Reupholstered started as a late-night idea of producer Jackson Hall, a frequent collaborator with NC roots/blues guitarist and songwriter Jon Shain. The idea—Hall assigns a favorite song each month for a year, Shain works up an arrangement, and they record a new cover version in Hall’s home studio. These would be tunes that Shain would not necessarily be familiar with and artist vetoes were highly discouraged by Hall. In fact, the working title of the album was “Jackson Made Me.” But, instead of assigning songs by Piedmont blues artists or other “more obvious” choices, Hall came up with a quirky list of pop tunes from the last 75 years. They hang together well (at times, surprisingly so). The early part of the 20th century is represented with songs by Cole Porter, Mississippi John Hurt, and Hank Williams. The 60s era is represented in Jimmy Webb’s classic “Galveston” and “Never My Love” (usually associated with the Association). The 70s brings us B-sides by Harry Nilsson, Elton John, Paul Simon, and Rick Danko, while more modern songwriters Elliott Smith and Frazey Ford (of the Be Good Tanyas) round out the collection. What started as just a lark of a recording project quickly developed into a more ambitious effort. In addition to Shain’s live group—FJ Ventre, John Currie, and Ecki Heins (bass, dobro, and fiddle, respectively)—Shain and Hall leaned on their wide circle of North Carolina-based musical friends to augment the recording. Upcoming singer-songwriter Lizzy Ross lent her vocals, as did The Old Ceremony’s Mark Simonsen, along with the brilliant duo Birds and Arrows. Bill Newton added harmonica and soprano sax. Joe Newberry played a mean clawhammer banjo. Josh Starmer contributed a string arrangement. Tom Maxwell and Nick Stevens joined Shain and Ventre for a live take of Rick Danko and Tim Drummond’s obscure track “Sip the Wine.” Shain also added bass, piano, lap steel, and mandolin tracks, as well. Mixed in FJ Ventre’s Good Luck Studio in Chapel Hill, NC, the result is a very eclectic album—some tunes you’ll recognize, some you won’t. There’s a lot of nice picking and collaborations, along with the pleasure of discovering new old songs. Sit back in your favorite old chair and enjoy!