Album Notes

workhouse poets began in the san francisco bay area, when james manganello and larry elrod began to play folk, country and roots music together. they shared a common love for music that was melodious in nature, and literate in scope. they were soon joined by michael doubrava on bass and harmony vocals, james "flaco" foley on piano, organ accordion and guitar, and gary linnert on drums.

manganello and elrod, began writing their own songs, heavily influenced by their love of songwriters like bob dylan, hank willliams, john prine, townes van zandt, bruce springsteen, gram parsons etc. over time their deeply personal songs of everyday people traveling through the " heartland", sometimes slightly invisible, have struck a chord in the americana music genre.

their last cd "all the hearts are breaking down", has garnered great reviews, with the title cut, landing on neil youngs "living with war website". it has remained on that playlist for the last year, and is the sad angry tale of a young female soldier, killed in iraq.

they have just released their new cd"ghost train", in october of 2007. it is filled with the stories of people and places they have visited on their journey the american heartland. workhouse poets are currently playing in clubs in santa cruz, los gatos, hollister, and in the heart of steinbeck country.