. Mick Lane's singing, Tom Leighton's various keyboards, Brian McNeil's superb fiddle---everything just works so damn well---. This is simply what folk music in this new century ought to be about. It's one you can buy blind and be happy you got it all the way through---every track. Mick, I'm glad you started this thread.
Mine is on order so no comment yet. Mick failed to mention that he is on this one.
Thanks, Mick and Sinsull for putting this up, I just ordered a copy.
I'm glad to hear the glowing reports and I wish I'd be able to accept Jed's invitation to hit a few licks but I couldn't made the session.
I'm sure it will be grand.
We have our copy and played the 'White Cockade' last week on our radio show (Folk on Sunday, Kidnapper's Community Radio, Hastings, New Zealand), and the 'Ballad of Thomas Higgins' yesterday.
Yes, Robyn, I see why you featured those two songs. I love what he did with The White Cockade.
The Ballad of Thomas Higgins is another one of those where Jed read the story of a man, read his words, sunk into the individual and came up with a beauty of a song.
Higgins was born in slavery on a Georgia plantation. He escaped slavery using the Underground Railroad. The skipper of the bark Charles Morgan took him aboard and he spent his life whaling. His story is a fascinating one. And like the very best songwriters, Jed gives you just enough to want to know more. It is a wonderful work.
BTW, Jed's newest sound clips at CDBaby are LONG. If anyone needs a preview before buying-- no excuses, have a listen!
I really appreciate when artists do this-- hang up long clips. I use that kind of clip-generosity well, often learning whole songs from the clips while anxiously awaiting the arrival of the hard copy (for the car) and the liner notes with all the lovely detail.
I too have just finished listening to Jed's new CD - several times - in the car over the weekend.
What a powerful collection of songs!
the very first one out of the chute, Mary McGuill is a beauty about immigration into Texas from Ireland in the 19th century.
I've always liked Jed singing Look Ahead Tommy - another family story about immigration handed down thro' several generations. Evocative box-playing by Tom Leighton.
My personal favorite: The Locket. I played this for a few friends and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. I didn't sing it, I played it on my CD player!
There's one passing chord in the chorus that helps bind the whole thing together. I loved that touch, Jed.
Anyone with an older, ailing parent - especially with Alzheimer's - will identify immediately with this song. I know I did.
Th Ballad of Thomas Higgins is set to the Patriot Game, I believe. Great story about a runaway slave who signs on a whaler out of New Bedford and becomes an invaluable crew member.
Every track is a beaut!
I'll be purchasing a few copies as gifts for friends, for sure.
Thanks folks - for the kind comments. I am most appreciative, more then I can say.
I am off to New Orleans in the morning, for the rest of this week - to see if I can sell a few at O'Flaherty's! It has been selling well, and is beginning to get some airplay... I am hopeful!
Yes, Thomas Higgins is set to the Patriot Game - I found the melody somehow appropriate, and I've always loved it.
We had a bit of a reunion last weekend with some of the players on the album; Paul Mills and Tom Leighton played the North Texas Irish Festival with me and we did a number of the songs. We did a few from the last one too, and a couple of new ones. What a treat! We also had my friends Keith and Betty Waddoups on whistle/flute and bodhran.
Thanks Mick, Art, Sinsull, Chance, Robyn, Susan, and Seamus!
Congrats on the new release. I've checked out the sound clips and I can't wait to hear this one!
Rich Warren's Midnight Special out of Chicago has you in his "Hit Picks" of the week list. Check the link bellow.
I've sent you several messages re Stanfest. Time is running out so please get in touch.
Mine is on order so no comment yet.  Actually, mine hasn't arrived yet either, but since I've already heard all but 2 of the songs in other contexts, I'll comment now...
Big Mick and others have already described well why Jed's songs are so compelling. Another thing that I find striking about his songwriting talent is how consistent it