Album Notes

This is a benefit CD. All net proceeds from the sale of this CD benefit Artists for Literacy - a nonprofit that connects artists and their work to English teachers who are on the front lines of the fight against illiteracy. We are grateful to CD Baby for facilitating these on-line sales.

The Songs Inspired by Literature Project - SIBL - a project of Artists for Literacy - is made up of artists who care about creating a more literate world. We held a contest - 357 songwriters sent in songs from 38 states and 8 countries. We picked the best 10 songs and matched them with commercial cuts written by world class artists: Bruce Springsteen, Suzanne Vega, Ray Manzarek, Grace Slick and Aimee Mann.

These songs are the bridge between readers and non-readers. They connect us all to great works of literature and engage our ears so that our eyes may be tempted to drink in some words too. We hope you enjoy Chapter One - it's the first in a series. Visit http://www.artistsforliteracy.org for more information.

Track listing/Literary Inspiration:

1. Jill Tracy - Evil Night Together ** - 4:24
Inspired by Luc Sante's historical account Low Life

2. Deb Talan - Tell Your Story Walking * - 3:27
Inspired by Jonathan Lethem's novel Motherless Brooklyn

3. Aimee Mann - Ghost World - 3:30
Inspired by Dan Clowes' graphic novel Ghost World

4. Bob Hillman - Tolstoy * - 2:32
Inspired by Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace

5. Lynn Harrison - Einstein's Brain * - 4:27
Inspired by Michael Paterniti's memoir Driving Mr. Albert

6. Grace Slick - ReJoyce - 4:01
Inspired by James Joyces' novel Ulysses

7. Justin Wells - The Last Temptation of Odysseus * - 4:36
Inspired by Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey"

8. Essence - Still Crying * - 4:06
Inspired by Mark Levine's poem "Work Song"

9. Suzanne Vega - Calypso - 4:11
Inspired by Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey"

10. Deborah Pardes - 7th Step - 5:11
Inspired by Frank McCourt's memoir Angela's Ashes

11. Scarth Locke - Bucking Bronco * - 3:38
Inspired by Shel Silverstein's children's poem "Bucking Bronco"

12. Ray Manzarek - He Can't Come Today - 4:40
Inspired by Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot

13. Anny Celsi - T'was Her Hunger Brought Me Down * - 4:19
Inspired by Theodore Dreiser's novel Sister Carrie

14. David LaMotte - Dark and Deep * - 3:03
Inspired by Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"

15. Diane Zeigler - The Legend of Enoch Arden * - 3:19
Inspired by Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Legend of Enoch Arden"

16. Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost of Tom Joad - 4:20
Inspired by John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath

* SIBL songwriting competition winner
** Grand Prize Winner