Caffè Lena - Historic Stages, Volume 1
Caffè Lena, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. is the nationally recognized music venue started by Lena Spencer in 1960. Lena was first to lend a stage to Bob Dylan on his first tour, where Arlo Guthrie found a home in the early years, where Don McLean first played American Pie, where Nancy Griffith and Emmylou Harris played guest sets.
Now the Caffè has produced a new CD which invites you in to its warm, intimate environment, a room not much bigger than your average living room, to enjoy 16 different artists playing their hearts out for the most attentive and enthralled audiences. You'll feel rich history, the old bricks, the simple little folk caffe which became a legend.
You'll hear Pete Seeger, Patty Larkin, Robin and Linda Williams, John McCutcheon, Christine Lavin, Tony Trischka, Utah Phillips, Michael Cooney, Pierce Pettis, Gamble Rogers, Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen and many others.
All CD sales help to support the Caffe, a not-for-profit organization.
Go to www.caffelena.org for more info about the Caffe or to become a member.
Caffè Lena- In Their Words
"Lena has passed on, but what she started is going stronger than ever with young folks making old and new music."
Pete Seeger
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"Caffè Lena is one of the best stages to play in the country. I always feel honored to perform there."
 Tom Paxton
"Musicians, singers and songwriters pay their dues and learn their crafts the old-fashioned way . . . in special places where people can listen and interact. Lena's helps you decide if music is something you ought to be doing, or where you should get a "real" job. Caffè Lena, a national treasure, is not only a part of the lifeblood of the music industry, but serves as a bridge between the generations."
Arlo Guthrie
""I remember two things, two images in my mind, before I'd ever been there;Â that it had been there forever and that it was so nice to sing there. . ."
 Michael Cooney
"The Caffè was her big focus, but her work didn't end there. She spent a lot of time helping people get recording contracts and other bookings. For instance, she booked me on the David Frost Show with the Everly Brothers and Joan Baez around 1970"
Frank Wakefield
"Caffè Lena has been a warm and intimate place to hear great music for decades"
Jay Ungar
"We remember the cheery old wood burner stove and the water heater behind the stage; a time that was not easy for the Caffe"
Bill and Andy Spence
"This is not just an old cafe. Look more closely. Shhh- Close your eyes and listen. This is a cathedral. A place where the human spirit is kept alive."
 Rick Kunz
"I came stompin' up to the place, got took care of, got a place to sleep, got fed and got a place to work. Lena's one of my oldest friends. It wasn't just that she let me play there. She took care of me. I felt she loved me. I hope I can hold onto my ideals as long as she has. Like Caesar Chavez and Pete Seeger."
Arlo Guthrie
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