Rite the First Time

Three Weird Sisters

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2001)
• Original Release Date: August 1, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bedlam House
• ASIN: B00005O3W4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,964 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Bill Osinski, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 12, 2003

[Three Weird Sisters] make bewitching, eclectic music ... think the Dixie Chicks do Shakespeare.

Product Description

Folk with a Celtic and even Bluegrass flavor, Rite the First Time swings from the sublime to the silly and from the material to the spiritual in eclectic mixes of harmonic vocals and acoustic instruments (harp, guitar, bodhran, and upright bass).

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Georgeous harmonies and accomplished songwriting, August 23, 2001

By	Carl McColman (Clarkston, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Filk and the Pagan communities enjoy the two best kept secrets of American acoustic music. Filkers brings playfulness and a fantasy/science fiction sensibility to their reconstructions of the folk tradition, while Pagan tunesmiths explore the rich storehouse of fairy tale and myth to evoke magic and wonder in their songs. The Three Weird Sisters create brilliant music at the point where these two vibrant genres intersect, and Rite the First time, their debut CD, offers a fine sampling of their talent. All three of the Sisters are accomplished vocalists; instrumentation includes Gwen Knighton's wire harp, Brenda Sutton's guitar and bodhran, and Teresa Gibson Powell's upright bass.

By turns playful and moody, shimmering and satirical, the songs on this CD cover a rich and varied emotional terrain. Two of the Sisters are songwriters and like the Indigo Girls, each has her distinct style: Brenda Sutton is an accomplished wordsmith, wringing humor and ironic insight out of lyrics that are propelled by infectious melodies; while Gwen Knighton's mystical and romantic forays into the otherworld have an edgy, moody feel to them. Highlights among the original tunes include "Dumb Dumb Dorothy," in which the little girl from Kansas admits she had it better back in Oz, and "Song of Fey Cross," a cautionary fairy tale with an ominous feel and a spine-tingling story. This CD also includes several cover songs, especially Cheryl Wheeler's "When Fall Comes to New England" and Dar Williams' "Iowa," both of which showcase TWS's gorgeous harmonies. If you have any interest in Filk or Pagan music, this disc is utterly indispensable. Meanwhile, anyone who enjoys lovely harmonies, clever songwriting, and a sense of magic will find this recording to be well worth the price of admission.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eclectic song mix,, Great harmonies as always, and WOW..., June 17, 2003

By	Kirsten M. Houseknecht "[e-mail]" (philadelphia, pa USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD gives you a real sampling of the various styles that Three Weird Sisters do so well. There are slow songs, fast songs, funny songs, touching songs, and through it all the great harmonies and beautiful instrumentals that everyone loves.

A great pity that "Little Boy Blue", a ballad about a painful relationship and the cycle of self deception, isnt one of the songs available to listen to from this CD, as it is one of my favorites. The harp work on "Little Boy Blue" is exquisite, and i swear most of my friends know someone like this guy in real life!

Fair warning though, do NOT listen to this CD for the first time while driving, or trying to run on a treadmill. I did, and explaing the reason why i fell off the gym equipment was a bit tricky. You just get settled into a rythm and style, when this CD changes around on you. Great for the car on a second listen, though....It has a permenent place in my CD player.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rite the first time is very RITE!!, August 18, 2006

By	C. Delaney "Morgaine" (Sedona, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this CD based on the name of the group, and the name of the CD, just having heard the little bitty preview on Amazon and I'm glad I did. It is intelligent humor; entertaining musically as all three women are talented both in voice and instrument. Sometimes, in the Craft, we take ourselves a little bit too seriously. This is an excellent reminder that there's another side to it all.