Why “Weather Reports” ?

Weather is a metaphor for emotions and that theme is found in many of these songs. Global warming has been a concern of ours for many years now, and maybe on a subconscious level that found it’s way into lyrics and song choices. Of course the song “Goodbye Cool World” addresses climate change directly.

The Songs

On all the songs:

Emily Cantrell, acoustic guitar, vocals

Al Cantrell, fiddle, mandolin, vocals

Mark Schatz, upright bass

1 GOODBYE COOL WORLD   3:14

Jim Hoke, pedal steel

Barry Tashian, harmony vocal

“A time machine journey into a future none of us wants. Can we prevent it? How? There are no simple answers. Considering what’s at stake, why isn’t there more discussion? We believe we need a nation-wide teach-in ASAP!” - Emily and Al

2 BLACK BAYOU   2:48

Jim Hoke, accordion

Barry Tashian, 2nd guitar

“My older brother Henry inspired this song. He lives on a ranch in Louisiana and actually does ride around on a “Gator” - a brand of golf cart!” -Emily

3 WEATHER REPORT   4:00

Jim Hoke, accordion

“A captured quiet moment in a stormy love affair”. -Emily

4 ME MYSELF AND I   2:57 (I. Gordon, A. Roberts, Alvin

Kaufman, MUSIC SALES CORP

OBO ALLAN ROBERTS MUSIC BOURNE CO.)

Al Cantrell, octave mandolins

Barry Tashian, harmony

“From Billie Holliday, this song is an audience favorite in our show.” -Emily

5 MINER’S LETTER   4:18

Jim Hoke, accordion

“The Sago WV Mine Disaster made national headlines when it was announced, incorrectly, that 12 miners trapped in a mine collapse were all rescued. The lyrics were taken from a letter one miner wrote to his loved ones as he lay dying.” -Emily

6 WOODY GUTHRIE’S SHOES   3:53 (Jim Schulz, SOURDOUGH ROAD MUSIC-BMI)

Al Goll, Dobro

“Mating politics with folk music is a tradition Woody Guthrie excelled in; it’s not an easy path in the music business, and we admire those like Utah Phillips and Tom Paxton who have walked in Woody Guthrie’s shoes. -Al

7 STAND RIGHT HERE   3:48

Al Goll, Dobro

Peggy Snow, Bill Haymes, Barry Tashian, Holly Tashian, harmony

“This song was inspired by a rainy Nashville demonstration against the U.S. second Iraq invasion organized by moveon.org” -Emily

8 ‘TWAS A FULL MOON AGO   3:11

“I think I may have been an Irish barmaid in a former life”. -Emily

9 VIOLET   2:42

“Violet is said to be the color of spirituality, something we humans have an interesting relationship with. The song is about someone named Violet, or a part of our psyches that is experienced as Violet - or maybe the intertwining of the two...” -Emily

10 TIMBER TRAIL   2:52 (Tim Spencer, UNICHAPPELL MUSIC OBO ELVIS PRESLEY MUSIC)

“Emily and I both listened to Sons of the Pioneers records when we were young. This is one of our favorite “Sons” songs.” -Al

The Musicians

“We so enjoyed working with these excellent musicians who also happen to be our friends! Nashville - what a town!” -Emily and Al Cantrell

Mark Schatz, upright bass

“This is our third CD with Mark; the three of us rehearse the songs together, then go into the studio and record them live; all the tracks have that live trio sound. We never stop loving what he plays on our songs.

We hope Mark will write a book about his amazing career, working with Nickel Creek, Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, Tim O’Brien - the list goes on. Mark has produced many records and has written and recorded two albums of great old time banjo tunes as well. Mark is currently with The Claire Lynch Band and Footworks, a percussive dance ensemble.” -Emily and Al

Jim Hoke, pedal steel, accordion

“Jim Hoke lives near our home in Nashville, and we share a love of Saturday morning yard sales. When I ran into him at a neighborhood sale I asked him to play on our CD. He was a joy to work with - the perfect “Nashville Cat” creating just the sounds we were looking for. He has worked with a long list of stars including Vince Gill.” -Al

Al Goll, Dobro

“Al Goll is the adjunct Dobro professor at Belmont Academy of Music, no less. We’ve been performing with him in shows for several years now. He’s got that beautiful bell-like Dobro tone we love.” -Emily and Al

Barry Tashian, harmony, 2nd guitar

“We’ve had the pleasure of working with Barry and his wife Holly Tashian for several years now. Barry is a legend, from his tour with the Beatles in his band The Remains, his recordings with Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, and his 12 year run in the Emmylou Harris band.” -Emily and Al

Holly Tashian, Peggy Snow, Bill Haymes, singers

“These excellent singers, long time friends as well as an artists in their own right, joined us singing “We’re gonna stand right here in the rain.” Peggy Snow is a well-known painter in oils; she painted our portrait on the cover of our CD “The Heart Wants What It Wants”. -Emily and Al

Jim Schulz, writer; “Woody Guthrie’s Shoes”

 “Jim is an accomplished performer in his popular Irish band “Dublin Gulch” chronicling the colorful history of Butte Montana.  On his own he features songs from his album “Where the Redwing Blackbirds Sing”. -Emily and Al