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MARIA MULDAUR EXHIBIT

ven if you didn’t know at the time crying all the way up to the gig and he’d say, of the release of this album in 1973 ‘Okay, dry your eyes and wash your face. who Muldaur was, if you flipped We’re on in half an hour.’ And he was just a the LP over and just glanced at very supportive little brother to me". the twelve names and faces who The album was not only well received it supported her on this album, you produced a single. And what a single! “Yes, it Ecouldn’t help but be impressed. happened to have a little hit called ‘Midnight Let me give you a few of those. We have: At The You-Know-What’ on it". Mac Rebennack or, as he is best known, Dr She’s talking about ‘’, John. A formidable boogie and pianist of course. This was her first big hit which is with a lovable growl of a voice; there’s Ry still seen as ‘the’ Muldaur song and is popular, Cooder, an excellent musician and guitar- even now with so many people. toting genius who brought the Buena Vista “With everybody – it’s amazing. It’s so Social Club to wider notice; Clarence White, a weird to me” she said. “Not a gig goes by gifted guitarist and folk-rock pioneer who was that several people don’t come up and tell part of The Byrds; a bluegrass me exactly where they were when they first specialist, and heard that. I guess, a happy memory for a collaborator; was most associated lot of people. People tell me they lost their "The album with the solo works of John Lennon while the virginity to that song, they got proposed to, rest of the guys were highly-respected and they conceived babies – it was a huge hit all stands on its very experience session men. over the world. It was God’s way of blessing Muldaur couldn’t fail. Well, she could, me, and I’m grateful to that song every day, own two feet as of course. She could have receded into the because it was totally unexpected. That was background and become a non-entity and just the song that happened to click with a work of allowed her backing musicians to take the everybody. So, thank you, God”. centre stage – but that didn’t happen. Of course, the album is more than just sweetness but Even at her tender age Muldaur was a bit a megahit, it stands on its own two feet as a of a veteran, having had lots of experience work of sweetness but it also veers off into in the Even Dozen set up by John some decidedly bawdy tones before touching also veers off Sebastian and David Grisman, and then a time on the poignant and, with Kate & Anna in the Kweskin Band were she met, married McGarrigle’s Work Song, the positively stirring. into some and divorced . Such is the strength of the tracks on Geoff was not only her life partner but this LP. It’s an interesting album too because decidedly also her musical partner so the solo status Muldaur would later move towards more was scary and rather alien for her. and gospel-infused works but this release rests bawdy tones" The thing about the album and the men upon country and blues. on it was that they served as Muldaur’s This edition has been released by Exhibit support system in terms of both friendship (www.exhibitrecords.com), pressed on 200gm and her musical career. vinyl, released in a thick gatefold sleeve and One of which was guitarist David mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent. Quality Nichtern. all the way. Run by ex-Audio Fidelity man Muldaur recalls, “...when I first separated Ernie Campagna, Exhibit's re-release is an from Geoffrey, he was very encouraging and excellent edition with a well balanced, open told me, ‘You can do this.’ I was just sobbing sound. and I was a mess". You can hear other releases on the "We had a little talk and he would say, label including Trini Lopez’ ‘At PJ’s’ (1963), ‘Look, people still know you from the Jug Band Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs’ ‘Foggy Mountain and if I can get work in these little coffee Jamboree’ (1957), The Manhattan Transfer’s houses, you can, too.’ And so we put together ‘Vocalese’ (1985), Johnny Cash’s ‘Orange a few tunes and he got us some gigs". Blossom Special’ (1965) plus Chet Atkins & "This was real low profile stuff. I’d be Les Paul’s ‘Chet & Lester’ (1976) PR

98 HI-FI WORLD OCTOBER 2015 www.hi-fiworld.co.uk

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