Ghetto Bells 		Ghetto Bells, his 12th album to date, finds Vic Chesnutt paired with a unique group of musicians to create his most textural and moodiest work yet. Van Dyke Parks plays piano, accordion and organ throughout, as well as arranging strings for the dramatic and lush opener, "Virginia". Guitarist Bill Frisell adds an otherworldly element to this collection of humidity drenched dream scenes. LA session bassist Dominic Genova (Beck, Alanis Morrisette, Tori Amos) handles the upright, while Vic`s good woman, Tina Chesnutt, takes care of the electric bass. Rounding out the group is the return of drummer Don Huffington, and Liz Durrett, who provides warm, ethereal backing vocals. A couple of tracks on Ghetto Bells - the languid "Forthright" and the minimalist "Gnats" - warrant comparisons to Robert Wyatt that go beyond simply being wheelchair bound. Producer John Chelew (John Hiatt, Richard Thompson) charges this exquisite and moving record from a profound and prolific artist.

Silver Lake		 Named after the hip Los Angeles community where many of the area's most wanted roots players congregated for the week-and-a-half recording blitz, Silver Lake may very well be his most realized record yet. Under the direction of producer Mark Howard (Lucinda, Tragically Hip) in the unique recording space of Real Music studios (within the Paramour Mansion) are: Doug Pettibone (Lucinda, Alejandro) on guitar and vocals, Daryl Johnson (Neville Brothers, Emmylou) on bass and vocals, Patrick Warren (Michael Penn, Tracy Chapman) on keyboards, Mike Stinson and Don Heffington (Dylan, Ramsay Midwood) both on drums - all of whom help give Vic's songs the wide range of dynamic and underlying power they yearn for. Though mostly subtle and timid, as is his style, there are several numbers here that let loose a bit, like "2nd Story", which spins into a Crazy Horse-like solo section. Charming muses on what boys and girls say, Styrofoam and the view from a hospital bed are but a few examples of his unique perspective.

Is The Actor Happy?		 Unquestionably Vic’s finest sounding record, with legendary producer John Keane (R.E.M., Widespread Panic, Indigo Girls) at the helm. It contains several of his most acclaimed songs, including “Gravity Of The Situation,” “Onion Soup” and “Free Of Hope.” “Assist” was recorded for a Dutch radio program. “What Surrounds Me” and “Thailand” (early version) were done at a friends apartment in Brooklyn. “Fun Party/Shoestring Store” was recorded in Nashville his friends, the band Lambchop.


Drunk

Actually recorded before WOR was even released, this album is Vic’s edgiest and most out there. The package has also been completely redesigned to more closely meet Vic’s original ideas. The bonus tracks are from several sources. “Cutty Sark,” “Lillian Gish” and “Arthur Murray” are outtakes from the album sessions. “Bad Boy Town” is a rocker that originally appeared on the B-side of the 7” single of “Sleeping Man.” This album is dedicated to the late Michael Houser, former guitarist of Widespread Panic.


West Of Rome

Considered by many Vic aficionados to be his best album, it has been slightly reconfigured. We have moved “Latenet/Blatant” into the bonus track section so that the record opens with “Bug” as Vic and producer Michael Stipe originally intended. The final track in the main body of the album was an instrumental “hidden track,” and is now listed as track #14 and titled “Little Fugue.” The first two bonus tracks, “Nathan” and “Where’s The Clock,” are the only two outtakes from the WOR sessions. “Flying” is of special note in that a snippet of this recording was included in the documentary film ‘Speed Racer.’ It has long been sought after by Vic fans and is often requested at concerts. “Shippin’ Out” is an unearthed gem. Vic doesn’t remember where it was recorded but knows it was from the WOR time period.


Little

The fifteen tracks here represent the complete recording session for the album, which took place on October 6th, 1988 and was produced by Michael Stipe. There were ten on the original album – we now add the five outtakes in the bonus track section. Of special note are “Bernadette” which was re-recorded in 1998 for his album The Salesman And Bernadette. “Miss Mary,” another early version, it was re-recorded and released on the next album, West Of Rome. “Elberton Fair” is actually a poem that Vic put to music. The words were written by Vic’s close friend, author and Georgia historian, John Seawright. John sadly passed away in 2001. Vic dedicates this reissue of Little to him.