Souled American - Rise Above It: A Souled American Anthology *Pre-Order

Release Date Friday 21st February 2025
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.

TRACK LISTING
1. Notes Campfire / 2. Full Picture / 3. Lottery Brazil / 4. True Swamp Too / 5. Feel Better / 6. Mar’boro Man / 7. Wind To
Dry / 8. Over The Hill / 9. Why, Are You / 10. Around The Horn / 11. Rise Above It / 12. You / 13. In The Mud / 14. Little
Bessie / 15. Rock That Cradle Lucy / 16. Blue Eyes Cryin’ In The Rain / 17. Downblossom / 18. Heyday / 19. Before
Tonight / 20. Suitor’s Bridge

OVERVIEW
Asked in 2019 to select a song he wished he’d written, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy named “Before Tonight” by Souled American,
a lost song, a forgotten band. We always think we know the history of music that matters until we hear some unearthed
treasure like the unearthly Souled American and must account for how greatness this great gets forgot. Souled American
formed in 1987 with four musicians from Illinois—vocalist/ rhythm guitarist Chris Grigoroff, vocalist/bassist Joe Adducci,
electric guitarist Scott Tuma, and drummer Jamey Barnard. They were scouted and signed by popular independent label
Rough Trade Records. Their 1988 debut Fe and Lucinda Williams’ eponymous album became the label’s initial US
releases. The band madea total of four records for Rough Trade before the label went bankrupt and the music vanished.
They then made two records for Germany’s small Moll Töntrager which, scarcely distributed and poorly promoted, were
(as Abraham Lincoln would say) little noted nor long remembered. The Internet arrived but none of Souled American’s six
records ever found it. Engineer Jim Rondinelli (Wilco, The Jayhawks, Matthew Sweet, Urge Overkill) coproduced Fe and
calls Souled American, “far and away the most unique and fresh and talented band I ever worked with.” Engineer Brian
Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine, Counting Crows, Califone) co-produced their next three records. “I was
flabbergasted that they existed. I couldn’t believe there were people singing together like that in my generation. I was
utterly in love.” Rise Above It: A Souled American Anthology collects 20 tracks—a third of the band’s recorded output
between 1988-1996—newly remastered from their first six releases to tell the Souled American story (up to this point). The accompanying booklet features song lyrics from the band and liner notes from Camden Joy detailing the band’s
history, as well as their influence on and importance to the Americana/Alt-Country/Rock scene. Tweedy devoted a
chapter to “Before Tonight” in his 2023 bestseller World Within A Song. He began his praiseful paean with an admonition.
“This song,” wrote Tweedy, “is likely the hardest track to find of any I’ve included here . . .” Until now! Hopefully Rise
Above It: A Souled American Anthology addresses that. And much more.

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