Dave Shiflett: Home
Greetings
This is the songwriting site for Dave Shiflett -writer, musician, and practicing bon vivant. You can find lots of songs on the Music page (Go to top of this page and click on Music) plus columns and reviews on the NEWS page. RECENT POSTS: Tracey Ullman's "State of the Union," PBS's "Copyright Criminals,"Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind 'Little Women'" and ''The Botany of Desire,' HBO's 'Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags' and Dr. Ralph Stanley's memoir, "Man of Constant Sorrow."
AFTERNOON LAMENTATIONS, a collection of 11 songs, is available for free download on the Music page. Here's the basic info and song list:
Afternoon Lamentations was recorded live Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29-30, at SounDog Recording in Richmond, Virginia. Unpolished and unrepentant, the tracks include a few instrument/mic stand collisions, a bit of heavy breathing, and some lean-in vocals. Harmony vocals and one cello track were added Sunday evening and Tuesday, Sept. 1.
All music and lyrics by Dave Shiflett, who plays the guitar and sings. Also performing:
Matt Boon: Bass; Tripp Johnson: Mandolin; Jenny Johnson: Banjo; Jim Skelding: Violin
Doug Austin: Mando-cello; Johnny Hott: percussion; Alexandra Spalding: harmony vocals, cello; Recording engineers: Bruce Olsen, Adrian Olsen. Mixed and mastered by Bruce Olsen.
Here are the songs:
*Lonely Train (4:01) – In memory of Harvey Laub
*Afternoon Lamentations (3:08) – If you’re over 40 you probably have some
*Poor Dreamer’s Wife (4:26) – A celebration of terminal matrimony
*When You Gonna Say (I Love You) (2:11) – The lone dance number
*All the Good Men (4:14) – A reality of war song
*My Beautiful Friend (3:54) – Something to cheer you up after All the Good Men
*Killing Part of Town (5:54) – Few come out of this song alive
*Caffeine Agonistes (3:11) – Jug-band treatment of the coffee menace
*Surgeon General (3:32) – Anti-scold, reasonably hedonistic
*Bold Palominos (3:45) – Dave’s favorite (besides celebration of matrimony)
*Dirt of Galilee (4:14) – Gospel Lite to a Margarita beat
A special welcome to members of the Folk-DJ list. If you like what you hear and want a burned CD for airplay (WAV files) email me at DShifl@aol.com.
(Programming note: The word “damn” appears in the opening verse of “Poor Dreamer’s Wife” and in the latter choruses of “Killing Part of Town”).
ALL DOWNLOADS ARE FREE. I greatly appreciate donations to help cover recording costs. If things are tight for you download what you want and please pass along this link to your friends. There are two videos just below: 'My Beautiful Friend' and 'All The Good Men', both sung by the incomparable Jeanine Guidry. The New York Times is featuring 'My Beautiful Friend' in a standing feature on the Depression: http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/thenewhardtimes/index.html#/shiflett
If you like the videos, please send them along to friends.
If you want to buy physical or downloadable CDs -- the Karma Farmers' 'Songs for Aging Cynics' or Floor Creek's 'TIme Goes Rushing By' -- please select from the CD Baby options below the videos. The prices are low: $9 for CDs; $4 for downloadables (and THANKS!). If you prefer iTunes, both are also there.
I have a large number of songs that are not posted. If you are a music supervisor, director, etc. let me know what you're looking for -- I may have just the song for you. I also write to order.
Those looking for Harvey Laub's "Just Want to Know (That I've Been Known By You)" will find it on the music page. Harvey wrote the song for my sister after being dianosed with stage four lung cancer. The Karma Farmers recorded the song last June; we lost Harvey last July.
LISTEN, download, and if you want to get in touch email DShifl@aol.com.
IF YOU WANT TO PLAY some music, I host an acoustic afternoon at the Cary Street Cafe in Richmond from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays.
