Ismay travels from Texas to Mississippi, to visit the studio where Lucinda Williams made her first record. There, Ismay interviews Wolf Stephenson, who was the engineer that day in 1978, to learn about what happened during the session and whether Lucinda was confident through that initial challenge of recording. They discuss what results when artists get rejected and what keeps certain artists moving forward in spite of various roadblocks. Stephenson oversaw the development of Malaco Records, which produced R&B, soul, and gospel hits. Elsewhere in the episode, Ismay also takes time to visit the stretch of country between Austin, Texas and Jackson, Mississippi in order to understand the landscape that informed Lucinda's work.Interested in sponsoring us? Contact BGS: https://bit.ly/sponsorBGSpodscredits:Finding Lucinda is Distributed by The Bluegrass SituationProduced and mixed by Avery Hellman for Neanderthal Records LLCMusic by ISMAYArtwork by Avery HellmanJackson Recording —Recorded at Malaco StudiosSound Recordist: Rodrigo NinoProducer: Liz McBeeDirector: Joel FendelmanCo-Director & Cinematographer: Rose BushSpecial thanks to: Mick Hellman, Chuck Prophet, Don Fierro, Jacqueline Sabec, Rosemary Carroll, Lucinda Williams & Tom Overbyreferences:https://earlyblues.org/blues-locations-mississippi-jackson/ https://www.malaco.com/studios/Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You by Lucinda Williamshttps://www.clarionledger.com/story/life/intune/2016/05/05/lucinda-williams-recorded-1st-album-jackson/83941954/https://web.archive.org/web/20160319194923/http://www.knowla.org/entry/1962/
--------
49:52
--------
49:52
Lucinda's First Guitarist
Ismay travels to Anderson Fair in Houston, Texas, a famed music venue with a unique history that includes legends like Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith. Ismay tracked down a special character from Lucinda's early career, who had largely been missing from the national music scene since the '70s. There they discover how artists' paths diverge and contemplate what we're all looking for when we seek out careers in music.Interested in sponsoring us? Contact BGS: https://bit.ly/sponsorBGSpodscredits:Finding Lucinda is Distributed by The Bluegrass SituationProduced and mixed by Avery Hellman for Neanderthal Records LLCMusic by ISMAYArtwork by Avery HellmanHouston Recording —Recorded at Anderson FairSound Recordist: Rodrigo NinoProducer: Liz McBeeDirector: Joel FendelmanCo-Director & Cinematographer: Rose BushSpecial thanks to: Tim Leatherwood, Mick Hellman, Chuck Prophet, Don Fierro, Jacqueline Sabec, Rosemary Carroll, Lucinda Williams & Tom OverbyReferences:https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://repository.rice.edu/bitstreams/f46d1776-6b7d-4bba-9e16-f4d70234d003/download&ved=2ahUKEwja_fX6yvmNAxVJs1YBHUUaIyMQFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1hKyfGMJRk2_0t4lVFp_DMhttps://folkways.si.edu/folkways-records/smithsonianhttp://www.andersonfairthemovie.com/https://folklife.si.edu/legacy-honorees/moses-asch/smithsonianDon’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You by Lucinda Williamshttps://www.villagevoice.com/interview-lucinda-williams-on-getting-paid-250-for-her-first-record-mad-men-and-her-favorite-place-in-new-york-city/“Lyle Lovett Goes Back to His Beginnings” The Boston Globe, November 4th 2012“Griffith Honors Songs that Shaped Her Career” The San Francisco Examiner, July 19th 1998
--------
46:22
--------
46:22
Early & Unexpected Musical Influences
Ismay uncovers a fascinating seldom heard recording of Lucinda from a radio show in 1981, leading them down a path to discover the musical influences in Lucinda's early Life. Meeting with members of the Grammy Award Winning band Los Texmaniacs, Ismay goes out on a limb and seeks to recreate that radio session in the famed Cactus Cafe.Credits:Distributed by The Bluegrass SituationProduced and mixed by Avery Hellman for Neanderthal Records LLCMusic by ISMAYFinal song by Los Cenzontles Cultural Academy https://www.loscenzontles.com/“Libro Abierto (ft. Flaco Jimenez)”Artwork by Avery HellmanAustin Recording —Recorded at The Cactus CafeSound Recordist: Rodrigo NinoProducer: Liz McBeeDirector: Joel FendelmanCo-Director & Cinematographer: Rose BushSpecial thanks to: Eugene Rodriguez, Matt Bizer, Mick Hellman, Chuck Prophet, Don Fierro, Jacqueline Sabec, Rosemary Carroll, Lucinda Williams & Tom OverbyInterested in sponsoring us? Contact BGS: https://bit.ly/sponsorBGSpodsreferenceshttps://www.folkstreams.net/films/it-s-a-mean-old-worldhttps://jamescalemine.com/reverend-pearly-brown-youre-gonna-need-that-pure-religion/https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2013-09-13/rough-trade-talk-with-lucinda-williams/https://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/lucinda-williams-on-the-music-that-made-her/Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You by Lucinda Williams
--------
48:20
--------
48:20
Meeting Charlie Sexton
Ismay visits cornerstone music venue The Hole in the Wall in Austin to interview Charlie Sexton, producer and songwriter who's best known as a guitarist for Bob Dylan. They discuss Charlie and Lucinda's first gig together in 1979 when he was just a kid. Charlie shares insights into Lucinda's remarkable songwriting, as well as the emotional struggles musicians face with self doubt.Credits:Distributed by The Bluegrass SituationProduced and mixed by Avery Hellman for Neanderthal Records LLCMusic by ISMAYSundays written by Lucinda WilliamsGreenville courtesy of Universal, Warner ChappellArtwork by Avery HellmanMusic Supervisor Jonathan McHughAustin Recording --Recorded at The Hole in the WallSound recordist: Rodrigo NinoProducer: Liz McBeeDirector: Joel FendelmanCo-Director: Rose BushSpecial thanks to: Mick Hellman, Chuck Prophet, Don Fierro, Jacqueline Sabec, Rosemary Carroll, Lucinda Williams & Tom Overbyreferences:Charlie Sexton: Too Many Ways to Fall By Jason Crouchhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://docs.gato.txst.edu/56065/19_4_Sexton_Jason-Crouch.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiMsv2Uu7eMAxWRMlkFHVERNCMQFnoECEAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw02BTIq00dCCo9hgxH7IGi6Ink in the Grooves by Flores DooreDon’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You by Lucinda Williamshttps://delawareliberal.net/2021/10/27/song-of-the-day-10-27-lucinda-williams-2-kool-2-be-4-gotten/https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/J/Juke-Jointhttps://michaelcorcoran.substack.com/p/clubland-paradise-rome-inn
--------
45:36
--------
45:36
Lucinda's Father's Archives
Ismay arrives in Austin, Texas to dig through the Collections Deposit Library at the University of Texas in order to understand the life of Lucinda Williams' father, Miller. A poet and teacher, Miller Williams overcame setbacks to become a prominent writer. Ismay discovers his personal writings, letters, and photographs, highlighting his mentorship and the artistic community that shaped Lucinda's career.Credits:Distributed by The Bluegrass SituationProduced and mixed by Avery Hellman for Neanderthal Records LLCMusic by ISMAYArtwork by Avery HellmanAustin Recording --Recorded at The Collections Deposit Library at UT Austin, with records from The Harry Ransom CenterSound recordist: Rodrigo NinoProducer: Liz McBeeDirector: Joel FendelmanCo-Director: Rose BushThe Caterpillar and Of History and Hope appear courtesy of Rebecca Jordan WilliamsSpecial thanks to: Mick Hellman, Chuck Prophet, Jonathan McHugh, Jacqueline Sabec, Lucinda Williams & Tom Overbyreferences:Don't Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You by Lucinda WilliamsLiving on the Surface, New and Selected Poems by Miller WilliamsThe Ways We Touch, Poems by Miller WilliamsMaking a Poem: Some Thoughts about Poetry and the People Who Write Ithttps://oxfordamerican.org/web-only/the-kinship-is-realhttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/miller-williamshttps://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/southern-tenant-farmers-union-35/https://www.jstor.org/stable/26671158https://poets.org/poet/miller-williamshttps://muse.jhu.edu/article/740832https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPIgETlWaashttps://poets.org/inaugural-poems-historyhttps://news.uark.edu/articles/26213/miller-williams-remembered-as-poet-educator-co-founder-of-university-of-arkansas-presshttps://www.rrr.org.au/explore/news-articles/things-you-possibly-didnt-know-about-lucinda-williamshttps://www.swtimes.com/story/opinion/2016/11/16/a-poetically-proud-published-poet/24533470007/Interested in sponsoring us? Contact BGS: https://bit.ly/sponsorBGSpods
Finding Lucinda follows a young singer-songwriter on a road trip of self discovery to trace the roots of their musical hero Lucinda Williams. Amidst self-doubt and uncertainty, ISMAY sets out from the family ranch in Northern California and travels to Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee. There ISMAY meets Lucinda’s early collaborators, digs through the archives to uncover hidden treasures, and visits the studios and venues where Lucinda got her start. Interviews include Charlie Sexton, Buddy Miller, and Mary Gauthier. Finding Lucinda is ultimately a story about not knowing whether you have what it takes to be the artist you want to be, and looking for answers on how to move forward anyways. It’s about finding a small way to be more like your hero.Finding Lucinda is distributed by The Bluegrass Situation Podcast NetworkInterested in sponsoring us? Contact BGS: https://bit.ly/sponsorBGSpods
Canada - english