Album Notes

"With her vintage take on Americana, Abby Lappen hit the Folk fest circuit and released the magical CD, Outside the Box. Lappen doesn't limit herself stylistically, jumping through the worlds of Jazz, Blues, Gospel and great American standards on the disc. But it's Lappen's sweet, soulful vocals that are the main draw." City Beat Cincinati's News and Entertainment Weekly 9/23

"Dig it: That "Little Boxes" song currently serving as the theme to the TV show Weeds (Lappen does her own great version), Over the Rhine, Victoria Williams" (MB)

Joining Abby on this album are Michael Carr, mandolin and lead guitar, Jay Gerald,lead guitar and drums, Jonathan Talbot and Tanya Huang, violin, Carly McKenney, Harmonica and Seth Travins, bass.

The cover song is an adaptation of "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds. The changes occur in both the lyrics and style of the recording. Abby does a gospel/blues arrangement played on her bass marimba; also featured in the cover art.

"Barnyard Blues" was written after playing all night at a song swap up on the hill at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. There is no greater appreciation of dawn than after a night of music. It gives great perspective on how polar the world really is.

Falcon Ridge was also the inspiration for "Mass Infatuation". The song came through the din on the mid-way on a beautiful afternoon.

Abby must have played "This Song" 100 times over on September 11th. It gave her some peace. She wrote "Canyons" one year later. They both have a meditative quality for her as she practices. The lyrics "glass parade" refer to the World Trade Towers. Her old friend Doug Brodoff wrote a song for a dance piece she choreographed back in Yellow Springs not too long after the towers were built. He had a line in there "Can't see the sunset from 14th St., but you can see it just fine from the towers. World of trade, it's a glass parade..." The reference is subtle but present.