Album Notes

In today’s world of music a \"top forty hit” by a folk artist is a rarity. Indeed, many music listeners may not even know a contemporary folk music even exists. But, Malcolm McKinney has been writing and performing acoustic music for nearly four decades, since Jonathan Edwards recorded Malcolm\'s song \"Don\'t Cry Blue.\" Having written about myriad subjects, including a remarkable set of Florida hurricane songs, Malcolm has earned the credentials to produce this powerfully eloquent collection of political songs. The High Cost of Living voices the hardships of a nation and a world as it combats a sinking economic and social order. These lyrics hold back nothing, from \"The pride of the drug firms, they\'re playing on my fears\" to \"They close down the shops and move them offshore.\" Yet, Malcolm is also a musician\'s musician. Tastefully arranged and produced, the musical styles range from the bluesy \"Snake Oil\" to \"It\'s Time to Organize,\" which revives the spiritual \"Oh Mary, Don\'t You Weep\" which itself was revived during the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The High Cost of Living is political enough to expose deep wounds, and musical enough to not only inspire, but to heal. Robert S. Koppelman Author of \"Sing Out, Warning! Sing Out Love\": The Writings of Lee Hays Lee Hays performed with the Weavers