ECLECTICA 2: ACOUSTICA
compiled December 1998 by Paul Estin

Here is another collection of some of my favorite humorous, fun, 
and/or just plain weird music.  This time around the focus is on folk 
and folk-ish songs, placed on a CD with each other so as to stand out 
better than if they were “drowned out” by being placed amongst rock 
songs with greater acoustic volume and depth.

The disc starts with a “food” motif, thematically joined with the two 
food-related tracks on Eclectica #1.  “Family Restaurant” (1+2) is off 
of “Myn Ynd Wymyn” (1988) by Uncle Bonsai, one of at least three 
bands founded by the incomparable Andrew Ratshin.  “Born To Run” 
(3) is by Rob Carlson, an uncredited track from the multi-talented 
Christine Lavin’s “Laugh Tracks” compilation (1996).  Christine 
herself follows with “Cold Pizza For Breakfast” (4) from her “Future 
Fossils” album (1986), then it’s on to Cheryl Wheeler’s “Potato” (5), 
also from “Laugh Tracks.”  Finally, we get the very catchy vegetable 
rights song “Carrot Juice Is Murder” (6+7) by the Canadian group 
The Arrogant Worms, originally from their album “Russell’s Shorts”  
(1994), though the version here is from their concert album Live Bait 
(1997).  I prefer this version because part of the fun of this song is its 
melodic prettiness, which is enhanced by the added vocal harmony 
absent from the studio cut.

Next, a mix of songs on different topics.  John Forster is an artist to 
whose work I was recently introduced; he’s sort of a mix of Tom 
Lehrer and Frank Zappa.  His song “Helium” (8) is a bizarre ditty 
which comes from the album of the same name (1997).  Next is 
“Little Skipper” (9) by Mel Cooleys, another Seattle group founded 
by Andrew Ratshin; this song, from 1993’s “Live (?) in Seattle,” is, I 
suppose, a quirky continuation of a theme started by “Barbie Girl” on 
Eclectica #1.  Tom Smith, Michigan filk singer extraordinaire, 
follows with a selection apparently based on Larry Niven’s “Man of 
Steel, Woman of Kleenex” essay.  “Superman Sex Life Boogie” (10) 
is from his first CD (he also has two preceding cassettes), “Plugged” 
(1997).  Next, the Animaniacs return, this time with a fun song about 
our place in the cosmos, “Yakko’s Universe” (11), from the 
“Animaniacs” CD (1993).

The ubiquitous Christine Lavin then presents a movie in the form of a 
song, “Doris & Edwin” (13+14).  Originally from “Beau Woes And 
Other Problems Of Modern Life” (1987), this version is from “Live 
At The Cactus Cafe” (1993). The Foremen have the slight problem 
that their hilarious politcally-themed songs, filled with word-play and 
pointed commentary, are so topical that they get dated rather quickly.  
However, “Hell Froze Over Today” (15) has not only aged fine so 
far, but arguably got more topical after its first release.  It’s from 
“Folk Heroes” (1995).  Also taken from the headlines, but from much 
earlier newspapers, is the classic “The Vatican Rag” (16), probably 
my favorite Tom Lehrer song, from “That Was The Year That Was” 
(1965).  Vince Gilbert, “authentic African-American folk artist,” 
provides the genre-scrambling “Country Western Rap” (17), from 
“Laugh Tracks” again.

The last set of songs has an “on the road” theme.  Actually, the first 
song, “Blowin’ In The Wind” (18), by the Chenille Sisters and taken 
from “Laugh Tracks,” has nothing to do with roads after the first 
couple lines, but I hope you’ll enjoy its look at their “updating” (read: 
complete rewrite with a different topic) of Bob Dylan.  Next comes 
John Forster again, this time with “Entering Marion” (19), which 
warms the cockles of my Massachusetts-bred heart.  It can be found 
on the album “Entering Marion” (1993), although this version, which 
I prefer, is off of “Big Times In A Small Town—The Vineyard 
Tapes” (1993), another compilation led by Christine Lavin.  Also 
concerning Mass. transit is Greg Greenway’s “Massachusetts” (20), 
from “Laugh Tracks.”  Free Hot Lunch follows with two 
contributions, “I Hate To Wake Up Sober In Nebraska” (21) and 
“Hymn #694” (22) (an ode to the Interstate Highway System), both 
from the album “Eat This” (1988).  The penultimate song on this 
compilation, “Follow That Road” (23) by Anne Hills, is actually the 
only non-humorous song on this mix.  It’s just a really pretty tune, is 
all.  It’s from yet another Christine Lavin compilation, this one 
named after the song, “Follow That Road” (1994).

Finally, things end with the short and to-the-point “Malcolm” (24), 
by The Arrogant Worms off the “Live Bait” album.

ABOUT THE COVER:
Yours truly, attempting to plug an amp into my acoustic guitar. A 
digitized still from videocamera.