released September 21, 2010

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Mister Mark Hallman at the Congress House, Austin, Texas
Additional engineering by Andre “Sparks” Moran, as well as Dangerous Tommy Schultz & Travis “T Man” Kelley

(Exceptions: the rhythm section for “So You’re the Muse” was cut at the Linda Vista Social Club in Ventura, CA by Kevin McCormick, and Chris Foley recorded the piano on “Next Best Thing” and the song “Rene & Georgette” at Sound+Vision, Ojai, California.)

All words and music by Rain Perry (Precipitous Music/BMI) except “Till It Shines,” by B. Seger (Gear Publishing/ASCAP), “Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War,” by P. Simon (Paul Simon Music/UMPG) and “Let’s Get It On,” by M. Gaye and E. Townsend (Jobete Music Co. Inc.)

Sorry! I don’t have permission to reprint the lyrics to the cover songs. But I know you can find them online.

Photography and pyrotechnics – Bad Bob Muschitz
Striking album art & design – Brian Turner at Cricket Press, Lexington, Kentucky
Hair and makeup – Claire Powers
Photos carefully shot in Kim’s kitchen

“A Perfect Storm” is for Jonathan and was inspired by the book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger.

The way it works is this: Rain writes the songs and records a demo on her phone, which she then sends to Mark. Utilizing various audio/visual aids, Rain and Mark discuss. Then Rain goes to Austin and Mark enlists the services of his alarmingly talented multiple personalities, otherwise known as “The (Congress) House Band.” Rain sits on the couch knitting, marveling and expressing her opinion, and once in a while goes downstairs to sing. On this release, she also makes her instrumental debut, such as it is, and performs some sound editing too. Once in awhile, a very special guest or two joins the fun.

Meet the (Congress) House Band!

“Sticks McRaw” – drums & percussion
“Biggie Bottom” – bass
“Frets Flamagan” – guitars
“Fingers Flailin” – keyboards (to whom no one ever says no – at least when it comes to the B3)
“Lips Lohand” – horns & clarinet
“Shamus O’Fool” – banjo
The elusive “Eboy” – Ebow
“Harpo” (aka Rain) (junior member of the CH band) – Autoharp

* * *

Acknowledgements:

Oh, Mark. Thank you. If not for you…ah, well, you know what I’m going to say.

Heartfelt thanks to the hardworking and ever-entertaining Congress House crew – Andre, Tommy and Travis – and to the musicians – Andrew, Chris, Danny B., Elana, Jim, Jonathan, Julie, Karen, Kevin, Matt, Perla, Rick and Riley – for your fine playing and singing, and to Tommy for your fine latching of cabinets.

Thank you to my beautiful girls. Billy, this one’s for you, with love.

Thank you also, in no particular order, to: Skip Slater; JB, Jim, Jim & Julie for the essential services of the Wednesday Song Group; Success Partner (and keeper of deepest organizational secrets) Robbie Frandsen; über-skank Kim Maxwell, as well as the Pro-Ho, The Littlest Ho, & the ever-diligent Ho-cial secretary; the Perry family; Sasha Stone, Mistress of the Internet; Official Texas State Musician Sara Hickman; The All-Powerful Targalini; GiGi Benno & Andy Hardin (so my question to you is: just how comfortable are you with your body?); the Queen of Folk Alliance; Leah, my oldest friend; Flower girl/manager/social media advisor/chef Katy Powers; camera-shy photographer/stylist/BBQ artist Claire Powers – in fact, all the Powers Girls, Matt & The Nudist too; the Slaughter, Galbut and Rizzoli families, including the newest, littlest members; my pals in Ojai; my pals not in Ojai; Kristen Hallman (who, by the way, is hotter than any hussy); Taylor Hallman; (Boy in the Boy’s Room) Dan Brockett; Kit Stolz; Val Denn; my awesome songwriting students; Tom Russell, Keeper of the Songwriting Flame; “Pyro” Bob Muschitz & his better half Paty; the lovely & talented CoryAnn Yniquez; Crystal Ann @ M:M; the muscular Shore Fire team; Brian Turner @ Cricket Press; Les Scott & Cindy Rosmann; Liz Tigelaar and the LUX cast & crew; the bats of Austin for making a dent in the mosquitoes of Austin…and, finally, all praise to Saint Glen, for his inspiration and vibe.

While I have your attention, may I point something out? Not to be all old-school “I only listen to vinyl,” but the truth is that music simply sounds better on CD than on MP3. It has to, since the sound files on a CD are about ten times larger than a download. I love the convenience and versatility of my iPod and ear buds too, but once in awhile it’s important to put on good headphones, close your eyes, and really listen to a new album. It’s like the difference between watching a movie with commercials on TV and sitting in a dark theater with a giant screen. It’s just…more. You will hear instruments you didn’t know were there, and they won’t be squished. The music will sound three-dimensional, and sometimes an instrument will pan from left to right in a really cool way (a phenomenon to which we refer in the business as a “stoner treat”). Plus, there are fascinating liner notes to read, as you can see! Oh yeah, and it sounds especially good LOUD. Let’s not let this experience slip away, okay?

And while I’m opinionating, I think I’ll also say this: buy music! Making and promoting albums isn’t cheap! I mean, yes, share some – we all do – but honestly: the best possible way to support the artists whose music you love is to actually pay for the music they make.

Okay, okay. That is truly, exhaustively, and without a doubt…what she said.