Album Notes

Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost is American Music at its best. The godfather of Midwestern DIY is surrounded by a young, soulful group of St. Louis musicians as he sings ballads of love lost, friends found, sad soldiers, and back street affairs. The music is raw, driving, and true - truly a gift to anyone willing to open the package.

The story begins with a brush against death and ends with these recordings. While Bob was in the hospital recovering from emergency heart surgery, he was visited by a young, up-and-coming blues guitar player (Mat Wilson, Rum Drum Ramblers). The two formed a friendship that would eventually lead to the creation of Alley Ghost. Mat continued to visit Bob as he recovered in his home - the two would trade stories and songs, passing the guitar back and forth. As the songs of Bob's past began to take life, a band was recruited to record them - in Bob's kitchen on a reel-to-reel, at his own request. Pots, pans & stovetops lend their hand among harmonica, banjolin, upright bass, snare drums and guitars to the definitive Bob Reuter recording as the lines between folk, punk, country and rock & roll are blurred.