Copied from the Postcard 1 digest:
Man in the Sand, the film about the making of Mermaid Ave. was shown
today
at a music related film festival in Portland. Supposedly this was a
pre-release video version - I don't know when it is to be formally
released. Anyway - don't miss this movie. The film focuses on Bragg
and
Nora Guthrie but includes lots of footage of
the practice and recording sessions with Wilco. It provides some Woody
history which offers a great context for the Mermaid songs - gave me a
new perspective on "At my window sad and lonely." There is some
interesting footage of Bragg and Tweedy going over song writing credits
and a hint of the conflict that went on when selecting songs for the
album. There is a really funny sequence where the mixing/editing
process is haunting Bragg
and his young son walks in - I won't give it away here. Also some
really
funny stuff with Bragg and Natalie Merchant. Throughout the film Nora
Guthrie provides narration about her dad and his life. The film
provides
interesting insights on the special relationship that Nora and Bragg
develop through the project.
Musical highlights include fragments of California Stars, Way over
Yonder,
She Came Along to Me, Ingrid Bergman, At My Window..., and an unreleased
Merchant sung children's song. We got great full versions of Hoodoo
Voodoo and the unreleased When the Roses Bloom Again - I'm not sure
about
that title.
I spoke with some folks who attended and had never heard the album or
Wilco who greatly enjoyed the film. It is put together very well and
wonderfully weaves the story of Woody's life into the story of the
recording. Don't miss it.
There was a very brief segment with Arlo talking about This Land is Your
Land. Does anybody know if Arlo was involved in the Woody archives
project or how he feels about the music on Mermaid Ave.? Why hasn't
Arlo
tried what Bragg and Wilco have done?
