SING OUT! Winter 2004 - JOHN KRUTH
Songs from the Windy Attic, Smiling Fez 2
I have been onto John Kruth ever since I heard his wild mandolin-fired cover of the Yardbirds"Over Under Sideways Down" a decade or so ago. That one won me over for keeps. His albums are always chock full of exuberant performances of engaging, often odd material.
The new "Songs From The Windy Attic" is pure delight. More stripped down than previous albums, Kruth plays an assortment of stringed instruments (mandolins of many sizes, guitars, banjo), wind instruments (flute, recorders, pennywhistle, harmonica) plus something called the midgwidg. His chief co-conspirators are bassist Chris Fiore and Steve Bear who percusses anything a stick can strike. Dave Remelis fiddles and sings in the poignant "Bill Monroe Sent Me."
Stylistically Kruth strikes wherever he pleases. "Lovely Comrade" has a Russian feel. "Fool's Gold" is a weepy country waltz. "Rahsaan, Rahsaan,"a tribute to Roland Kirk, incorporates a hint of bop. There's blues, mountain music, bluegrass and a bit more jazz. Surprisingly his beloved klezmer music plays virtually no role here.
Kruth's songs are often hilarious, always pointed and the picking always crisp. Holy Modal Rounder Peter Stampfel (with whom Kruth often performs) wrote wonderful liner notes for the album. Peter captures and communicates Kruth's free spirit beautifully.
Like I said, this one is purest delight. For a really good time play it as loud as you dare.
John Kruth - Songs From the Windy Attic
(Smiling Fez Records)
To define John Kruth's creative spirit as far ranging is only fair. Alongside an ongoing string of albums he's written books (Jazz musician Rahsaan Roland Kirk; a yet-to-be published biography on singer songwriter Townes Van Zandt; an upcoming interview with Steve Earle) and has long been noted as a poet. He's also co-produced albums with the legendary Joel Dorn and presented concerts in New York City with Hal Wilner. Musically he has collaborated with everyone from the Violent Femmes to Peter Stampfel, from Camper Van Beethoven to the Meat Puppets, from Bosnian Gypsies to a Croation garage band. As a disc jockey he didn't know the meaning of genre programming, and he recently began teaching in New York City. Take a breath, son.
As a songwriter Kruth's nearest allies may be the likes of Robyn Hitchcock and They Might Be Giants -- all sharing an observational gift for the everyday absurd. On 'Songs From the Windy Attic' this one-time Milwaukeean lays down a timeless batch of what may be his most accessible tunes yet. Borrowing from the notion of folk music as "old weird America" Kruth sets his sights far and wide. At his best on songs like "Something Supernatural" where a fingerpicked guitar in a minor key all but transports an Ichabod Crane-type to a rainy nighttime highway storming with eighteen wheelers and "Pulaski Skyline Rag" which pays due respect to the foursquare tenets of Bluegrass yet stamps the personal touch of a high, lonesome harmonica wail. Anyone familiar with his catalog will not be surprised by the subject matter of "Cow # 16" and "Lovely Comrade", but with "What We Leave Behind" and "Bill Monroe Sent Me" Kruth deftly weaves depth and wisdom among the whimsy.Throughout the album Chris Fiore's upright bass perfectly anchors the sound and Steve Bear's kitchen sink percussion adds fine touches. The undeniable vibe of Attic might be characterized as dosed with country. But consider the timing only a coincidence, Kruth's music has always traversed time and genre. You can bet he will still be cross-pollinating long after today's alt-country thiftstore whippersnapper hipsters have traded in their cowboy boots.
Blaine Schultz
Fall/2004
JOHN KRUTH - Songs from the Windy Attic (Smiling Fez)
In his latest endeavor, Songs from the Windy Attic, John Kruth, musician, prolific poet and writer, pushes closer to a blues/folk/roots album than ever. Once dubbed the Pete Townsend of the mandolin, Kruth deftly laces his multi-instrumental talents (mandolin, guitar, banjo and flute, among others) with the jazzy bass of Chris Fiore and Steve Bear's eclectic percussion mix of pots, pans, and a tambourine.
Windy Attic opens with "Pulaski Skyline Rag," a quick-tempo bluegrass instrumental braided with a bluesy harmonica, followed by "1 Eyed Man," a return to a slower folksy sound draped with Dylanesque vocals. "Rahsaan, Rahsaan," an homage to Kruth's soulful hero and subject of his first biography, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, tops the tracks on the disc, a bluesy retelling of Kirk's life and imprint on the music scene. Unnecessary flute appearances drag down certain tracks ("Ocean Blues," "Old Chief"), detracting from the delicate string ensemble of Kruth's dizzying mandolin/guitar/banjo work and Fiore's subtle bass, and Lillie Palmer's harmony vocals fight Kruth's husky voice in "Cow 16" and "Fool's Gold." These are minor distractions, however, to an otherwise bare-boned success.
--Matt Richter – Shepherd Express
JOHN KRUTH - Songs from the Windy Attic (Smiling Fez Records 2)
No doubt, you must've heard of my man John Kruth. He is a most gifted mandolinist, songwriter, singer and author. He wrote that marvelous book, 'Bright Moments: The Life and Legacy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk.' Some folks know him from his work with the Violent Femmes, but downtown hipsters (like you & me), know him from his collaborations with Eugene Chadbourne, Elliott Sharp and more recently Peter Stampfel, of the Holy Modal Rounders. John and Peter played a couple of tunes at the Neil Young tribute gig in Prospect Park last month. John has a handful of CD's out and each one is a buried treasure waiting to be found. Besides mandolin John plays guitar, banjo, flute & pennywhistle. He is joined by Chris Fiore on bass, Dave Rimelis on fiddle, Steve Bear on down home percussion and Lillie Palmer on harmony vocals. Right from the groovy opening instrumental, the "Pulaski Skyline Rag", we know we are in for a treat. John likes to tell stories that have a slight twist. A one-eyed Arab from Jerusalem, a midget that rules the world, folks that always want more than what they have and an incredibly cool tune about Rahsaan. His silly song, "Cow # 16", had people at DMG in stitches, as well as a number of other sly and funny songs. Sixteen great songs and all of the worthy of your precious time. Not just for old hippies like me.
--Bruce- Downtown Music Gallery, NYC See less
credits
released October 24, 2022
John Kruth – Songs from the Windy Attic
Pulaski Skyline Rag
1 Eyed Man
What We Leave Behind
Fool’s Gold
Rahsaan, Rahsaan
The Malibu Stomp
Ocean Blues
Cow # 16
Lovely Comrade
Old Chief
Bill Monroe Sent Me
Can O’ Beans
That Midget
Retarded Guy
Somethin’ Supernatural
Marijuana Cigarette
Pulaski Skyline Rag – JK – guitar, 12 string slide guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, Steve Bear – pots, pans and watering can, Chris Fiore – bass
1 Eyed Man – JK – vocal, guitar, mandolin, lead guitar, Chris Fiore – bass
What We Leave Behind – JK – vocal, guitar, mandolin, Chris Fiore – bass, Lillie Palmer – harmony vocal
Fool’s Gold – JK – vocal, harmony vocal, guitar, mandolin, Chris Fiore – bass
Rahsaan, Rahsaan – JK – vocal, guitar, lead guitar, midgwidg, Steve Bear – pots pans and watering can, hand claps, back-up vocal, Chris Fiore – bass, hand claps, back-up vocal, RRK – screams and laughter
The Malibu Stomp – JK – guitar, 12 string slide guitar, harmonica, Steve Bear - pots pans and watering can, Chris Fiore – bass
Ocean Blues – JK – vocal, guitar, harmonica, flute
Cow # 16 – JK – vocal, guitar, mandolin, Steve Bear – pots, pans and watering can, Chris Fiore – bass, Lillie Palmer – harmony vocal
Lovely Comrade – JK – vocal, mandolin, octave mandolin, mandocello, National steel body mandolin, Steve Bear – pots, pans and watering can, Chris Fiore – bass, Lillie Palmer – harmony vocal
Old Chief – JK – vocal, banjo, mandocello, pennywhistle
Bill Monroe Sent Me – JK – vocal, guitar, mandolin, Chris Fiore – bass, Dave Rimelis – fiddle, harmony vocal
Can O’ Beans – JK – vocal, mandolin, 12-string slide guitar, harmonica, Steve Bear – pots, pans and watering can Chris Fiore – bass
That Midget – JK – vocal, guitar, Steve Bear – pots, pans and watering can, Chris Fiore – bass, Lillie Palmer – harmony vocal
Retarded Guy – JK – vocal, guitar, soprano and tenor recorder, Chris Fiore – bass, Steve Bear – tambourine, Lillie Palmer – harmony vocal
Somethin’ Supernatural – JK – vocal, guitar, high-strung guitar, flute, Chris Fiore – bass
Marijuana Cigarette – JK – vocal, harmony vocal, guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, Chris Fiore – bass,
Recorded April, 2001 at Hungry Goat Studios
Engineered by John Kurgan
Mixed by JK and JK
Produced by John Kruth
All songs c by John Kruth BMI c 2001
John Kruth – vocal, harmony vocal, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, banjo, flute, 12 string slide guitar, mandocello, National steel body mandolin, octave mandolin, octave guitar, recorder, pennywhistle, midgwidg
Chris Fiore – bass, Martin bass guitar, backup vocal, handclaps
Steve Bear – pots, pans and watering can, tambourine, back up vocal, handclaps
Lillie Palmer – harmony vocal
Dave Rimelis – fiddle, harmony vocal on “Bill Monroe Sent Me”
1 Eyed Man
Let me tell you all a story
About my friend named Sam
A 1 eyed Arab
From Jerusalem
One night some folks
Invited him over to eat
But the table legs
Were made from elephant feet
He grabbed his hat
Put on his coat
And headed towards the door
When suddenly
His gracious host
Asked what are you leaving for?
He said I’m sorry sir
If I offend your pride
But I can’t eat my dinner
Off an elephant hide
The 1 eyed man
Says it’s nice to see you
The 1 eyed man
He don’t miss very much
The 1 eyed man
Keeps a positive view
The 1 eyed man
Knows the meaning of luck
Some say it was
An accident
A twist of fate
No one could prevent
That tank rolled over his arm
And crushed half his head
His mother took a look at him
And wished he was dead
But a surgeon sewed him up again
His face a map of scars
Now he prays to the moon of Islam
And the rising morning star
He says you better thank god
My friend for what you’ve got
Cause today we’re here
And tomorrow we’re not
What We Leave Behind
Last night I saw my old guitar
On some rock video
Now Miss Gibson is a star
Screamin’ power chords
I sold her when I was down and out
I’ll never forget that day
Now some grungy dude with his head hung down
Is bangin’ on her face
It’s funny how things all work out
When fate is being kind
And the present fills that aching void
Of what we leave behind
Of what we leave behind
Last time I saw my old girlfriend
On Downer Avenue
She was looking good, all dressed in black
Wearin’ spiky high-heel shoes
Walkin’ arm in arm with some English bloke
Who plays bass in a rockabilly band
After seven years we went up in smoke
I guess its all part of god’s plan
There’s nothin’ that could make me go back again
That life I was leadin’ almost left me dead
I got a beautiful new girlfriend
And this guitar
But I still sing in bars
Fool’s Gold
The man with the piranha tooth grin
Says he likes my new girlfriend
He stands by the door
As we waltz ‘cross the floor
Waiting for his chance to cut in
But it’s mighty slim
That girl so skinny and pale
With her black hair and fingernails
That grasp like claws
Cause she’s gotta have more
Of some heaven she can’t find within
It’s so fast and fleeting
Why must we have
What we have not?
Always gotta get
What the other one’s got
Oh why can’t we leave
What’s best left alone?
The prospector’s pockets
Are full of fool’s gold
The friends of the man on the cross
Came to say that my soul is lost
They pray and they sell
Then damn me to hell
If I don’t get right with their god
Don’t it seem rather odd?
The man from the IRS
Is making me terribly depressed
He calculates
He’ll take half my estate
That leaves me a bottle of gin
And my old mandolin
Miss January
is just flesh and bone
And old war heroes
Are just names on tombstones
You came by yourself
And now you’re leavin’ alone
Rahsaan, Rahsaan
Rahsaan, Rahsaan, Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Played three saxophones at a time
Everybody thought he was out of his mind
Some understood, others thought it was a gimmick
Wherever he went he caused a rip, rig and panic
At the school for the blind when he was 16
Kirk had a vision, an audio dream
He played instruments called stritch and manzello
A master of jazz, a most unusual fellow
He traveled the land spreading Bright Moments
Trying to rouse the world out of its coma
He went to New York, left his home in Columbus
To honk the Hog Callin’ Blues with Charles Mingus
At jam sessions he made everybody cower
He’d breathe through his ears and hold a note for two hours
Old Jethro played the flute I suppose
But Kirk made it sing through his fingers, mouth and nose
Ocean Blues
If your love is like an ocean
I’m swimmin’ in the deep blue sea
The waves are soft and salty
And each breeze caresses me
In your eyes I found an island
Where lazy palm trees sway
The sun is warm and golden
Like your passionate embrace
Time is a lonely beach
Where the hungry seagulls cry
And sand slips through your fingers
As the moon pulls on the tide
Cow # 16
Cow # 16-Grazing in a bright green pasture
Cow # 16-Soon you’ll be someone’s hamburger
Cow # 16-With your soulful brown eyes
Cow # 16-Soon someone will wear your hide
Cow # 16-Like a prisoner doin’ time
Cow # 16-But what exactly was your crime?
Cow # 16-You turn your head and you ignore me
Cow # 16-I just came to say I’m sorry
There’s lot’s of questions
I can’t answer
If I could
I’d cure aids and cancer
And everybody would
Be a vegetarian
Riding shiny bicycles
In a smoke free heaven
Cow # 16-that’s the way it would be
Cow # 16-if it was all up to me
Cow # 16-Like a Buddha in the field
Cow # 16-On death row without appeal
Cow # 16-How I envy your strength
Cow # 16-I pray you don’t feel any pain
Cow # 16-Grazing in a bright green pasture
Cow # 16-Soon you’ll be someone’s hamburger
Cow # 16-I plead guilty for your murder
Lovely Comrade
Forget your mind
Make up your heart
The pain will stop
And soon you’ll start
To live again
Abandon fear
For I’ve a kiss
For every tear
Like the good doctor
From back in the USSR
For your love I would
Cross the frozen tundra
All I need is some vodka
And your undying belief
Cossack boots
And eyes like Omar Sharif
But it’s too soon
I can’t reveal
These desperate words
The way I feel
At my advance
You’d only laugh
And break my heart
Lovely comrade
I see your face
Everywhere I go
Oh was that you
By the window
On a leaving train
I’ll never know
I’ll never know
I ran too slow
Old Chief
The old chief is angry
He swears and he frowns
He’s packin’ up his pony
For the happy hunting grounds
Once he was stronger
Than a herd of buffalo
But his whole tribe was murdered
Now he talks to their ghosts
And the mailbox has an echo
Since you forgot how to write
So I call you long distance
In the middle of the night
Yeah I reach for you often
Even though you’re not there
There’s a forest in your eyes
And a river in your hair
And there was a promise
That you made to me
But now it has faded
Like yellow autumn leaves
Like yellow autumn leaves
Blowin’ through an alley
Broken and dyin’
But the wind isn’t sorry
Bill Monroe Sent Me
I was driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains
Far from home and runnin’ out of gas
I grabbed my old mandolin
To play a couple songs
And try to rustle up a little cash
I walked into the Country Kitchen
The air smelled good enough to eat
I said “Howdy I’m traveling musician”
People rolled their eyes
But soon they stomped their feet
I ripped right through Blackberry Blossom
And a couple people at the counter clapped
I sang Lost Highway
With everything I had
And smiled as I passed around the hat
There sat the King of Bluegrass
With his eggs and a steaming cup of coffee
He said “That was pretty good, son
I must say myself,”
Then he handed me a brand new twenty
He said, “Keep on playin’
That high lonesome sound
Keep your head on your shoulders
As you travel around
Keep your faith in yourself
And the Lord up above
And tell ‘em Bill Monroe sent you
He said “Let me see that ol’ ‘tater bug
Then he played a couple fancy licks
Said, “Take my advice son,
Better change them strings
And get yourself a harder pick”
Can O’ Beans
Can o’ beans, can o’ beans
Sometimes life ain’t what it seems
Can o’ fish, tuna fish
Sometimes life ain’t what you wish
Pick up truck, four bald tires
Outta the fryin’ pan into the fire
Burnt marshmallow on a stick
Sometimes love will make you sick
Can o’ spam, big canned ham
Some folks don’t like what I am
Can o’ beans, refried beans
Sometimes life ain’t what it seems
That Midget
That midget has a beautiful girlfriend
That midget makes more money
Than you’ll ever spend
Funny how an average guy like you
Wound up in this town sellin’ shoes
You got your little house and little opinions
While that midget owns the team that’s winnin’
Strange how a handsome dude like me
Back in high school I was voted most likely to succeed
Now it’s 20 years later I’m doin’ the best I can
While that midget holds the world in his hands
Don’t hand him that line
That size doesn’t matter
He knows what you’re thinkin’
So don’t try and flatter
That midget is never short on style
That midget’s got a million dollar smile
Retarded Guy
He walked up to her table
Grinning nervously
And began a spastic dance
To a disco beat
His face was frozen
Like a mask in tragedy
And when she took his hand
It wasn’t in charity
Oh who is gonna dance
With the retarded guy
She said I will, oh I will
And who’s gonna take the risk
Of looking ridiculous
I will, she said I will
I know she doesn’t care
What anybody thinks
Cause we’re all in God’s hands
Whether we swim or sink
He spun her round and round
And tossed her in the air
And she floated like a feather
While everybody stared
Somethin’ Supernatural
Oh the wind howled
As the moon began to rise
I clutched my steering wheel
Just trying to stay alive
As I crossed the Allegheny
Vultures circled high above
And I wished I was in Gotham
With the girl I love
After 5 cups of coffee
My lid had finally flipped
I was tailgated by
The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
When I saw them in my mirror
I thought I’d surely die
The sky turned black and scarlet
As they pulled along beside
My tires started smoking
The asphalt began to bubble
I was sinking down, down, down
To an underworld of trouble
I prayed to Mother Mary
And the ghost of Steve Mc Queen
I said grant me some compassion
A little style and some speed
Can’t you hear me cryin’ lord
It’s me of little faith
Look down upon me now
Help me make this great escape
And when I looked again
I saw 4 semis on the road
Although I saw the devil
I didn’t meet my lord
Maybe I should thank the angels
Or was it my dumb luck
But somethin’ supernatural
Saved me from those hell-bound trucks
Marijuana Cigarette
Would you like to smoke a
Marijuana cigarette with me
I think I been takin’ myself
Just a little too seriously
Cause I been straight for 7 months
Haven’t had a taste except just once
C’mon and share that
Marijuana cigarette with me
Would you like to go to the movies
And then maybe make love with me
We could share a box of popcorn and
3 minutes and 17 seconds of ecstasy
Cause I been sufferin’ from neglect
With a face like mine what do you expect
C’mon and go to the movies and then
Maybe make love to me
With 12 solo albums to date, multi-instrumentalist, John Kruth plays mandolin, banjo, guitar and sitar as well as flute
and harmonica. The former leader of the NYC "other-world" music ensemble TriBeCaStan, Kruth has played with Ornette Coleman, Allen Ginsberg, Sam Shepherd, John Prine, Rick Danko and Violent Femmes, and worked with producers Joel Dorn and Hal Willner....more
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