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Steve Goodman Bio
Steve Goodman was the whole package.
He was a bottle rocket wrapped in blue ribbon; creating the feisty sparks you get from living in Chicago, but dealing the wry kind of blue you get from being a Cubs fan. He was articulate, funny, generous and a hell of a guitar player. Steves live shows revealed the gifts of a jubilant soul with so much to say.
Live at the Earl of Old Town was recorded on August 14, 1978 at the intimate Chicago nightclub that was the launching pad for Steve, John Prine, Bonnie Koloc and many other singer-songwriters. These rare concert tapes were salvaged from the dusty corners of the Chicago Recording Company. They are a celebration of Steve's artistic acumen. Away from the studio, Steves extended guitar runs incorporated dramatic flamenco, blues, ragtime, swing and country. As a musician, he was bigger than life. People forget that.
Steve was the whole package, but he thought outside the box. He championed the lost treasures of 1930s African-American string musicians Martin, Bogan and Armstrong [Carl Martins Lets Give a Party is covered here]. Months before his death in 1984 Steve wrote that mandolinist Martins inspiration rules my musical character to this day. Steve picked up his evocative jazz chords from Chicago folk singer Terry Callier, and he was drawn to Jethro Burns like corn to cob. Most people knew Jethro for his role in the Homer & Jethro comedy team. Steve knew Jethro as one of Americas premiere mandolin players; so of course, theres Jethro, sitting in with a man-in-the-moon smile on this unique set. Steve also pays tribute to jazz violinist Joe Venuti, who had died suddenly the day of Steves concert. Joe had been scheduled to appear at a Holiday Inn in downtown Chicago.
Steves first national tour was as an opening act for Steve Martin. His quick wit and engaging stage presence brought charisma into American folk music. Before Steve, folk singers stood behind a microphone, strummed a guitar and sometimes even smiled. Steve played guitar, and he was a master storyteller, a key ingredient in country music songwriting. After Steve, there was Jimmy Buffett. Buffett collaborated with Steve and admits he learned how to work an audience from watching Steve. Live at the Earl of Old Town is a magical transformer into this energy.
Steve is as comfortable singing Bobby Days 1958 hit Rockin Robin, as he is bringing Delta blues into the gospel standard Ill Fly Away, accompanied here by Chicago harmonica ace, Corky Siegel. Shel Silvesteins Three Legged Man is covered here, as well as the tropical tinged The Family Tree, a rarely heard Steve composition that indeed would sound at home in a Buffett set. On the day of this concert, the Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves 13-7. They were just four games out of first place, and Steve was excited. He transformed When the Saints Go Marching In into When the Cubs Go Marching In, impulsively chanting the names of Cubs stars like Dave Kingman and Bruce Sutter.
The Cubs finished 11 games out of first place.
Thats what being a Cubs fan can do to you. Steve knew how to bring life and humor into the most ordinary situation, but there was nothing ordinary about the sound of Steve Goodman. He is the long summer night of youth, a place where you see fireworks, stars and all the possibilities of American music.
DAVE HOEKSTRA
CUBS FAN
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, July, 2006
