PETE SEEGERS & LORRE WYATT
''NEW SONGS BY OLD FRIENDS: A MORE PERFECT UNION''
SEPTEMBER 25 2012
69:50
1/God’s Counting on Me…God’s Counting on You/feat. Bruce Springsteen
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/5:02
Rather than praying for a helping Heavenly hand, this song puts responsibility for change squarely in the hands of every human being, challenging corporate greed and its collateral damages (the new Depression, the BP oil spill). Bruce Springsteen, as featured vocalist on this track, reinforces his connection to Pete Seeger's credo of change through individual action. A rousing, defiant, determined song.
2/Old Apples
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/4:42
Homespun, delightful affirmation that age needn't stifle creativity, with Seeger and Wyatt alternating mellow lead vocals. Banjo, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, and a great bass vocal harmony.
3/Keep the Flame Alive
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:07
Individual and united action are needed to keep the literal and metaphorical flame of life and warmth ever burning.
4/Memories Out of Mud/feat. Dar Williams
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/4:37
A quiet, calm-after-the-storm duet by Lorre Wyatt and guest Dar Williams about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, underscored by Jeff Haynes' pitter-patter of percussion.
5/A More Perfect Union/feat. Tom Morello
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/6:01
A gorgeous meditation and celebration of the many meanings of the word "union" as it applies to "family, neighbors, workers, friends" (so sings guest Tom Morello, who also plays a delicate acoustic guitar solo). There's no sweeter sound than the way the song's multiple singers lovingly harmonize on the word "union.
6/This Old Man Revisited/feat. Steve Earle, Dar Williams
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:56
A bitter, ironic update of the childrens' song "This Old Man" that facetiously rejoices "Killing makes you feel alive" and "Peace is just for lunatics." Steve Earle's gritty guest vocal and Dar Williams' deceptively sweet voice as they "celebrate" atrocities are unmistakable. A Sixties-style anti-war song -- Phil Ochs would be proud.
7/These Days in Zimbabwe
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:47
Lorre Wyatt's lead vocal, backed only by layers of Afro-Cuban percussion, describes the political situation in Zimbabwe in terms that could well be applied to the United States: "Runaway inflation...Many going hungry...many growing angry." But "Some say in Zimbabwe/Some day in Zimbabwe/Gonna break all these chains."
8/Somebody Else’s Eye
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:11
A quiet, minimally arranged song (just Pete's vocal, his 12-string guitar, and a violin) questioning our relationship to the environment and each other.
9/Strange Lullabye
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/2:50
A weary-sounding Pete's a cappella wish for a better world for new generations despite our current global predicaments.
10/Somos el Barco [We Are the Boat]/feat. Emmylou Harris
Lorre Wyatt/4:55
A new version of Lorre Wyatt's most famous composition, with an inclusive message and a melody that both sound like they were later pinched for "We Are the World." Anthemic and uplifting, with a guest vocal by Emmylou Harris. We're all in this together, folks!
11/Howling for Our Supper
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:23
A delightfully self-deprecating view of Pete and Lorre's songwriting sessions as seen through the eyes of hungry household pets.
12/My Neighbor’s Needs
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:09
A low-key song of man's obligation to his fellow man. There's a bubbling undercurrent of percussion below Lorre Wyatt's lead vocal as the rhetorical question, "How can I sit idly while my neighbor bleeds?" is answered, "Gotta try to rise and tend my neighbor's needs."
13/Wonderful Friends
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:30
The only one of the CD's 15 Seeger/Wyatt co-writes previously recorded, this new version is a heartwarming tribute to the power of music and friendship. A big, feel-good singalong chorus.
14/A Toast to the Times
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:55
A cheerful, optimistic "toast to all the songs we sang and to all the songs we've yet to sing.
15/Fields of Harmony
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:22
A solemn, elegant reflection on aging sung by Seeger with minimal banjo and cello accompaniment.
16/Bountiful River
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/10:23
An affirmation of eternal love using a favorite Seeger metaphor, that of an ever-flowing river that requires work, love, and protection to reclaim its purity. Pete's gentle banjo contributes to the reverent, bucolic mood.
Sue Altkin /Vocals
David Bernz /Banjo, Guitar, Guitar (12 String), Harmonica, Vocals
Davide Bernz /Producer
Jacob Bernz /Vocals
Karen Brooks /Vocals
Adam Brzostoski /Harmonica
Jen Clapp /Vocals
James Durst /Vocals
Steve Earle /Guest Artist, Vocals
Dave Eggar /Cello
Danny Einbender /Vocals
Edward Esquerre /Vocals
Dan Fisherman /Vocals
Goldee Green /Vocals
Paul Hanna /Vocals
Emmylou Harris /Guest Artist, Vocals
Jeff Haynes /Drums, Percussion, Producer, Vocals
Valerie Haynes /Vocals
Timothy Hill /Vocals
Chris Hughes /Trap Kit
Travis Jeffrey /Vocals
Eleanor Kleiner /Vocals
Eli Kleiner /Vocals
Pat Lamana /Vocals
C. Lanzbom /Electric Slide Guitar, Guitar, Slide Guitar
Ira McIntosh /Vocals
Bianca Merkley /Vocals
Sara Milonovich /Violin
Hayden Minifield /Vocals
Tom Morello /Guest Artist, Guitar, Vocals
Jenny Murphy /Vocals
Mark Murphy /Bass
Jim Musselman /Producer
Melissa Ortquist /Vocals
Rivertown Kids /Vocals
Perry Robinson /Clarinet
Dave Rothenberg /Clarinet (Bass)
Rob Scheps /Saxophone
Pete Seeger /Banjo, Guitar (12 String), Vocals
Laurie Siegel /Vocals
Spook Handy /Vocals
Bruce Springsteen /Guest Artist, Vocals
Story Laurie /Vocals
Dave Tarlo /Vocals
Bruce Taylor /Vocals
Connie Taylor /Vocals
Mark Turk /Vocals
Sarah Underhill /Vocals
Amy Vachal /Vocals
Doug Weiss /Bass
Dar Williams /Guest Artist, Vocals
Jane Kelly Williams /Vocals
Lorre Wyatt /Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW
by j. poet
At age 93, Pete Seeger isn't actually retiring, just slowing down a bit. He's doing fewer concerts and his voice is a bit wobbly, but his heart is still open and his mind is still sharp. If you need proof, listen to the 16 songs on this album, 15 of them newly written by Seeger and his longtime friend and collaborator Lorre Wyatt. Wyatt's in his mid-sixties, and a well-known singer/songwriter in his own right, but a severe stroke in 1996 left him unable to sing or play guitar for almost 15 years. After a long intensive recovery, he's singing and playing again and asked Seeger to collaborate with him on a songwriting project he was working on. Seeger agreed and the result is A More Perfect Union, a great album that stands as a testament to the faith and resilience of both artists. This may be the first album that Seeger's ever recorded that contains all new, all original material, and many of the tunes here are as good as anything Seeger or Wyatt has ever written or recorded. Most of the songs deal with aging and mortality, but the album is uplifting nonetheless. Both men have led full lives and they bring a lot of humor and wisdom to the songs. Musically, the album is as diverse as anything Seeger's ever cut. "God's Counting on Me...God's Counting on You" and "Wonderful Friends" are the kinds of elevating anthems Seeger has always sung, and this one should be added to his list of greatest hits. Dozens of harmony singers, including Bruce Springsteen on "God's Counting on Me...," make them sound like campfire singalongs. "Keep the Flame Alive" is a country-flavored ode to aging well that's given a poignant feel by Seeger's shaky vocals and C. Lanzbom's mournful slide guitar. Seeger sings "Strange Lullaby" solo; it's an antiwar song full of love and righteous anger. "These Days in Zimbabwe" is sung a cappella by Wyatt with Jeff Haynes providing percolating Afro-Celtic percussion that makes this gentle protest song swing. Wyatt's most famous song, and the only older tune on the album, is "Somos el Barco" (We Are the Boat), a lilting Latin-flavored waltz that features Emmylou Harris and another big singalong chorale. The set closes with two mediations on the end of life. "Fields of Harmony" is a testament to the power of music to enrich and preserve life, and Dave Eggar's cello gives the number an aching, tender feel. The loping cowboy rhythm of "Bountiful River" makes it sound like another anthem, a salute to friendship, music, and the healing power of nature with a gorgeous, timeless chorus.
''NEW SONGS BY OLD FRIENDS: A MORE PERFECT UNION''
SEPTEMBER 25 2012
69:50
1/God’s Counting on Me…God’s Counting on You/feat. Bruce Springsteen
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/5:02
Rather than praying for a helping Heavenly hand, this song puts responsibility for change squarely in the hands of every human being, challenging corporate greed and its collateral damages (the new Depression, the BP oil spill). Bruce Springsteen, as featured vocalist on this track, reinforces his connection to Pete Seeger's credo of change through individual action. A rousing, defiant, determined song.
2/Old Apples
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/4:42
Homespun, delightful affirmation that age needn't stifle creativity, with Seeger and Wyatt alternating mellow lead vocals. Banjo, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, and a great bass vocal harmony.
3/Keep the Flame Alive
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:07
Individual and united action are needed to keep the literal and metaphorical flame of life and warmth ever burning.
4/Memories Out of Mud/feat. Dar Williams
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/4:37
A quiet, calm-after-the-storm duet by Lorre Wyatt and guest Dar Williams about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, underscored by Jeff Haynes' pitter-patter of percussion.
5/A More Perfect Union/feat. Tom Morello
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/6:01
A gorgeous meditation and celebration of the many meanings of the word "union" as it applies to "family, neighbors, workers, friends" (so sings guest Tom Morello, who also plays a delicate acoustic guitar solo). There's no sweeter sound than the way the song's multiple singers lovingly harmonize on the word "union.
6/This Old Man Revisited/feat. Steve Earle, Dar Williams
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:56
A bitter, ironic update of the childrens' song "This Old Man" that facetiously rejoices "Killing makes you feel alive" and "Peace is just for lunatics." Steve Earle's gritty guest vocal and Dar Williams' deceptively sweet voice as they "celebrate" atrocities are unmistakable. A Sixties-style anti-war song -- Phil Ochs would be proud.
7/These Days in Zimbabwe
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:47
Lorre Wyatt's lead vocal, backed only by layers of Afro-Cuban percussion, describes the political situation in Zimbabwe in terms that could well be applied to the United States: "Runaway inflation...Many going hungry...many growing angry." But "Some say in Zimbabwe/Some day in Zimbabwe/Gonna break all these chains."
8/Somebody Else’s Eye
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:11
A quiet, minimally arranged song (just Pete's vocal, his 12-string guitar, and a violin) questioning our relationship to the environment and each other.
9/Strange Lullabye
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/2:50
A weary-sounding Pete's a cappella wish for a better world for new generations despite our current global predicaments.
10/Somos el Barco [We Are the Boat]/feat. Emmylou Harris
Lorre Wyatt/4:55
A new version of Lorre Wyatt's most famous composition, with an inclusive message and a melody that both sound like they were later pinched for "We Are the World." Anthemic and uplifting, with a guest vocal by Emmylou Harris. We're all in this together, folks!
11/Howling for Our Supper
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:23
A delightfully self-deprecating view of Pete and Lorre's songwriting sessions as seen through the eyes of hungry household pets.
12/My Neighbor’s Needs
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:09
A low-key song of man's obligation to his fellow man. There's a bubbling undercurrent of percussion below Lorre Wyatt's lead vocal as the rhetorical question, "How can I sit idly while my neighbor bleeds?" is answered, "Gotta try to rise and tend my neighbor's needs."
13/Wonderful Friends
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:30
The only one of the CD's 15 Seeger/Wyatt co-writes previously recorded, this new version is a heartwarming tribute to the power of music and friendship. A big, feel-good singalong chorus.
14/A Toast to the Times
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:55
A cheerful, optimistic "toast to all the songs we sang and to all the songs we've yet to sing.
15/Fields of Harmony
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/3:22
A solemn, elegant reflection on aging sung by Seeger with minimal banjo and cello accompaniment.
16/Bountiful River
Pete Seeger / Lorre Wyatt/10:23
An affirmation of eternal love using a favorite Seeger metaphor, that of an ever-flowing river that requires work, love, and protection to reclaim its purity. Pete's gentle banjo contributes to the reverent, bucolic mood.
Sue Altkin /Vocals
David Bernz /Banjo, Guitar, Guitar (12 String), Harmonica, Vocals
Davide Bernz /Producer
Jacob Bernz /Vocals
Karen Brooks /Vocals
Adam Brzostoski /Harmonica
Jen Clapp /Vocals
James Durst /Vocals
Steve Earle /Guest Artist, Vocals
Dave Eggar /Cello
Danny Einbender /Vocals
Edward Esquerre /Vocals
Dan Fisherman /Vocals
Goldee Green /Vocals
Paul Hanna /Vocals
Emmylou Harris /Guest Artist, Vocals
Jeff Haynes /Drums, Percussion, Producer, Vocals
Valerie Haynes /Vocals
Timothy Hill /Vocals
Chris Hughes /Trap Kit
Travis Jeffrey /Vocals
Eleanor Kleiner /Vocals
Eli Kleiner /Vocals
Pat Lamana /Vocals
C. Lanzbom /Electric Slide Guitar, Guitar, Slide Guitar
Ira McIntosh /Vocals
Bianca Merkley /Vocals
Sara Milonovich /Violin
Hayden Minifield /Vocals
Tom Morello /Guest Artist, Guitar, Vocals
Jenny Murphy /Vocals
Mark Murphy /Bass
Jim Musselman /Producer
Melissa Ortquist /Vocals
Rivertown Kids /Vocals
Perry Robinson /Clarinet
Dave Rothenberg /Clarinet (Bass)
Rob Scheps /Saxophone
Pete Seeger /Banjo, Guitar (12 String), Vocals
Laurie Siegel /Vocals
Spook Handy /Vocals
Bruce Springsteen /Guest Artist, Vocals
Story Laurie /Vocals
Dave Tarlo /Vocals
Bruce Taylor /Vocals
Connie Taylor /Vocals
Mark Turk /Vocals
Sarah Underhill /Vocals
Amy Vachal /Vocals
Doug Weiss /Bass
Dar Williams /Guest Artist, Vocals
Jane Kelly Williams /Vocals
Lorre Wyatt /Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW
by j. poet
At age 93, Pete Seeger isn't actually retiring, just slowing down a bit. He's doing fewer concerts and his voice is a bit wobbly, but his heart is still open and his mind is still sharp. If you need proof, listen to the 16 songs on this album, 15 of them newly written by Seeger and his longtime friend and collaborator Lorre Wyatt. Wyatt's in his mid-sixties, and a well-known singer/songwriter in his own right, but a severe stroke in 1996 left him unable to sing or play guitar for almost 15 years. After a long intensive recovery, he's singing and playing again and asked Seeger to collaborate with him on a songwriting project he was working on. Seeger agreed and the result is A More Perfect Union, a great album that stands as a testament to the faith and resilience of both artists. This may be the first album that Seeger's ever recorded that contains all new, all original material, and many of the tunes here are as good as anything Seeger or Wyatt has ever written or recorded. Most of the songs deal with aging and mortality, but the album is uplifting nonetheless. Both men have led full lives and they bring a lot of humor and wisdom to the songs. Musically, the album is as diverse as anything Seeger's ever cut. "God's Counting on Me...God's Counting on You" and "Wonderful Friends" are the kinds of elevating anthems Seeger has always sung, and this one should be added to his list of greatest hits. Dozens of harmony singers, including Bruce Springsteen on "God's Counting on Me...," make them sound like campfire singalongs. "Keep the Flame Alive" is a country-flavored ode to aging well that's given a poignant feel by Seeger's shaky vocals and C. Lanzbom's mournful slide guitar. Seeger sings "Strange Lullaby" solo; it's an antiwar song full of love and righteous anger. "These Days in Zimbabwe" is sung a cappella by Wyatt with Jeff Haynes providing percolating Afro-Celtic percussion that makes this gentle protest song swing. Wyatt's most famous song, and the only older tune on the album, is "Somos el Barco" (We Are the Boat), a lilting Latin-flavored waltz that features Emmylou Harris and another big singalong chorale. The set closes with two mediations on the end of life. "Fields of Harmony" is a testament to the power of music to enrich and preserve life, and Dave Eggar's cello gives the number an aching, tender feel. The loping cowboy rhythm of "Bountiful River" makes it sound like another anthem, a salute to friendship, music, and the healing power of nature with a gorgeous, timeless chorus.
