Folk, Labor Musicians Unite for Third Anti-Bush CD Hail to the Thieves, Volume III: Songs to Take Our Country Back! is a rousing call to action from the likes of Billy Bragg, Anne Feeney, Utah Phillips and folk musicians across the country. This new CD lays out the case against George Bush and his cronies with 20 songs, poems and stories in the best of the traveling, storytelling folk tradition. Also featured are Chuck Brodsky, Steve Brooks, The DC Labor Chorus, Graham and Barbara Dean, Jon Fromer, the group Girlyman, Evan Greer, Francisco Herrera, Colleen Kattau, John Lilly, Jolie Rickman, and Pat Wynne. The project is the third compilation CD by George Mann and Julius Margolin, who contribute four songs to the album. Mann produced the new CD from more than 60 songs submitted by songwriters from around the country. “I found a number of new artists, from among many great singers and songwriters, with incredibly powerful songs,” Mann said. “The songs tackle current issues from gay marriage to environmental racism and the disaster of George Bush’s war in Iraq. We're happy to be working with artists who use their music as a tool to raise awareness and build a sustainable movement for justice and peace. ” The artists are all working activists and represent many regions of the United States. Pittsburgh's Anne Feeney, on the road more than nine months a year, believes “People are so sick of bickering network talking heads that they don't want to think anymore. These songs will inspire thought, conversation and maybe even some spontaneous or concerted hellraising.” Joining them is British folk legend Billy Bragg, who contributed his “Bush War Blues” to the album. Celebrated storyteller and songwriter Utah Phillips, who contributes a new piece entitled “Ship Gonna Sail,” is encouraged by the artistic output in opposition to the Bush administration. “There never was a time when our people have created more songs of social protest,” Phillips said. “There never was a time when they were more needed. This CD is just the tip of the iceberg.” This is not your typical record production team. Julius turned 90 in August and is a lifetime union and peace activist. George teamed up with Julius in 1999 and they sing and record left-of-center folk and labor songs. They produced the first “Hail to the Thief! Songs for the Bush Years” CD in August 2001 and “Hail to the Thief II: Songs to Send Bush Packing!” in 2004. Based in New York City, they have spent years singing and traveling the country together. Copies of the CD are available for $15 (includes postage and shipping). International orders please add $3 for postage. Checks or money orders may be sent to: George Mann, P.O. Box 697, New York, NY 10033. Online purchase: www.cdbaby.com For more information, to hear audio clips, and to arrange interviews, check out www.georgeandjulius.com or use the contact info at the top of this release. -30- Here's a review: A whole buch of protest songs Reviewer: Kim Ruehl Hail to the Thieves Volume III - Songs to Take Our Country Back A Whole Bunch of Protest Songs Hail to the Thieves, by George Mann, Julius Margolian and Friends, is a CD for the skeptical leftist who feels unimpressed with the number of protest songs emerging from the mainstream these days, or for the open-minded moderate music fan looking for an excuse to vote out their incumbents this election year. "... For Freedom, Fair Elections and Peace" From Utah Phillips' call to arms, "There comes a time when the operation of the machine is so odious that you cannot even tacitly participate," to Colleen Kattau's referencing George W. Bush as "an imbecilic, lying father's son"; from Chuck Brodsky's "Liar, Liar Pants on Fire" to Patt Wynne's "I Stand With Cindy Sheehan," and Girlyman's "Commander," (not to mention the blatant title of the album) there's no mistaking what Hail to the Thieves' objection is. We'll come back to the politics in a moment. What makes this album better than the countless CDs being compiled in protest of the Bush administration and the War in Iraq is that the musicians are wonderful. You just can't top legends like Phillips and Billy Bragg. There's also the DC Labor Chorus ("None of us Are Free") and the Syracuse Community Choir ("Beholden (Peace Loving Nation)"). Appearances by Keyboardist Julie Wolf, backup vocals by Kim & Reggie Harris, and mandolin player John Rossbach, among others. "We Sing For Labor and We Sing For Peace ..." Beyond the musicianship, though, there are some seriously eye-opening lyrics on this record. Anne Feeney's "Defenders of Marriage," she sings snarkily about "defending the institution against people who want to be married." This is followed by Julius Margolian's catchy refrain: "If you're so hot for war, why don't you enlist / you don't mind sending others / that always gets me pissed." Some other choice lyrics "None of us are free if one of us is chained" (from the anthemic "None of Us Are Free"), "Better watch out what you say you don't wanna end up in Guantanamo Bay" (from "Bush War Blues"). "I'm a day-laborer, a so-called illegal, but ... if I go fight in Iraq, Bush will make me a citizen" ("Pero A Mi No Me Crean"), and my personal favorite, "What does that W stand for? Warmonger, weasel or just plain wrong." "Hail to the Thieves" is a great companion for anyone walking around with their fingers crossed, hoping against hope for peace, change and a more competent leader. There's Also Hope Make no mistake about it, Hail to the Thieves is a protest record that's almost as scathing as Neil Young's Living With War. The songs are a timely call-to-arms for progessive voters, activists and undermotivated left-leaners. Like many albums bent on protesting one particular thing, though, Hail focuses far more on what's wrong than on what's possible (just try sitting through "The Ballad of Hurricane Katrina" or "I Stand With Cindy Sheehan"). There are also some great tunes pointing out the absurdity of our leaders, like "Royally Oily." Then, just when you start to get a little depressed about everything that's going on, Utah Phillips comes along with his story about impending justice and peace, and how these things are inevitable and eventual, regardless of the circumstances. Whatever audience he's singing to wastes no time in singing along, "gonna build it anyway ... ship gonna sail some day," and it's hard to resist an honesty and hope like that. Highlights "Royally Oily" – Colleen Kattau "Defenders of Marriage" – Anne Feeney "If You're So Hot For War" – Julius Margolin "Bush War Blues" – Billy Bragg "Commander" – Girlyman "Pero A Mi No Me Crean" – Francisco Herrera "What Does that W Stand For?" – John Lilly "Ship Gonna Sail" - Utah Phillips Hail to the Thieves Vol III: Songs to Take Our Country Back is available at www.georgeandjulius.com