Willard's Wormholes

In Their Own Words, Volume One (1994)
In Their Own Words, Volume Two (1996)
Eclectic Collection Of Various Artists, Playing Live, Unplugged And Telling Stories

RE-UPPED Before VH1′s Storytellers, radio DJ Vin Scelsa hosted this similar concept, featuring a vast array of artists recorded live at The Bottom Line. Subtitled A Bunch of Songwriters Sittin’ Around Singing, the results were released on CDs in 1994 & 1996. Each artist speaks for half a minute or two before their performance, so the pace is fast, the editing is smooth and a lot of stylistic ground gets covered. 31 artists are credited, but there are plenty of others in the background. For instance, Jules Shear and Marshall Crenshaw back Don Dixon on “Fever.” Richard Thompson plays guitar for both Barrett Strong (author of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”) and the Blasters’ Dave Alvin. Al Kooper’s on organ behind William Bell and that’s Glen Burtnik supporting both Patty Smyth and Derek & The Dominos’ Bobby Whitlock. The intimate live setting makes for a surprisingly consistent listen, considering the artistic diversity. Hear some intros and songs below. One & Two @ Amazon.

Volume One
DION – King Of The New York Streets
BARRETT STRONG – I Heard It Through The Grapevine
JOEY RAMONE – I Wanna Be Sedated (intro only)
RICHARD THOMPSON – I Feel So Good
RIC OCASEK – Just What I Needed
JANIS IAN – At Seventeen
JIMMY WEBB – Wichita Lineman
DAVE ALVIN – Andersonville
ARTHUR ALEXANDER – Anna
FRED KOLLER – Let’s Talk Dirty In Hawaiian
LUKA BLOOM – I Need Love
GRAHAM PARKER – No Woman, No Cry
SHAWN COLVIN – That’s The Way Love Goes
BOBBY WHITLOCK – Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Volume Two
GORDON GANO – Songwriter’s Song
SIR MACK RICE/FELIX CAVALIERE – Mustang Sally
BILLY BRAGG – To Have And Have Not
SUZANNE VEGA – Luka
WILLIAM BELL – Born Under A Bad Sign
PATTY SMYTH – Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough
JOHN CALE – Paris 1919
DAVID JOHANSEN – Lookin’ For A Kiss (with intro)
BRUCE COCKBURN – Silver Wheels
GENERAL JOHNSON – Patches
PETE SEEGER – Get Up And Go
CHRIS DIFFORD & GLENN TILBROOK – Electric Trains
MARCIA BALL – Louisiana, 1927
DON DIXON – Fever
JILL SOBULE – I Will Survive
GARY NICHOLSON – Pay Bo Diddley