Album Notes

Sixty-five roses is the way young children with Cystic Fibrosis learn to pronounce their disease. The benefit CD "Songs For Sixty Five Roses" hopes to improve their future.

This devastating disease with a median survival age of only 33 years touched the North Carolina music community in June 2004 when veteran producer and longtime musician John Plymales 2 1/2 year old daughter Allie was diagnosed with CF. Plymale founded the influential Chapel Hill bands The Pressure Boys and Sex Police before embarking on a career as a producer, working with such artists as Superchunk, Meat Puppets and Squirrel Nut Zippers. Once Allies care and ongoing therapy began, Plymale felt compelled to do more. He decided to tap into relationships he formed over the past twenty years playing and producing and music to create something positive out of the situation. A few calls and emails later, the idea of a North Carolina covers record was born and songs from friends in the regional music community came pouring in.

The result is Songs For Sixty Five Roses, a benefit CD for Cystic Fibrosis that features exclusive recordings of NC artists covering songs by fellow NC artists. The idea was clever and the music is extraordinary. Tift Merritt spotlights Stillhouses Its The Shame. Two Dollar Pistols honky tonk up Superchunks Driveway to Driveway. Eric Bachmann (Archers of Loaf, Crooked Fingers) deconstructs Lets Actives Every Word Means No. Portastatic tackles Ryan Adams Oh My Sweet Carolina. Jason Ross from Seven Mary Three reworks Superchunks Mower. Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five) with Tom Maxwell and Ken Mosher (Squirrel Nut Zippers) resurrect the local classic Buddha Buddha. For a complete track listing and liner notes, visit www.songsforsixtyfiveroses.com.

To celebrate the release of Songs For Sixty Five Roses, a CD release party will be held March 31, 2006 at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, North Carolina. Most of the artists on the album are scheduled to perform, with many collaborating on short sets and several surprises in store. Tickets are $12 and all proceeds will go to benefit the CF Foundation. Details and confirmed artists will be posted at www.songsforsixtyfiveroses.com as they develop.

Songs For Sixty-Five Roses both unites the regional music scene and shines a spotlight on some incredible songs and artists. 100% of the albums proceeds will go to the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and all artists and project coordinators are donating royalties and services to this special project. The ultimate goal for all involved is to raise awareness and money to support research that will prolong Allies life and others battling Cystic Fibrosis daily.


ARTIST QUOTES:

"Songs for Sixty Five Roses has been a really special project for me. John Plymale is an old friend, and through the Children's Hospital at UNC Chapel Hill, I've understood just a little bit about just how much Cystic Fibrosis needs to be gone from this world. This track was pretty special to me musically, too. It reunited our band from a few years back, a band that still remains close and knows how to get to the heart of things. It made me homesick to be back in the studio together, but I've admired Dave Wilson's songwriting for such a long time that singing his tune felt like pulling in the driveway at home."
--Tift Merritt

"I'm always looking for an excuse to record versions of songs I love, and I'm always looking for an excuse to work with John Plymale (who's recorded and mixed both Superchunk and Portastatic records), so when I was approached about doing this, and to benefit such important research, I was eager to take part and am honored to be part of it."
-- Mac McCaughan (Portastatic/Superchunk)