Album II

Loudon Wainwright III

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B000E112NO
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #73,684 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Wife Kate McGarrigle had just given birth to son (and future star) Rufus Wainwright when Loudon recorded this album in 1972, and you can hear some of his parental concerns surface on ‘Be Careful, There’s A Baby In The House’ along with the typical ruminations on suicide!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Essential Early Loudon, May 28, 2006

By	jimnypivo "Jim Hisson" (west of Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews

This was the LW3 disc that launched me into fandom, the one that Karen from Yonkers played over and over while we drank Turkish coffee late into the night. Many years later, I have fond memories of all three--Karen, Turkish coffee and Loudon.

In his second recording, Loudon shows the bright potential we all knew he had. This isn't as consistent a collection of songs as on *Album 3* or *Attempted Moustache*, but his genius shows through in about half of them. If you like those, a few of the rest might grow on you, too.

He takes chances on this album. Some songs don't succeed easily---*Me and My Friend The Cat*, *Plane, Too*, *Nice Jewish Girls*, aren't his best effort.

Thankfully, some songs do succeed. *Be Careful There's a Baby in the House* is clever and true, but not one to play if you want the baby to stay asleep. *Motel Blues*, first of Loudon's "Alone on the Road" songs, mixes the sweet with the tawdry. *Old Paint* (with ex-spouse Kate McGarrigle) I sang as go to sleep lullaby to my own kids. *I Know I'm Unhappy--Suicide Song-Glenville Reel* is an unusual medley blending depression, Suicide and love--and does it about as well as anybody else could. Did anybody else mix those three?

These songs have an edge. Sometimes it's a sharp, cutting edge, and sometimes it is a soft, pliable one. Both cut different things different ways.

Loudon's voice comes off shriller on the CD medium than I remember it on vinyl, but his acoustic playing is good and his sensitive songwriting full of promise and fearlessness.

If you are a fan of his son Rufus, or of later Loudon material, give this a listen and judge for yourself.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FABULOUS, May 16, 2006

By	Mr. A. Curtis "D Day country" (France) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I first bought this album in 1978 gave it away bought it again and gave it away again. It is one of the most interesting and well written albums ever! It makes me happy.You might think the lyrics are just too simple but they are not,try listening.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars LoudLoud, June 12, 2006

By	A. Greene "Commander Cool" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

I purchased this album expecting for it to sound like his albums did in the mid 70's...It didnt...To me this is not one of his better albums...Dont get me wrong Loudon or should I say Gordondon is the coolest...His voice on this album doesnt sound as "mature" as it did on his following albums...Some of the better tracks on this album are "Old Paint"... "Samson and the Warden" and "Suicide Song" This album was Loudon getting his foot in the record business...A descent album but not his best...