SONG OF THE DAY
“I Had Something” by Lucy Kaplansky (The Red Thread, Red House Records, 2004). Written by Lucy Kaplansky and Richard Litvin.
MY TAKE
I first heard this song on Putumayo’s American Folk album, and have since bought Kaplansky’s album The Red Thread because this track peaked serious interest in me—which is saying something major because everything on that well-curated compilation disc was a stand out to me. This Putumayo collection has definitely been one of my favorite albums since 2007, when I started getting into Putumayo, because it essential served as my 101 introductory course into the contemporary folk music scene, which, after having been a traditional and ’60s folk fan my whole life, felt like a natural progression in my late twenties. Reading the interesting facts from wikipedia (found below) alone would probably peak anyone’s interest in Lucy Kaplansky, even without hearing her music. But combine her fascinating biography with the little taste of genius you get hearing this song, and I guarantee you’re a Lucy Kaplansky fan by the end of the day. Money down on this one. Enjoy!
Putumayo’s American Folk Track List
- Pale Moon – Shannon McNally
- You Don’t Make It Easy Babe – Josh Ritter
- She Don’t Like Roses – Christine Kane
- Don’t Look for Me – Jeffrey Foucault
- Pour – Lori McKenna
- I Had Something – Lucy Kaplansky
- Shirt – Peter Mulvey
- Boots of Spanish Leather – Nanci Griffith
- Rowing Song – Patty Griffin
- Jubilee – Dan Littleton/Elizabeth Mitchell
- Owensboro – Natalie Merchant
- Judge Not Your Brother – Eric Bibb (previously unreleased)
INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)
– The Red Thread is the fifth solo album by New York singer-songwriter Lucy Kaplansky, released in 2004.
– Kaplansky has a PhD in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University.
– Kaplansky was originally from Chicago, and at the age of 18, decided not to go to college, and moved to New York City. She became involved in the city’s folk music scene, particularly around Greenwich Village, where she played with, among others, Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin and Richard Shindell.
– In 1983, she decided to become a psychologist, enrolling in Yeshiva University. She continued playing music while doing her PhD, and began to have some success as part of a duo with Colvin. However, when they began to attract record company interest, Kaplansky declined, choosing instead to set up a private practice and become a staff psychologist at a New York hospital. For several years, she concentrated largely on her work, and played little in the way of concerts. However, she still did some session work, such as singing backing vocals in the studio for Suzanne Vega.
– By the early 1990s she found herself increasingly drawn back to music. Colvin, who by this time had experienced some commercial success, offered to produce an album for her. The result, The Tide, a mixture of her own songs and several covers, was released by Red House Records in 1994. At this time, she decided to give up her psychology practice, and return to music full-time. She released four more albums before her latest, Over The Hills, was released in 2007.
– In 1998 Kaplansky joined with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell to form the folk group Cry Cry Cry, which made an album and toured at length before going their separate ways.
– Her Ten Year Night album in 1999 won rave reviews and boosted her popularity, leading to performances on CBS-TV.
– She is in high demand as a backing vocalist on the records of others, being a semi-regular collaborator with John Gorka and Nanci Griffith.
– Her father was the noted mathematician Irving Kaplansky. Lucy Kaplansky sometimes performs songs composed by her father (who was also an accomplished pianist) on mathematics-related themes.
Lucy Kaplansky’s Official Website