Album II
Loudon Wainwright III · 1971
35 min · 12 tracks · blues
A blend of whimsical storytelling and poignant introspection, woven through folk melodies and bluesy guitar riffs.
Top tracks — play these first
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Me and My Friend the Cat Start here — accessible entry with whimsical storytelling
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Motel Blues — This track exemplifies Wainwright's talent for vivid storytelling, capturing the loneliness and absurdity of travel life with sharp wit.
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Nice Jewish Girls — With playful lyrics and an engaging melody, this song showcases Wainwright's humor while addressing cultural themes relevant to his upbringing.
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Be Careful, There’s a Baby in the House — This track blends domestic imagery with a sense of caution, revealing Wainwright's knack for juxtaposing lightheartedness with underlying seriousness.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases a mix of humor and introspection through varied songwriting and guitar work, establishing Wainwright's unique voice.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks that blend humor with storytelling, while the second half shifts to more introspective themes.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements, particularly in 'I Know I'm Unhappy / Suicide Song / Glenville Reel', which combines different musical styles.
- The guitar work throughout is predominantly fingerpicked, creating a distinct bluesy texture that complements Wainwright's vocal delivery.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- witty storytelling with sharp humor
- steady mid-tempo reflective moments
- intimate acoustic arrangements throughout
- light-hearted narratives for sharing
- easy background listening for gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy dance tracks
- prefer standalone singles over albums
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Album II solidified Wainwright’s reputation in folk music, showcasing his narrative style.
- Themes
- motel loneliness· Jewish cultural identity· domestic absurdity
- Career context
- Released in 1971, Album II marked Loudon Wainwright III's second studio effort, following his self-titled debut the previous year. By this time, he was refining his unique blend of humor and melancholy, establishing a distinct voice in the singer-songwriter movement that was gaining momentum during the early '70s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- John Prine· Steve Goodman· Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Tracklist
- 1 Me and My Friend the Cat Start here 3:23
- 2 Motel Blues 2:50
- 3 Nice Jewish Girls 2:09
- 4 Be Careful, There’s a Baby in the House 3:18
- 5 I Know I'm Unhappy / Suicide Song / Glenville Reel 3:10
- 6 Saw Your Name in the Paper 2:14
- 7 Samson and the Warden 3:09
- 8 Plane, Too 3:10
- 9 Cook That Dinner, Dora 2:06
- 10 Old Friend 2:57
- 11 Old Paint 3:50
- 12 Winter Song 3:30
What to play next
Album III
1972
Continues the blend of storytelling and folk melodies with new themes.
Loudon Wainwright III
1970
Introduces the whimsical style that leads into Album II's introspection.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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