Wendy Waldman
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Pop/rock
Status:
Most recent release, Back By Fall: A Retrospective (digital compilation, 2012); most recent regular studio album, My Time in the Desert (2007)
See also:
Wendy Waldman pageThe Ectophiles' Guide entry for Bryndle
Wendy Waldman also records with Cindy Bullen and Deborah Holand as The Refugees
Comparisons:
Other singer-songwriters of the late '70s and the '80s
Covers/own material:
Mostly own
General comments:
Wendy was part of the west coast sound that included the likes of Karla Bonoff, Linda Ronstadt and Maria Muldaur among others. She never really achieved the level of popular success that the others did, although her songs have been popularized by others. One of my favorites growing up. Another under-appreciated artist.
Her album covers say such things as "devoid of polemical zeal," "unswervingly hedonistic," and that her stated purpose is "to make music that makes people sing". (rkrato@tampabay.rr.com)
Recommended first album:
Love Is The Only Goal: The Best Of Wendy Waldman is the most readily available, and is probably a good starting place.
Recordings include:
- Love Has Got Me (1973)
- Gypsy Symphony (1974)
- Wendy Waldman (1975)
- The Main Refrain (1976)
- Strange Company (1978)
- Which Way to Main Street (1982)
- Letters Home (1987)
- Love Is The Only Goal: The Best Of Wendy Waldman (compilation, 1996)
- Seeds and Orphans (compilation, 2003)
- My Time in the Desert (2007)
- Seeds & Orphans, Volume 2 (compilation, 2009)
- Back By Fall: A Retrospective (digital compilation, 2012)
The Main Refrain
Release info:
1976—Warner—BS 2974
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Essential for almost everyone. (rkrato@tampabay.rr.com)
Group members:
Wendy Waldman—piano, guitar, vocals, dulcimer
Guest artists:
Andrew Gold—guitar, piano, vocals
Linda Ronstadt—vocals
Karla Bonoff—vocals
Taj Mahal—vocals
Waddy Watchel—guitar
Steve Cropper—guitar
Jim Horn—horns
Nick DeCaro—accordion
Milt Holland—congas
Victor Feldman—vibes
Steve Ferguson—mandochord
Ken Edwards—bass, vocals
Peter Bernstein—bass
David Kemper—drums
Nichael Botts—drums
King Errisson—percussion
Produced by:
Peter Bernstein
Strange Company
Release info:
1978—Warner—BSK 3178
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Essential for almost everyone over 40. (rkrato@tampabay.rr.com)
Group members:
Wendy Waldman—piano, guitar, vocals, dulcimer, clavinet Steve Beers—drums, percussion Peter Bernstein—bass Mark Goldenberg—guitar, piano, organ, imitation 12-string guitar, vocals Craig Hull—guitar, slide guitars, buzz saw, vocals
Guest artists:
Debbie Dobkin—vocals, percussion
Cat Hendrikse—drums
Peter Robinson—piano
Peter White—organ, clavinet
Produced by:
Mike Flicker
Love Is The Only Goal: The Best Of Wendy Waldman
Release info:
1996—Warner Archives—9 46042-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Comments:
I had actually lost all hope that her music would ever be on CD, so it was a very pleasant surprise to stumble onto that CD one day. It's a really nice transfer, by the way, really clean, and clocks in at a generous 70:37! Finally, to be able to hear fine songs like "Western Lullaby," "Love Has Got Me," "Cold Back on Me," "Wild Bird," "Living is Good," without pops and clicks.
My only "disappointment," though a minor one, was that she for some reason felt compelled to rerecord the classic "Mad Mad Me" for this CD. While it's as pretty as the original, I wanted the original! :( Oh well. (alundra@netos.com)
Thanks to Rod Kratochwill for work on this entry.
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