40 Odd Years
Loudon Wainwright III · 2011
309 min · 107 tracks · blues
A reflective tapestry of folk-infused storytelling, blending humor and melancholy across generations and experiences.
Top tracks — play these first
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School Days Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Dead Skunk — This track exemplifies Wainwright's signature blend of humor and social commentary, showcasing his ability to turn everyday observations into engaging narratives.
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The Swimming Song — A quintessential Wainwright piece, this song captures nostalgia through vivid imagery, making it a standout representation of his reflective style.
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Thanksgiving — This track offers a poignant exploration of family dynamics and gratitude, highlighting Wainwright's skill in weaving personal stories into broader themes.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- reflective storytelling with humor
- dynamic journey of life's absurdities
- ideal for long reflective sessions
- light-hearted moments interspersed with depth
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer standalone singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Celebrates Wainwright's extensive catalog, showcasing his continued relevance and vitality.
- Themes
- family dynamics· nostalgic reflections· everyday humor· American folk storytelling
- Career context
- By the time '40 Odd Years' was released in 2011, Loudon Wainwright III had established himself as a significant figure in American folk music, with a career spanning over four decades. This album serves as a retrospective collection that showcases his growth and exploration as an artist, following his previous works like 'High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project' released in 2009.
- Stylistic neighbors
- John Prine· Steve Goodman· Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 School Days Start here 3:07
- 2 I Don't Care 4:09
- 3 Uptown 2:44
- 4 Be Careful, There's a Baby in the House 3:18
- 5 Saw Your Name In The Paper 2:13
- 6 Dead Skunk 3:07
- 7 New Paint 3:02
- 8 Drinking Song 2:56
- 9 The Swimming Song 2:29
- 10 Dilated to Meet You 2:05
- 11 Down Drinking at the Bar 3:59
- 12 The Man Who Couldn't Cry 6:17
- 13 Whatever Happened To Us (live) 2:04
- 14 Crime Of Passion (live) 3:01
- 15 Kick In The Head (live) 2:51
- 16 Summer's Almost Over 3:29
- 17 Just Like President Thieu 4:09
- 18 Golfin' Blues 2:53
- 19 The Heckler 4:26
- 20 Natural Disaster 2:16
- 21 Red Guitar 1:57
- 22 Hollywood Hopeful 1:27
- 23 IDTTYWLM 4:07
- 24 Grammy Song 2:38
Disc 2
- 1 Westchester County 2:55
- 2 I'm Alright 2:23
- 3 Screaming Issue 4:50
- 4 Unhappy Anniversary 2:57
- 5 Your Mother And I 2:33
- 6 Synchronicity 3:10
- 7 Hard Day On The Planet 4:24
- 8 You Don't Want To Know 3:47
- 9 Bill Of Goods 3:23
- 10 Thanksgiving 5:42
- 11 Your Father's Car 2:25
- 12 When I'm At Your House 2:33
- 13 The Picture 2:34
- 14 Men 3:38
- 15 So Many Songs 3:54
- 16 Tip That Waitress 4:17
- 17 I'd Rather Be Lonely 3:00
- 18 April Fool's Day Morn 4:15
- 19 The Acid Song 5:24
- 20 IWIWAL 3:09
- 21 A Year 3:57
- 22 Dreaming 3:12
Disc 3
- 1 So Damn Happy 2:27
- 2 Primrose Hill 4:48
- 3 Bein' A Dad 3:43
- 4 Four Mirrors 2:57
- 5 It's Love And I Hate It 2:15
- 6 Christmas Morning 3:38
- 7 Pretty Good Day 4:22
- 8 White Winos 2:59
- 9 Bed 2:53
- 10 Surviving Twin 3:41
- 11 The Shit Song (live) 4:20
- 12 Between (live) 1:26
- 13 My Biggest Fan 6:02
- 14 When You Leave 5:24
- 15 Make Your Mother Mad 4:08
- 16 Daughter 3:35
- 17 Grey In L 3:17
- 18 Muse Blues 3:37
- 19 Motel Blues 3:22
- 20 The Deal 4:12
- 21 Rowena 2:35
- 22 High, Wide and Handsome 2:49
Disc 4
- 1 Weave Room Blues 3:23
- 2 Mcsorley's 3:48
- 3 Black Uncle Remus (Demo) 3:32
- 4 Funny Having Money 0:45
- 5 The Hardy Boyd At The Y (with The Boys Of The Lough) 3:36
- 6 Laid (Live) 3:51
- 7 Outsidey (Live) 3:18
- 8 That Cat 2:38
- 9 Surfin' Queen (Demo) 4:01
- 10 Newt 1:39
- 11 4x10 (Live) 2:53
- 12 Somethin' Stupid (with Barry Humphries) 2:10
- 13 The Miles (Live) 3:51
- 14 So Good So Far (Live) 6:09
- 15 Big Fish 2:59
- 16 No Sure Way 4:45
- 17 Hey There 2nd Grader 2:49
- 18 More I Cannot Wish You 2:30
- 19 Florida (Lucky You) 3:35
- 20 Hank And Fred (Live) 4:30
- 21 Your Eyes (Demo) 3:23
- 22 Dead Man 4:23
- 23 At The End Of A Long Lonely Day (with Suzzy Roche) 3:43
Disc 5
- 1 One Man Guy - 1993 Dutch television documentary
- 2 BBC4 Sessions: Loudon Wainwright: One Man Guy - Filmed at Bush Hall, London, on May 2, 2005 - 4 Songs
- 3 Loudon Wainwright III at The BBC - Aired on September 23, 2005 - 11 Songs
- 4 Dead Man - Filmed on May 24, 2010; recording session documentary
- 5 Entertainment Desk - Aired on Canadian television in 1995 - 1 Song with Martha Wainwright
- 6 High Wide & Handsome – The Charlie Poole Project - Filmed in 2009 for documentary on making of album
- 7 The Basement - Filmed in Sydney, Australia in 2008 - 1 Song with Lucy Wainwright Roche
- 8 Austin City Limits - 5 Songs
- 9 Saturday Night Live - Aired on NBC on November 15, 1975 - 2 Songs
- 10 The Garfield House - Filmed on May 24, 2010 - 6 Songs
- 11 826LA Benefit - Filmed on January 16, 2007 - 2 Songs
- 12 PBS Soundstage - Aired on February 2, 1977 - 1 Song
- 13 McCabe’s Guitar Shop - Filmed on February 3, 2007 - 1 Song
- 14 The Mike Douglas Show - Aired on April 25, 1978 - Interview and 1 Song
- 15 Nightline - Aired on ABC on June 22, 2005 - 1 Song
- 16 Carrott Confidential - Aired on BBC on February 14, 1987 - 1 Song
What to play next
Older Than My Old Man Now
2012
Continues the reflective storytelling with deeper personal themes.
10 Songs for the New Depression
2010
Sets a similar tone of introspection and social commentary.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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