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Raison D'Etre : Better Medicine
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Sweet three-part harmonies abound as this folk trio takes the listener on a journey from Shaker to Swing.
Genre: Folk: Traditional Folk
Release Date: 1999
Better Medicine Record Label: Detremental Records
  • Download Album (MP3) - $8.00
  • Buy CD - $12.00
Preview Song Name Time Format Price Select
I'll Do It 2:04 $0.99
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? 3:28 $0.99
Better Medicine 3:41 $0.99
Living Souls 1:10 $0.99
Lullaby of Broadway 2:46 $0.99
Don't Let Go 2:30 $0.99
Zen Gospel Singing 3:13 $0.99
Oh, Brethren Ain't You Happy? 2:17 $0.99
Simple Gifts 1:22 $0.99
Single Girl 2:29 $0.99
Soldier, Soldier 1:34 $0.99
Moonglow 2:27 $0.99
Lose Again 3:36 $0.99
Walk Away Rene 3:34 $0.99
Mozambique 3:24 $0.99
The Last Time I Saw Richard 4:23 $0.99
Tiny Sparrow 3:04 $0.99
There is a Ship 3:01 $0.99
Teeny Tiny Sparrow 1:13 $0.99
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Album Notes

On "Better Medicine" Raison D'Etre(Violet Rae Downey, Vickie Ellis, and Roberta Schultz) display their vocal versatility for three-part settings of Shaker hymns, 60s anthems, swing tunes, traditional folk ballads, and sensitive singer-songwriter renderings. The title cut was written by group member, Roberta Schultz, to express her belief that music is a "better medicine" for what ails the 21st Century.

Backing themselves on guitars, keyboard, light percussion, and mountain dulcimer, Raison D'Etre delivers straight, uplifting three-part arrangements. Chris Philpotts adds soprano sax to the standard, "Moonglow" and to the Great Depression's theme song, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" A three-part setting of Joni Mitchell's "The Last Time I Saw Richard," and a gospel-flavored cover of Mark Graham's "Zen Gospel Singing" round out the eclectic flavor of this disc that represents the group's first ten years together.

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REVIEWS

Better Medicine
author: Gina G. Rosset Smith
"Tiny Sparrow","Simple Gifts","Lullaby of Broadway","Walk Away Renee",&"The Last Time I Saw Richard"are my Faves,but this entire CD is a real treasure!I may order it for gifts,too!I hope that RaisonD'Etre offers more of their music/work to CDBaby,soon!
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