Richard Shindell
Encyclopedia
Richard Shindell is an American
folk
songwriter
. Shindell grew up in Port Washington, New York. He currently lives in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, with his wife, a university professor, and their children.
Shindell's songwriting often involves storytelling from a first-person point of view: from an INS
officer and illegal immigrant in "Fishing", to a World War II
soldier in "Sparrow's Point", to a Confederate
drummerboy in "Arrowhead", to an Argentine grandmother in "Abuelita", to a power broker
in "Confession". Other personas he adopts include a NYC cab driver in "Last Fare of the Day," a man on death row in "Ascent," a Civil War widow in "Reunion Hill," and even Mary Magdalene
herself.
Shindell's career received a boost in 1997 when Joan Baez
recorded three of his songs ("Fishing", "Reunion Hill" and "Money for Floods") for her album Gone from Danger
, and invited the aspiring singer-songwriter to join her 1997–98 tour.
Shindell collaborated with Dar Williams
and Lucy Kaplansky
to form the group Cry Cry Cry
. On their eponymous 1998 album, Cry Cry Cry covered an eclectic mix of songwriters, from the famous R.E.M.
to the lesser known folk singer James Keelaghan
. The trio toured in support of their album, but later resumed their solo careers. They have not mentioned plans for future recordings, although Shindell and Kaplansky often appear on stage together.
A recording of cover songs, South of Delia
, was initially released on his Website in March 2007.
EPs:
Various artists compilations:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Shindell grew up in Port Washington, New York. He currently lives in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, with his wife, a university professor, and their children.
Shindell's songwriting often involves storytelling from a first-person point of view: from an INS
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
officer and illegal immigrant in "Fishing", to a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
soldier in "Sparrow's Point", to a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
drummerboy in "Arrowhead", to an Argentine grandmother in "Abuelita", to a power broker
Stock broker
A stock broker or stockbroker is a regulated professional broker who buys and sells shares and other securities through market makers or Agency Only Firms on behalf of investors...
in "Confession". Other personas he adopts include a NYC cab driver in "Last Fare of the Day," a man on death row in "Ascent," a Civil War widow in "Reunion Hill," and even Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
herself.
Shindell's career received a boost in 1997 when Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
recorded three of his songs ("Fishing", "Reunion Hill" and "Money for Floods") for her album Gone from Danger
Gone from Danger
Gone From Danger is a Joan Baez album from 1997. Rather than relying on her own songwriting, Baez instead selected work by younger folk and rock artists to perform. She included Dar Williams' "If I Wrote You", Richard Shindell's "Reunion Hill", and Betty Elders' "Crack in the Mirror"...
, and invited the aspiring singer-songwriter to join her 1997–98 tour.
Shindell collaborated with Dar Williams
Dar Williams
Dar Williams is an American singer-songwriter specializing in pop folk.She is a frequent performer at folk festivals and has toured with such artists as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Griffin, Ani DiFranco, The Nields, Shawn Colvin, Girlyman, Joan Baez, and Catie Curtis.-Biography:Williams was born...
and Lucy Kaplansky
Lucy Kaplansky
Lucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:...
to form the group Cry Cry Cry
Cry Cry Cry (band)
Cry Cry Cry was a folk supergroup, consisting of Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, and Dar Williams. The band released a single eponymous album of cover songs on October 13, 1998.- Tour :...
. On their eponymous 1998 album, Cry Cry Cry covered an eclectic mix of songwriters, from the famous R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
to the lesser known folk singer James Keelaghan
James Keelaghan
James Keelaghan is a Juno award-winning Canadian folk singer-songwriter. Born in Calgary, Alberta and now based in Winnipeg, many of his songs, such as "Kiri's Piano", about the internment of Japanese Canadians, and "October 70", about the FLQ crisis, are inspired by events and figures in Canadian...
. The trio toured in support of their album, but later resumed their solo careers. They have not mentioned plans for future recordings, although Shindell and Kaplansky often appear on stage together.
A recording of cover songs, South of Delia
South of Delia
South of Delia is the seventh solo album by American folk singer-songwriter Richard Shindell. South of Delia is a cover album. Although he himself is sometimes described as a "songwriter's songwriter," covers are not new to Shindell...
, was initially released on his Website in March 2007.
Discography
- Sparrows PointSparrows Point (album)-Track listing:# "Are You Happy Now?" - 3:49# "Castaway" - 3:55# "By Now" - 5:16# "The Courier" - 4:18# "Sparrows Point" - 4:47# "The Kenworth of My Dreams" - 3:44# "On a Sea of Fleur-de-Lis" - 4:22# "Memory of You" - 3:38# "You Again" - 2:59# "Nora" - 3:59...
(ShanachieShanachie RecordsShanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. According to Harvey Pekar , it is one of the largest independent record labels in the world, and is currently distributed by E1 Music. Starting as a label that specialized in fiddle music, they began releasing work by Celtic...
, 1992) - Blue DivideBlue DivideBlue Divide is the second album by singer-songwriter Richard Shindell. It was released in 1995 by Shanachie Records. Shanachie also released a live promo CD, Scenes from a Blue Divide and More which included five live tracks recorded at the Treestar Coffeehouse in Mount Kisco, New York.- Track...
(Shanachie, 1994) - Reunion HillReunion HillReunion Hill is a 1997 album by singer-songwriter Richard Shindell. It was Shindell's third and final studio album for Shanachie Records. Allmusic calls the album "songcraft at its finest." The album includes a cover of "I'll Be Here in the Morning" by Townes Van Zandt who died earlier that same...
(Shanachie, 1997) - Cry Cry Cry (Razor & TieRazor & TieRazor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
, 1998), with Dar WilliamsDar WilliamsDar Williams is an American singer-songwriter specializing in pop folk.She is a frequent performer at folk festivals and has toured with such artists as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Griffin, Ani DiFranco, The Nields, Shawn Colvin, Girlyman, Joan Baez, and Catie Curtis.-Biography:Williams was born...
and Lucy KaplanskyLucy KaplanskyLucy Kaplansky is an American folk musician based in New York City. Kaplansky also has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.-Biography:... - Somewhere Near PatersonSomewhere Near PatersonSomewhere Near Paterson is a 2000 album by singer-songwriter Richard Shindell. It was Shindell's first album for Signature Sounds. It was also Shindell's first album following the album and tour performed with the collaboration, Cry Cry Cry...
(Signature Sounds, February 8, 2000) - CourierCourier (album)Courier is the first live recording and sixth album by Richard Shindell. It includes many of his most popular originals from previous recordings, a cover of Lowell George's classic song, "Willin'", and what has been described as a "near-holy reading" of Bruce Springsteen's "Fourth of July, Asbury...
(Signature Sounds, February 12, 2002) - VueltaVuelta (album)Vuelta is the sixth album by singer-songwriter Richard Shindell. The album's eighth track, "So says the Whipporwill," is a tribute to the late folk artist Dave Carter.- Track listing :All songs written by Richard Shindell except where indicated....
(Koch RecordsKoch RecordsE1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
, August 24, 2004) - South of DeliaSouth of DeliaSouth of Delia is the seventh solo album by American folk singer-songwriter Richard Shindell. South of Delia is a cover album. Although he himself is sometimes described as a "songwriter's songwriter," covers are not new to Shindell...
(Richard Shindell Music, 2007) - Live at the Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, VT (2007) [Described as Archive Series #1, limited edition recording of a concert from November 11, 2006]
- Not Far NowNot Far NowNot Far Now is Richard Shindell's eighth album - Track listing :All tracks written by Richard Shindell except were noted# "Parasol Ants" – 3:46# "A Juggler Out In Traffic" – 4:35# "Gethsemani Goodbye" – 4:14...
(Signature Sounds, 2009)
- Scenes from a Blue Divide (Shanachie, 1995)
- Spring (Signature Sounds 1256-2, 2000). Contains "Spring" (single edit), "Confession" (acoustic version), "Shades of Black, Shades of Blue" (Charles Lyonhart), and "Spring/Summer Reel" (album version)
- 3x2 Sampler (Signature Sounds, 2000). Contains "Beyond the Iron Gate" (alternate version), "Abuelita", and "Transit" (album versions). Also contains three songs by Peter MulveyPeter MulveyPeter Mulvey is an American folk singer-songwriter based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Since the early 1990s, he has developed a strong national following in the indie folk/rock scene through his relentless touring and critically acclaimed albums. Starting his musical career in Milwaukee while at...
. - The Sonora Sessions (Signature Sounds, 2001)
- Mariana's EP (Amalgamated Balladry, 2009)
Various artists compilations:
- Main Stage Live: Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (Signature Sounds 1253, 1999). Contains live version of "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore" (traditional arranged by R. Shindell).
- Wonderland: A Winter Solstice Celebration (Signature Sounds 1266, 2002). Contains "Before You Go".
- The Folk Next Door: A Collection of Connecticut Roots Music (WWUH 1992). Contains live version of "Home Team".
External links
- Richard Shindell Official Site
- Richard Shindell Guitar Chords
- Richard Shindell, Live in KentKent, OhioKent is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the largest city in Portage County. It is located along the Cuyahoga River in Northeastern Ohio on the western edge of the county. The population was 27,906 at the 2000 United States Census and 28,904 in the 2010 Census...
, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
from folkalley.com - Shades of black, shades of blue on Charles Lyonhart's site