ALTROK Ordinals 20:
Appreciating The Elder Wainwright

Okay, so I'm not really prepared for this, we're in the middle of the 90.5 The Night Fall Membership Drive... But I did just buy a bunch of CDs to update my "record" collection.

If you watch the new FOX-TV show "Undeclared" you've no doubt noticed the guy playing "Steve's dad". Or maybe you're a M*A*S*H fan and remember the guiar-playing Capt Calvin Spalding in a couple of early episodes. Or maybe you saw the "guy with guitar" in the Sandra Bullock movie "28 Days". They were all played by Loudon Wainwright The Third. Or maybe you actually know that he's one of America's finest, if grossly underappreciated, songwriters. And Rufus Wainwright's dad. Well, he's been making records since 1970. Nineteen-frikkin-seventy!! I was recently convinced to "upgrade" some of my old LW3 catalog from vinyl to compact disc. (By the way, it was me who convinced me.) So I went onto that internet thingy that everyone's talking about and ran up a Master Card bill.

1973: Attempted Moustache
Recorded in Nashville with the most "country" band that he's ever recorded with. Does include some of his most enduring tunes. Like: The Swimming Song, The Man Who Couldn't Cry, and Nocturnal Stumblebutt.

1975: Unrequited
Half-studio/half-live at the Bottom Line (live is always a better way to hear LW3). Includes one of my all time favorite songs: Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder; Loudon's ode to his son: Rufus Is A Tit Man.

1986: More Love Songs
Produced by Richard Thompson in england with some of his regular band. Includes a song that, sadly, is never out of context in this world: Hard Day On The Planet; some of the saddest songs ever: Your Mother And I, Unhappy Anniversary.

1992: History
Not that anyone noticed, but simply one of the finest albums of the 90s.

1993: Career Moves
A live record. Includes all of his live favorites up to that point.

2000: The BBC Sessions
All recorded live at different BBC radio shows. In England, where he was always justly appreciated.

Please call and pledge your support for 90.5 The Night...or pledge online at www.90.5thenight.org

Thank you.

(This week's Ordinals courtesy of the always courteous, especially when it comes to pledge drive, Jeff Raspe.)