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Some Rare Bootlegs – One Original and A Few Covers

As a producer, I'm really interested in interpretation," Street continues. "But most people don't even begin to put their own personalities into their music. Chris, though, has gone all the way through the blues and out the other side. He's really the only guy around who has that thing that Jimi Hendrix and Robert Johnson … Continue reading Some Rare Bootlegs – One Original and A Few Covers

Expenses and Revenues of a Representative Record Contract

Excerpt from Steve Albini, "The Problem with Music." The Baffler No. 5, December 1993 These figures are representative of amounts that appear in record contracts daily. There’s no need to skew the figures to make the scenario look bad, since real-life examples more than abound. Advance: $250,000 Manager’s cut: $37,500Legal fees: $10,000 Recording Budget: $150,000Producer’s … Continue reading Expenses and Revenues of a Representative Record Contract

More Heat-Seekers than Heat: Understanding Chris’s ‘Success’

In the United States, the top one percent of the population has over 15 times more wealth than the bottom 50 percent, as of late 2020:  "According to the latest Fed data, the top 1% of Americans have a combined net worth of $34.2 trillion (or 30.4% of all household wealth in the U.S.), while … Continue reading More Heat-Seekers than Heat: Understanding Chris’s ‘Success’

A Guide to Chris Whitley’s Gear 2: Acoustic Guitars

Chris played a variety of acoustic guitars, ranging from resonators - e.g., his most-often used Nationals and Dobros - to standard acoustics, such as those made by Martin and Gibson.  We are lucky to have a photo of Chris playing one of his first resonators, which Hiroshi Suda has identified as an OMI (Original Musical … Continue reading A Guide to Chris Whitley’s Gear 2: Acoustic Guitars

Mystery Gig: 1995-06-20

Here's an 11-song set whose origins are unclear.  I think that I might have downloaded it from one of those monster bootleg sites, e.g., Wolfgang's or the Concert Archives.  Both of those sites are notoriously lacking in reliable data, so it's possible that the date is wrong.  Further, there's no venue provided.  But it's clearly … Continue reading Mystery Gig: 1995-06-20

Long Way Around: An Anthology 1991 – 2001

In the liner notes for this anthology, Bradley Bambarger wrote "The most compelling, communicative music resonates with a 'cry,' whether it embodies a wail of pain and despair or the not-so-dissimilar shouts of spiritual elation and sexual healing.  ... [E]nduring music often echoes the real, remembered or empathetic cry of the listener.  Chris Whitley's music … Continue reading Long Way Around: An Anthology 1991 – 2001

Reiter In Media

  Reiter In was recorded as a band featuring Chris Whitley & "The Bastard Club":  Heiko Schramm – bass guitar and backing vocals; Brian Geltner – drums, vibes, acoustic guitar, and backing vocals; Tim Beattie – harmonica, lap steel, and backing vocals; Kenny Siegal – baritone guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and backing vocals; Sean … Continue reading Reiter In Media