Victory Gardens Explained

Victory Gardens is the debut album by the American musical duo John & Mary, released in 1991 by Rykodisc.^{[1] [2]} John Lombardo, former member of 10,000 Maniacs and responsible for much of their early music, brought elements of the early Maniacs sound; Mary Ramsey added a blend of folk and classical influences.

Victory Gardens was produced by Lombardo and recorded at Mitch Easter's Chapel Hill Drive-In Studio in Winston-Salem, NC. The album features 10,000 Maniacs members Robert Buck and Jerome Augustyniak as well as special guests Ronnie Lane (Small Faces), Joey Molland (Badfinger)^[3] and Augie Meyers (Sir Douglas Quintet, Texas Tornados).

The song "Red Wooden Beads" was included on Steal This Disc Vol. 3, part of a series of compact discs released by Rykodisc in 1991. "Rags of Flowers" was included on Troubadours of Folk Vol. 5: Singer-Songwriters of the '80s, part of a five volume series of compact discs released by Rhino Records in 1992.

Critical reception

Trouser Press called the album "a seductive, low-key delight".^[4] The Vancouver Sun opined that "Ramsey's voice is a little thin to be carrying the weight that these songs demand."^[5]

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey except where indicated

1. "Red Wooden Beads" – 2:53
2. "The Azalea Festival" – 4:28
3. "Piles of Dead Leaves" – 4:14
4. "We Have Nothing" (John Lombardo) - 3:47
5. "Rags of Flowers" – 3:20
6. "I Became Alone" – 3:33
7. "The Open Window" – 3:45
8. "July 6th" (John Lombardo) – 4:39
9. "Pram" (John Lombardo) – 3:21
10. "Un Canadien Errant" (Public Domain, arranged by Mary Ramsey) – 4:40

Personnel

John & Mary

• John Lombardo – 6 and 12 string guitar, bass, vocal, producer
• Mary Ramsey – vocal, viola, violin, piano, organ

Additional musicians

• Robert Buck – lead guitar, mandolin
• Jerome Augustyniak – drums, vocal (background - "We Have Nothing")
• Armand John Petri – percussion ("Un Canadien Errant"), engineer, mixing
• Ronnie Lane – vocal ("We Have Nothing")
• Joey Molland – vocal, guitar, guitar solo ("I Became Alone")
• Augie Meyers – accordion ("Un Canadien Errant")

Technical staff

• Stuart Sullivan – engineer
• Joe Barbaria – mixing
• Mitch Easter – engineer
• Toby Mountain – mastering
• Shannon Carr – mixing
• Dan Griffin – production

Singles

In 1991 Rykodisc released a 7-inch vinyl promotional-only single

1. "Red Wooden Beads" – 2:53
2. "The Azalea Festival" (live version) – 3:10

Notes and References

1. News: Okamoto . David . 'Victory Gardens' . Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph . Mar 15, 1991 . D9.
2. Puterbaugh . Parke . Victory Gardens by John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey . Stereo Review . Jun 1991 . 56 . 6 . 82.
3. News: Bream . Jon . Nightlife . Star Tribune . June 7, 1991 . 11E.
4. Web site: 10,000 Maniacs . Trouser Press . 20 July 2024.
5. News: Barrett . Tom . Rock/Pop . The Vancouver Sun . Apr 18, 1991 . F20.