Loudon Wainwright III
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 () - Loudon Wainwright III -- vocals, guitar
backing musicians: (1976) - Errol "Crusher" Bennett -- percussion - Richard Crooks -- drums, percussion - John Crowder -- bass, vocals - Ron Getman -- steel guitar, guitar, vocals - John Hall -- guitar - Kenny Kosek -- violin - John Lissauer -- clarinet - Hugh McCracken -- guitar - Glen Mitchell -- keyboards, vocals - Larry Packer -- violin - The Roches -- backing vocals - Arlen Roth -- slide guitar - Stephen Tubin -- keyboards - Eric Weissberg -- banjo
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Genre: folk Rating: *** stars Title: FInal Exam Company: Arista Catalog: AB
4173 Country/State: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: cut lower right corner; white label Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $10.00
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Wow, on his '70s albums Loudon Wainwright III occasionally takes me back to my high school and early college years. When he gets into his dry and cynical mindset, his material can remind me of some of the people I hung out with in those years. Many of those folks were far funnier and smarter than I was, but not always in a nice fashion - rather occasionally downright mean-spirited and abusive. Their screw-you attitude was the bane of many a teacher's day and like a mindless lemming, I frequently went along with such behavior. I can only apologize for thinking they were cool and my own sad attempts to emulate them. What's that old saying? Youth is wasted on the young ...
Produced
by John Lassauer (perhaps best know for his work with the late Leonard
Cohen), 1978's "Final Exam" marked Wainwright's
seventh album in eight years. It was his second and last album for for
Clive Davis' Arista Records. With backing from the band Slow Train
(drummer Richard Crooks, bassist John Crowder, steel guitarist Ron Getman
and keyboard players Glen Mitchell and Ste
"Final
Exam" track listing: 1.) Final Exam (Loudon Wainwright III) - 3:46 rating: **** stars Having recently graduated from high school when the album came out, like millions, I could certainly identify with the title track lyrics. It was also one of those Wainwright songs that left me wondering if he was an overlooked philosopher, or simply a smart-ass. With backing from the band Slow Train, it was certainly one of the most rock-oriented tracks he's ever written. still, when I'm in a snaky mood, this one sucks. When I'm in a better mood, there's a certain sophomoric humor to it. Since everyone will tell you my sense of humor is sophomoric, I like it. Extra star since I'm in a good mood this morning. Probably the most mainstream song on the album, Arista tapped it as a single:
- 1978's 'Final Exam' b/w 'Golfin' Blues' (Arista catalog number AB 0340 )
2.) Mr. Guilty (Loudon Wainwright III) - 4:20 rating: * star A slice of country blues, complete Larry Packer on fiddle and Ron Getman on pedal steel, 'Mr. Guilty' was apparently Wainwright taking a shot at country music's standard dictionary of themes. Not a big country fan and Wainwright's stab at the genre didn't do much for me. 3.) Penpal Blues (Loudon Wainwright III) - 2:57 rating: ** stars 'Penpal Blues' found Wainwright going back to a harder rock sound. For goodness sakes just send him a letter. Geez, stamps cost 13 cents in 1978 ... Docked a star for not being particularly clever, or entertaining. 4.) Golfin' Blues (Loudon Wainwright III) - 2:56 rating: *** stars I'm one of the few people in my circle of friends who have not been bitten by the golf bug. It's becoming even clearer now that I'm retired and have some time on my heads. I'm not a Delta Blues fan, so setting this one to that musical genre didn't help much. I will say it was a treat to hear the Roches (including future partner Suzzy Rouche) on backing vocals. YouTube has a clip of Wainwright performing the song before a less than enthusiastic Scottish television audience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__aThul4ZHM 5.) The Heckler (Loudon Wainwright III) - 4:25 rating: *** stars In spite of myself, I have to admit to liking the biting 'The Heckler'. Might be the nice lead guitar, or the return of The Roches.
(side
2) Another full band arrangement (John Hall on slide guitar, Larry Carlton on acoustic guitar), 'Natural Disaster' found Wainwright drawing an analogy between lust and bad weather ... yeah I can go with the analogies. Recorded by someone in the audience at a May, 2018 performance at Ohio's Live at Nowhere Else Festival, YouTube has a solo performance of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJnyDBV7flI 2.) Fear with Flying (Loudon Wainwright III) - 3:41 rating: **** stars 'Fear with Flying' was a bluesy tune touching on a subject near and dear to many of us. Wainwright accompanying himself on acoustic guitar with a touch of Ron Getman pedal steel guitar and a nice slide solo from Arlen Roth. It was one of the album's hidden secrets. 3.) Heaven and Mud (Loudon Wainwright III) - 2:49 rating: *** stars Opening up with an a cappella hoedown arrangement, 'Heaven and Mud' reflected Wainwright's view of attempting a stab at sobriety (an issue he's faced across his life).. 4.) Two-Song Set (Loudon Wainwright III) - 3:35 rating: ** stars There's usually at least something to capture your attention on a Wainwright song. I've tried and tried to figure out what that facet is on the country-tinged "drinking" song 'Two-song Set '. Well, it was relative short. 5.) Pretty Little Martha (Loudon Wainwright III) - 2:58 rating: ***** stars Born during his marriage to Kate McGarrigle (of The McGarrigles fame), 'Pretty Little Martha' was inspired by the1976 birth of daughter Martha (who grew up to be a musician herself). Propelled by Eric Weissberg's banjo, it's the album's highlight - a simple melody with a perfect mixture of joy and sorrow reflecting the split with McGarrigle and the loss of both his children (Rufus and Martha). In the wake of the breakup McGarrigle moved to Quebec with both children, leaving Wainwright in New York. 6.) Watch Me Rock, I'm Over Thirty (Loudon Wainwright III) - 2:49 rating: ***** stars Another highlight in that it rocked and was actually funny, by my calculations Wainwright was 32 when he penned 'Watch Me Rock, I'm Over Thirty'.
© Scott R. Blackerby
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phen
Tubin) the set continued Wainwright's gradual shift to incorporating rock
elements into his sound. It also
left you with the impression Arista was applying considerable pressuring on
him to start selling records. I'd be lying it I told you this was one
of Wainwright's best collections. Like everything in his catalog the
album had its moments. Sporting a full-up rock arrangement, the title
track should have registered with anyone with a high school, or college
education. Another track set to a rock arrangement, penned when he was
32, 'Watch Me Rock, I'm
Over Thirty' was actually funnier. 'Golfin'
Blues' and 'The Heckler' were mildly funny and entertaining. At least
to my ears Wainwright was at his best when he addressed personal issues and
experiences. Written for his young daughter, 'Pretty
Little Martha' was a simple banjo powered ballad, yet the lyrics of loss
were devastating. 'Fear with
Flying' may not have been as personal, but the lyrics were darkly funny and
it rocked. Elsewhere
the material wasn't as impressive; leaving you the impression Wainwright was
starting to run out of energy and material. Wainwright once admitted he
wasn't a big fan of the album.
