''Attempted Mustache'' is the fourth album from
Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Snowden Wainwright III (born September 5, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actor. He has released twenty-six studio albums, four live albums, and six compilations. Some of his best-known songs include "The Swimmin ...
. It was recorded in
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
with producer
Bob Johnston
Donald William 'Bob' Johnston (May 14, 1932 – August 14, 2015) was an American record producer, best known for his work with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, and Simon & Garfunkel.
Early days
Johnston was born into a professional mus ...
and was released in 1973 on
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
.
Wainwright said that "I Am the Way" was partly inspired by
Guru Maharaj Ji's appearance at the
Millennium '73
Millennium '73 was a three-day festival held on November 8–10, 1973 at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, United States, by the Divine Light Mission (DLM). It featured Prem Rawat, then known as Guru Maharaj Ji, a 15-year-old guru and the leader of ...
festival in December 1973.
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
covered the song "The Man Who Couldn't Cry" live on his album ''
American Recordings''.
Track listing
All songs written by Loudon Wainwright III; except where indicated
# "The Swimming Song" – 2:26
# "A.M. World" – 2:31
# "Bell Bottom Pants" – 2:27
# "Liza" – 2:47
# "I Am the Way (New York Town)" (based on "New York Town", music by
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. He has inspired ...
; new title and lyrics by Loudon Wainwright III) – 3:12
# "Clockwork Chartreuse" – 3:37
# "Down Drinking at the Bar" – 3:55
# "The Man Who Couldn't Cry" – 6:16
# "Come a Long Way" (
) – 2:45
# "Nocturnal Stumblebutt" – 3:45
# "Dilated to Meet You" – 2:02
# "Lullaby" – 2:55
Personnel
* Loudon Wainwright III - acoustic guitar, banjo, vocals
*
Kenneth Buttrey
Aaron Kenneth Buttrey (April 1, 1945 – September 12, 2004) was an American drummer and arranger. According to CMT, he was "one of the most influential session musicians in Nashville history".
Buttrey was born in Nashville, Tennessee, became a ...
- drums
*
Johnny Christopher
John (“Johnny”) Lee Christopher Jr. (born 1943 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American singer, guitarist, session musician and songwriter.
Music career
Christopher's singles included "(She's A) Girl Of Many Colors / The Teacher And The Pet" (19 ...
- acoustic guitar, electric guitar
*
Tommy Cogbill
Thomas Clark Cogbill (April 8, 1932 – December 7, 1982) was an American bassist, guitarist and record producer known for his work in R&B, soul and country music.
Life and career
Cogbill was born in Johnson Grove, Tennessee. He was a high ...
- bass
*
Ron Cornelius
Ronald Dean Cornelius (February 14, 1945 – August 18, 2021) was a session musician and producer who has played on albums by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Al Kooper and Loudon Wainwright III. He was also the president of Gateway Entertainment which ...
- acoustic guitar, electric guitar
*
Mac Gayden
McGavock Dickinson "Mac" Gayden (born June 5, 1941) is an American rock and country music, country singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is also president of Wild Child Records, formed in 2004.
Background
Mac Gayden was born in ...
- acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar
*
Reggie Young
Reggie Grimes Young Jr. (December 12, 1936 – January 17, 2019) was an American musician who was lead guitarist in the American Sound Studio house band, The Memphis Boys, and was a leading session musician. He played on various recordings with ...
- acoustic guitar, electric guitar
*
Hargus "Pig" Robbins
Hargus Melvin Robbins (January 18, 1938 – January 30, 2022), known by his nickname "Pig," was an American session keyboard player. Having played on records for many artists, including John Stewart, Dolly Parton, Connie Smith, Patti Page, Lore ...
- piano, organ
*
Doug Kershaw
Douglas James Kershaw (born January 24, 1936) is an American fiddle player, singer and songwriter from Louisiana. Active since 1948, he began his career as part of the duo Rusty and Doug, along with his brother, Rusty Kershaw. He had an extens ...
- fiddle and Cajun exclamation
*
- banjo, vocal
Release history
* LP: Columbia KC 32710 (U.S.)
* LP: CBS 65837 (UK)
* CD: Edsel EDCD269
* CD: Sony-Legacy 65257 (1998)
References
Loudon Wainwright III albums
1973 albums
Albums produced by Bob Johnston
Columbia Records albums
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