Richard Shindell

These live recordings find [Shindell] in his element: playing before an attentive, enthusiastic audience in his native New Jersey and New York, spinning mythic stories of fateful battlefields, haunted truckers, and visionary saints and lovers alike. Fronting an easygoing band of expert pickers, Richard Shindell turns in surprisingly solid covers of Little Feat and Bruce Springsteen tunes. Cry, Cry, Cry partner Lucy Kaplansky wraps Shindell's nasal, sinewy delivery in subtle harmonies, pushing the best of these songs, including "Next Best Western" and his finest, most poignant take on relationships, "Are You Happy Now," past previously recorded versions. As an introduction to Shindell's spiritual lyricism and as a live document for longtime fans, Courier is a cache of reflective, gently glowing gems. --Roy Kasten

Recorded by Ben Wisch and Ron Schreier at the Emelin Theatre (Mamaroneck, NY) 3/16 and 17, 2001. Tracks 3 and 11 recorded at the Outpost in the Burbs (Montclair, NJ) on 2/2/01. Track 7 recorded at Bailey Building & Loan (Greenwich Village, NYC). Mixed by Ben Wisch.

Musicians:

RS - guitar and vocals
Lucy Kaplansky - harmony
Denny McDermott - drums
John Putnam - electric guitar, tiple
Lincoln Schleifer - bass

and (on tracks 3 and 11):

Greg Anderson - bouzouki, cittern, guitar
Lisa Gutkin - violin
Rad Lorkovic - accordion

Larry Campbell plays violin on Reunion Hill.