Album Notes

No commercial traffic is rod macdonald’s first solo recording, ten original songs recorded from february to september 1983 by g parker and moogy klingman at moogy’s studio on park ave, produced by macdonald with the assistance of stephen powers and tom intondi. The Village Voice labeled it “the most strongly gritty work of the folkie revival” and its songs, especially “american jerusalem,” “a sailor’s prayer” and “every living thing” have been covered by the 4 bitchin’ babes, dave van ronk, garnet rogers and other singers. Instrumentally the sound varies from raw acoustic rock and roll to solo folk guitar, with generous helpings of native flute noise and strings across percussive rhythms. The cd was remastered for cd release in 2003, and in a brief review, the Palm Beach Post said the “recording sounds timeless.”

musicians
rod macdonald/guitar, harmonica, vocals
bill merchant/bass
mark dann/bass
jeff hardy/bass
joe henderson/guitar
john kruth/mandolin, flute
chuck hancock/saxophone
nat seely/drums
john lewis/piano

backup vocals/dave van ronk, lucy kaplansky, tom duval,
janet stecher, judy molner

From the All-Music Guide

"Via the Fast Folk Music Cooperative, MacDonald and others like Richard Meyer and Christine Lavin were an important part of the rebirth of the folk scene in New York in the 1980s. While MacDonald isn't exactly a new face to New York folk music fans, he began to gain national stature in the early 1990s, performing at folk festivals and coffeehouses around the U.S., Canada and Europe. MacDonald's songwriting influences include Phil Ochs, Richard Farina and Bob Dylan. True to the folk tradition, MacDonald is not afraid to get political, that take chances and perhaps shock some people. Songs like "American Jerusalem," "White Buffalo" and "Every Living Thing" have been covered by his peers and his elders, including musicians Garnet Rogers, Jean Redpath, Gordon Bok, Happy Traum and Shawn Colvin. MacDonald's place in the folk Hall of Fame is assured by his "A Sailor's Prayer," a hymn-styled tune that many people mistook for a traditional song." Richard Skelly, All Music Guide