T Shirt (album) explained
T Shirt is a 1976 album by Loudon Wainwright III. Unlike his earlier records, this (and the subsequent Final Exam) saw Wainwright adopt a full blown rock band (Slowtrain) - though there are acoustic songs on T Shirt, including a talking blues. According to Wainwright on the 2006 CD liner notes, it received a scathing review from Rolling Stone which depressed him so much he stayed in bed for five days. By the early 1990s, he disowned the album in a radio interview broadcast in Australia. However, by the time of the CD remaster (which included Final Exam) he admitted to a much more sympathetic view of the album(s), which he referred to as his 'puppies'.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Loudon Wainwright III; except where indicated
- "Bicentennial"
- "Summer's Almost Over"
- "Hollywood Hopeful" (Traditional; arranged and adapted by Loudon Wainwright III)
- "Reciprocity"
- "At Both Ends"
- "Wine with Dinner"
- "Hey Packy" (George Gerdes)
- "California Prison Blues"
- "Talking Big Apple '75"
- "Prince Hal's Dirge"
- "Just Like President Thieu"
- "Wine with Dinner (Night Cap)"
Personnel
Musicians
- Loudon Wainwright III - guitar, banjo, bells, vocals
- Richard Davis - bass
- Hank Jones - keyboards[2]
- David Sanborn - saxophone
- Marvin Stamm - cornet, trumpet
- Jimmy Maelen - congas
- Elliott Randall - electric guitar
- David Taylor - bass trombone
- Eric Weissberg - banjo
- Charles Brown III - electric guitar
- Jeanie Arnold - vocals
- Jon Cobert - piano
- Joe Cocuzzo - drums
- Kenny Kosek - violin
- Richard Crooks - drums, spoons
- John Crowder - bass
- Ron Getman - steel guitar
- Don Hammond - alto recorder
- Jimmy Iovine - backing vocals
- Peter La Barbera - vibraphone
- John Lissauer - clarinet, arrangements
- George Marge - recorder
- Irwin "Marky" Markowitz - cornet, trumpet
- Charlie Messing - guitar, vocals
- Gwynne Michaels - backing vocals
- Glen Mitchell - clavinet, electric piano, organ
- Paul Prestopino, Maggie & Terre Roche - vocals
- Christie Thompson - backing vocals
- Stephen Tubin - organ, piano, synthesizer
- Joanne Vent - backing vocals
Technical
- Jimmy Iovine - engineer, mixing
- Benno Friedman - cover photography
Release history
- LP: Arista AL4063 (U.S.)
- LP: Arista RTY127 (UK)
- CD: Arcadia ACAD 8142 (2 CD with Final Exam (U.S. 2007)
References
- "Prince Hals Dirge" is a reference to Henry IV, Part II by Shakespeare
- "Just Like President Thieu" references South Vietnam's recently deposed Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
- "Bicentennial" is a sarcastic reference to the United States's upcoming 'birthday', where Wainwright celebrates heroes like Jack Ruby
- "California Prison Blues" is a time capsule, referencing Charles Manson, 'Squeaky' Lynette Fromme, Patty Hearst (and her father), Timothy Leary, and Eldridge Cleaver.
- "Wine with Dinner" mentions Dean Martin and Foster Brooks
Notes and References
- Web site: Loudon Wainwright III. Associated Entertainment. April 26, 2011. dead. https://archive.today/20130117175308/http://www.associatedentertainment.com/aec/National-Acts/Music-category-1/Loudon-Wainwright-III. January 17, 2013.
- Web site: Hank Jones Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More. AllMusic.
