You Ain't Got No Easter Clothes-- a Memoir (Hyperion Books) Laura Love has an uncanny knack for getting an audience to listen. Today she is beloved by fans around the world for her funk-folksy music. But Love's life wasn't always so good. Growing up in racially troubled Nebraska, Love survived a miserable childhood, shuffling among a mentally unstable mother, foster homes, and orphanages. Despite the odds, Love survived, thanks ultimately to her enormous will. You Ain't Got No Easter Clothes is Love's wrenching, shocking, yet hopeful story of the survival of a deeply rooted, but broadly cultured woman. | Purchase book The CD will be released on July 27 and the book will be published on August 4.
You Ain't Got No Easter Clothes (KOCH) Laura Love, one of the best known singer-songwriters in the contemporary folk scene, channels the adversity of her past and diversity of her future into a powerful focal point somewhere in the mind's ear. "You Ain't Got No Easter Clothes" is an emotionally evocative collection of songs based around her new autobiography of the same title on Hyperion Books hat reflects on her rough and tumble life as a poor, African American child in small-town Nebraska. | Purchase CD The CD will be released on July 27 and the book will be published on August 4.
Welcome To Pagan Place (2003 KOCH KOC CD 8478) Laura's eighth release and her debut on KOCH Records finds her in political turmoil and as always, with a good dose of humor. She rails at the Bush administration and bemoans the homogenization of America then spins it around with a song about the joy and terror of becoming a foster mother on short notice, and wraps it all up with a killer medley involving Steve Miller and The Beatles. The rhythms range from slow, sexy R&B grooves to galloping country romps. There are danceable cuts, ballads and yes, a bit of yodeling. Jen Todd is prominently featured as a vocalist on this recording. Included tracks are I Want You Gone, Santa Rosa, Cain't Nobody, Trickle Down, Welcome To Pagan Place, Little Black Beetle, Can I Get A Wet Nurse, Starkweather, Happy Little Song, Fly Like An Eagle/Come Together and Talk About Sufferin'. | purchase cd ($16)
Fourteen Days (2000, Zoe 1015) Laura's first release post mega-corporate-record-business days. Zoe is the contemporary imprint of the well known, long loved Americana indie label, Rounder Records. Some of the songs on Fourteen Days were largely influenced by the WTO "battle in Seattle" that practically took place in Laura's backyard. She approaches the subjects of social (in)justice, environmental activism, and her pot bust of 1992 as only she can - with humor, sly lyrics and a wicked funk beat. Contains nine originals including the title track, I Am Going To Miss You, Sometimes Davey Wins, In Seattle, More Of You, Sativa, Way Off The Hook, Hey Bigelow, and Suddenly as well as beautiful covers of Shenandoah and Laura Nyro's Stoned Soul Picnic. | purchase cd ($16)
Shum Ticky (1998, Mercury 3145588662) Her last CD on Mercury Records was widely praised but was released just as Mercury's parent company was undergoing a massive corporate shakeup that left Laura without a label and this gem without promotion. It is full of Laura's trademark mix-up of funk, ethnic, folk and jazz and contains some of her favorite live tunes including the "butt" songs, Mahbootay and Give Me Five, as well as the title track, Woe Is Me, The Clapping Song (w/Sir Mix A Lot), Punctured and Hissing, Longfellow Creek, Sorry, Serenity and newly-recorded versions of Aha Me A Riddle I Day, I'm A Givin Way, Less Is More, and Bang Bang. |purchase cd ($16)
Octoroon (1997, Mercury 3145346492) Laura's major label debut kicked her career up a notch, giving her access to wider radio play, television appearances, and high profile print media. This beautifully crafted album contains some of Laura's most requested live tunes, her brilliant rendition of Amazing Grace and the "sea chantey song" Capricorn and Hominy, as well as the title track, Bad Feeling, Can't Understand, All The Pushin', I Am Wondering, June 4th Foundation, Simple, I Can Bring It Over, If I Knew, Blind Bartimus and her superb homage to Kurt Cobain, Come As You Are. | purchase cd ($16)
Jo Miller and Laura Love Sing Bluegrass and Old Time Music (1995, Rockin' Octoroon 100) Jo Miller, founding lead singer of the legendary cowgirl swing band, Ranch Romance, kept telling Laura, "Girl, you are a bluegrass tenor." Laura, not versed in this genre of Americana, ignored her. Finally, JO loaned her a stack of vintage Bill Monroe, Stanley Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs and Jimmy Martin vinyl. Laura listened and was hooked on the high and lonesome sounds. Between their other projects they recorded this superb collection of duet harmony bluegrass, folk and old time country tunes with a couple of contemporary songs included, all performed in a traditional style using acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, dobro, accordion and upright bass. If you love bluegrass you must get this CD. If you don't know anything about bluegrass, this is a great introduction to the genre. | purchase cd ($16) | purchase cassette ($10)
Helvetica Bold (1994, Octoroon Biography 004) The last CD released on her personal label, Helvetica Bold furthered Laura's penchant for mixing musical metaphors into a style that sounds perfectly natural. Laura combines her funk, folk and country flavored originals with a couple of heart rending traditional tunes and two choice covers. Helvetica Bold is a little more mellow than most of her recordings and is an excellent showcase for her soaring vocals. Contains the original version of Aha Me A Riddle I Day as well as Feels Like Love, Inside The Reason, High Divide Oh, Just Like You, Nothing But Kindness, folk songs Five Hundred Miles and Wayfaring Stranger, Jackie DeShannon's hit from the 60's, Put A Little Love In Your Heart, and an amazing version of Hank Williams' I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. |purchase cd ($16) | purchase cassette ($10)
Pangaea (1992, Octoroon Biography 003) Every recording artist has what they call their "magic" album - the one that comes together seamlessly, that says everything they have to say without belaboring the point, the one released at exactly the right time to the right audience. Pangaea is Laura's. It defines her signature style that has come to be called Afro-Celtic, is described by her fans over and again as the favorite album of their entire collection and launched Laura as a national artist. Contains original versions of I'm A Givin' Way, Less Is More and Bang Bang as well as All Our Lives, Anyway, Whenever Time Will Come, Nelson, If You Leave Me, This Place I Love, In A Heartbeat, Take A Ride, Voices, I Know and a beautiful cover of Leonard Cohen's Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye. | purchase cd ($16) | purchase cassette ($10)
Z Therapy (1990, Octoroon Biography 001) Laura's first full length CD showcases her emerging talent. These are some of the first songs she wrote and the CD is recorded with a loose handful of Austin studio musicians, as she had yet to assemble her now-veteran band. The result is a charming and revealing portrait of Laura as she begins to grow into what becomes her unique style. Contains a phenomenal rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and her originals, Things I've Heard People Think, My Friend Gi, Leave My Head Alone, Radiation, Statue, I Only Know, and Fences. | purchase cd ($16) | purchase cassette ($10)