Peter Stampfel - Song Shards (CD)

Since the 1960s, Peter Stampfel (Holy Modal Rounders, The Fugs) has been a major influence on the freakier edge of folk music, standing as "one of the first artists to explore the nexus where folk and psychedelia meet" (All Music). On his new album Song Shards, which marries two concepts, also represents a return to health for Stampfel, who was unable to sing for a time due to dysphonia. Section 1 is made up of ancient stoic aphorisms: prayers and observations of wit and wisdom (some inspired by his time in AA and others by smoking weed); while Section 2 sees Stampfel recalling radio advertising jingles, the first of which he heard on the radio at the age of 6 in 1945. Both are made up of extremely short songs. The album was produced by Mark Bingham (Marianne Faithfull, Dr. John, R.E.M.) and recorded in Brooklyn and New Orleans. Stampfel has collaborated with Michael Hurley, Jeffrey Lewis, Yo La Tengo, and They Might Be Giants and won a GRAMMY Award for his liner notes of The Anthology of American Folk Music reissue. According to Rolling Stone his music is "oddball and ambitious" and The New York Times called him "the joyful embodiment of Americana of the folk hero."

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Muses Nine
2. Maximum Love
3. Every Person
4. Open Me
5. More Wack
6. Swell Hells Bells
7. Day Go By
8. The Obstacle is the Way
9. God May Be Indifferent
10. Please Help Me
11. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
12. Find a Way
13. Be Strict with Yourself
14. You Are the Product
15. Hail Mary
16. Love The Hand That Fate Deals You
17. The Road
18. You Fight for Your Life
19. Focus
20. New Prayer of Jabez
21. Ajax
22. All-Purpose Rit
23. Aunt Fanny's Bread
24. Blatz
25. Castro Convertible
26. Cream of Wheat
27. Elsie, The Borden Cow
28. Goldblatt's
29. Libby's Canned Food
30. Linco
31. Log Cabin Syrup
32. Old Timer's Beer
33. Omar Bread
34. Pepsi-Cola
35. Postum
36. Prell Shampoo
37. Rival Dog Food
38. Robert Hall Clothing Store
39. Sal Hepatica
40. Super Suds
41. Swift Premium Franks
42. Beer Jingle
43. White Rose Petroleum Jelly
44. White Tower Hamburgers
45. Whitman's Sampler
46. Wisconsin Super Service Stations