Saturday, September 5, 2009

Loudon Wainwright III...there, I spelled it right....whew!.

Loudon Wainwright III was born this day in 1946, he turns 63 today.

Loudon began singing and playing guitar and writing songs in the late 1960's. With his first album released in 1970, he was heralded (yolked) as one of the many "New Dylans" of the day (Among which have been Bruce Springsteen, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson and on and on) such is the unimaginative, non-creativity of journalists and also reflects on the minds of the general public which feel a need for categorizing everything they digest.

Before I go on, here's my take on an early Loudon song.



Over the course of the last 39 years he has released 24 albums on 11 different labels.

Here's just a few of the great songs he's written and sings...enjoy...I hope you find a new favorite.

"He Said, She Said" about sexual incompatibility.

"Ukulele" cheering himself up

"OGM (Out Going Message)" Those tell-tale signs of an ended relationship.

"Rufus is a Tit Man" about his son and breast-feeding jealousy. No real video, but too good to ignore.



Loudon also takes a hand at acting on occasion.

Back in the early seasons of "M*A*S*H" he played the "Singing Surgeon" Captain Spalding for 3 episodes.

He appeared in "Big Fish" and "The Aviator" in recent years, and more steadily he has a bond with Judd Apatow who first saw Loudon on Saturday Night Live back in 1975 and when he grew up and became a big director/screen-writer, asked his hero to be in some of his projects. Loudon plays the priest at the end of "40 Year Old Virgin" and as the OB/GYN is "Knocked Up". He also composed and performs the soundtrack of the latter.

Happy Birthday Loudon!



And thanks for the songs.


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