Kate Wolf – Back Roads
Kate Wolf
Back Roads
1976
Kate Wolf released her debut album on her own Owl Records label.
Original Liner Notes
This is an album made by people who live and work in Sonoma County, California. Kate Wolf is a family woman, songwriter, bar singer, country music DJ and folk festival programmer who performs regularly with her band, “The Wildwood Flower”. For five days in July they got together with friends in a living room on the north coast where they recorded these songs.
Recording was done by Dan Dugan on an old Langevin board, mixed live to a Re-Vox A77. Except for a few bass tracks there was no overdubbing. Sessions were held in front of an open fire with friends coming and going and time out to walk on the beach and eat Robin’s good, home cooking. The Wildwood Flower, Don, Paul & Will, was expanded to include two other musicians. “Pete” Wiseman, a journeyman mechanic and member of the Santa Rosa Symphony, took time out in an evening after his business closed to record with the group. David West, songwriter and member of the Cache Valley Drifters, drove up from Santa Barbara for a morning and left again that afternoon. On the last day, Phil took photographs and Michael began work on the new label. Back Roads... the first release by Owl Records. We hope you enjoy it.
Musicians
Kate Wolf vocals, guitar
Don Coffin harmony vocals, mandolin, harmonica, guitar
Paul Ellis fiddle
Will Siegel dobro, banjo, harmony vocal
Pete Wiseman acoustic bass, bowed bass
David West harmony vocal, guitar
Credits
Produced by Kate Wolf and Dan Dugan
Engineering Dan Dugan
Cover Design by Michael Hawes
Cover Photo by Phil Bray
Harmonica courtesy of Stanroy Music
"Legend In His Time" dedicated to Gram Parsons
Special Thanks to:
Dan Dugan & Don Coffin for perseverance and dedication
George Schroder who taught me songs were to be sung
Fred S. Farquar III and Alice Austin Hall for faith and support
Kate & Dale Iverson for the house by the ocean
Saul Wolf, John & Ruth Allen and to all the musicians and friends involved in the making of this album
Wardrobe and enthusiasm courtesy of Joanne Colville
Home Cooking and creature comforts courtesy of Robin Groeschel
In Memory of Betty Sanders
"Legend In His Time" dedicated to Gram Parsons
Release History
1976 Owl Records OL-001
1979 Kaleidoscope Records F-6
1994 Rhino Records 71479
2017 Owl Records OWL-001
Review
Audio Magazine
Michael Tearson, June 1976
Kate Wolf's album is a fine example of homemade music. Her own songs are gentle, acoustic country songs in the story-telling tradition. Emma Rose is an especially poignant song of growing old, alone and bitter. Tequila & Me is a fine drunk song. A pair of songs by friends David West and Cyrus Clarke of the Cache Valley Drifters, Telluride and Legend In His Time written in tribute to the late Gram Parson are real winners. The Redtail Hawk by friend George Schroder is equally fine.
The liner notes mention that the album was recorded in a living before an open fire, friends coming and going. It almost sounds that way, warm and comfortable like an old, overstuffed chair.