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VIDALIA BELLE





IT'S OUR NEW ALBUM! 

Until shortly before commencing work on the rock opera you see laid before you,
I had not clocked precisely what The Threepenny Opera was. Nor the work upon
which it was based, The Beggar's Opera, despite having seen them performed
several times. I had been playing in a band with my wife Sarah and we
specialized in playing traditional and fake traditional songs. You certainly
know what a traditional folk song is. A fake traditional song would be, like,
Long Black Veil. It sounds old timey, but it was actually written in 1959. 
Researching repertoire for us to play, I discovered in the 18th century folks
would slap together the popular songs of the day, change around the words, and
tell a little tale on stage. This was called a ballad opera. That's what The
Beggar's Opera is.

 

It first occurred to me to compile and change the lyrics to a set of songs and
do a ballad opera for ourselves. Then I wondered if I could concoct my own
homemade fake traditional songs. Turns out I could!  

 
Sarah got busy with other things and we had to dissolve the best little old
Fairport Convention cover band in McLean County, Illinois. I kept on performing
the songs I had worked up and in doing so they began to feel more like rock
songs. I then convened the superb rock combo Constant Velocity and charged them
with turning this into a kickass rock opera. Viola!
 
I was determined at the outset to do my utmost to fashion the words so that the
plot, some kind of plot, could be clearly apprehended simply by listening to the
songs. In this I failed, not totally, but mostly! Our opera makes as much sense
as Tommy or The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. I'm afraid I can't do you any
better than that.
 
But that is not why I am writing so volubly about our album. Not understanding
whatever cockamamie "story" I have running in my head will not noticeably
detract from your experience. But your listening pleasure will be enhanced, I
think, if you have some idea of what kind of musical inspiration lies behind the
songs. 
 
But an understanding of neither thing is necessary to enjoy the album. Ars est
celare artem. Let's dive in!

 

 
 

 

06/21/2024

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