Album Notes

This is the perfect Holiday gift! There's Music for every taste! Take a listen to what we have and have a Merry Christmas!! Ira McDonald makes his home on the Upper Peninsula of Lake Superior in Grand Marais, Mi. "Happy Toes" feartures his full guitar style covering multiple layers of voicing.
For nearly thirty years Stephen Lee Rich has delighted audiences with his mix of traditional, contemporary, and original songs combined with a healthy dose of comedy and yodeling. His first song for "Acoustic Dog" is an energetic version of the Hoyt Axton song "Sweet Misery". Stephen Lee's solo release, "Facing Monday", will be available from Pachanga Records on July 26th.
Brad Belt's songwriting covers many genres of music and is influenced by such diverse songsmiths as Bob Dylan,
John Prine, Randy Newman, and Don Henley. Brad sings, plays guitar, and produces recordings at Mad Mama Studio in Marion, IL. He is currently serving as regional workshop coordinator for the Nashville Songwriters Association. His song "Grandpa Was My Friend" is a fine example of the sort of thing that folkies do best.
While he is most renowned for playing contemporary Chicago Blues, and as one of the pioneers of the Contemporary Roadhouse Style, Mr.Blues is an extremely versatile musician well versed in all of the blues styles, as well as jazz, funk, rock, and country. As a session man for Pachanga Records, he has graced Maddrum Sonando's CD "Expresiones Cribenas", Tawl Paul's "Watchin' That Train", Stephen Lee Rich's "Facing Monday", and is currently producing a jazz album for us. His first contribution to this anthology is called "Whenever You Guys Are Ready".
Stephen Lee Rich's original song "Mudball" has a bit of a strange twist to it. Dark as the song is, Stephen Lee swears up, down, and sideways that he was in one of the best moods of his life on the day he wrote it.
"Singing" brings us back to Ira McDonald in an interesting chordal adventure complete with a jazz trio accomaniment which captures his musical leanings beatifully.
This and "Happy Toes" represent his only recorded work to date.
For sixteen years Tawl Paul has worked in the Carbondale, IL and St.Louis, MO. areas. Paul's incredibly deep, rich voice resonates through this Leadbelly standard, "There's a Man Goin' 'Round Takin' Names". Paul is a legendary fixture in the region and "Watchin' That Train", his first release on Pachanga Records, has won much critical acclaim.
Born in Watertown, WI, Clyde Hady now resides in Lake Mills, WI. Although primarily a songwiter, he does occasionally perform. "Tired of the Same Old Song" is a fine showcase for both talents.
Mr.Blues returns with "Watchin' That Train". You didn't think that we were going to produce a folk album without a train song, did you?
In "Bongo Box" Jeff Lisk (the mad genius, head producer, chief cook, and bottle washer for Pachanga Records) is featured on the Bongo Madera; a wooden drum with a playing surface also made of a thin, wood veneer.
When he is not playing with Maddrum Sonando (whose CD "Expresiones Caribenas" can also be purchased from CDBaby) he produces recordings like this one.
And let's not forget Katie the Acoustic Dog. Have fun!