Events/News
"Troublemaker"
Olympia, WA - Lost Cause Records is proud to announce the release of singer/songwriter/pianist CLINT MORGAN's TROUBLEMAKER on JULY 16, 2021. The 15-song offering of Morgan’s quirky stories of life was co-produced by Grammy-award winning producer Kevin McKendree and Clint Morgan, and features collaborations with multiple Blues Music Award winners Watermelon Slim, Bob Margolin, and Jonn Del Toro Richardson as well as alt-country icon Kinky Friedman and Americana gospel greats The McCrary Sisters.
Additional musicians featured on TROUBLEMAKER include pianist/organist Kevin McKendree (Brian Setzer, Delbert McClinton); guitarist Doug Lancio (John Hiatt, Patti Griffin); bassist David Santos (John Fogerty); drummer Kenneth Blevins (John Hiatt, Don Williams); blues harmonica virtuoso Bob Corritore; violinist Jimmy Stewart; background singer Wendy Moten; and multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke, whose credits include a virtual who's who of American music.
Morgan’s rootsy album mixes original songs with new interpretations of blues, country, and gospel gems. Songs include the rocking Morgan compositions “Hangman Woman” (“I’ve got a hangman woman/got a heart just like a noose”) and “My Honey Takes My Money”. “Ain’t That The Blues,” is a rumination on growing old and “Hungry Man Blues,” tells the tale of a man looking for a good meal. “Too Rich To Sing The Blues” is Morgan’s wry, sidewise commentary on privilege and the blues. Alt country legend Kinky Friedman joins Morgan on the hilarious “Somebody Put A Walmart On The Farm,” and Watermelon Slim and Bob Margolin contribute to “The Cover Of The Living Blues" -- a parody of the great Shel Silverstein's "Cover of The Rolling Stone". The powerhouse vocals of The McCrary Sisters help drive the story in the classic gospel “Go Down, Moses,” and Houston-based bluesman Jonn Del Toro Richardson joins in on Morgan’s commentary on the Texas tragedy, “Hurricane Harvey.” The songs range from raucous to heart-rending, all backed by a stellar musicians.
"What I’ve tried to do with this album is to tell stories – some tongue in cheek, some serious – about everyday people and everyday life. We have all had frustrations in relationships, problems with growing old, spiritual questions, and trouble adapting to change. Even in these crazy times of turmoil and unrest, people still have the same problems they have always had. I guess some of this is filtered through my own skewed sense of humor which has got me in trouble my whole life (hence the title of the album). I just hope that this is taken in the spirit in which it is offered; I would rather poke at people a little than harangue them to make a point. I also hit social topics such as privileged people – people with absolutely no life experience frame of reference - singing blues, corporate takeovers of our rural communities, and our views of advocates of change. I’m hoping that people will enjoy the mix, and that I’ll hopefully get an ‘amen’ here and there.”
Clint Morgan, an accomplished blues and boogie-woogie piano player, was raised on a farm in rural Washington State. His family, originally from southern Appalachia, moved west 'back in the day' when land was cheap and the farming and logging was good. His great-great aunt was Eliza Morgan Bays, AP Carter's great grandma, and his paternal grandmother was related to the Carter Family by marriage.
TROUBLEMAKER is Morgan’s third album of original material, following his 2008 release You’re Really Bugging Me Now, and 2016’s critically-acclaimed Scofflaw. "The first time I ever heard of Clint Morgan was when I received 'Scofflaw' to review. And do you want to hear my objective opinion? I was blown away pretty much. This is in no way an ordinary album...Clint Morgan is a gifted blues and boogie-woogie piano player who sounds like early Johnny Cash and sometimes like Willie Nelson...Honestly, this album is amazing. I have never heard anything quite like it…I was enthralled." (Making A Scene)
Additionally, Morgan is a volunteer instructor/performer at the Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshops in Clarksdale, MS. He produced fellow pianist Clay Swafford’s Blues Music Award-nominated album Rooster. The biography on Morgan’s web page is short on story and long on a list of influences that includes dozens of artists that have colored his music, from blues and gospel, to old-school country and Americana, to rock and roll pioneers.
"Scofflaw"
Lost Cause Records is pleased to announce the release of Scofflaw, the sophomore album of singer/songwriter/pianist Clint Morgan. The 18-song tale of loss and redemption features collaborations with multiple Grammy nominee Maria Muldaur and multiple Blues Award nominee and winner Diunna Greenleaf.
Morgan’s rootsy album mixes original songs with interpretations of blues, country, and gospel gems and classics, all of which follow the record’s tortured protagonist through his years as a criminal and fugitive with songs like the droning and driving alt country Morgan composition “Waco” (“Lord, don’t let me go back to Waco/My soul burns every time I do”), the alt country “I Love Robbing Banks” and the unlikely, minor-key cover of Bob Dylan’s “Wanted Man," which was a hit for Johnny Cash.
The powerhouse vocals of Greenleaf help drive the story in blues duets on Morgan’s “I Don’t Know Where to Turn” and the Bessie Smith dark humor classic “Send Me to the ‘Lectric Chair," as well as background vocals on the prison song, "Eastham Farm." The story “comes home” in the album’s closing numbers with assists from Muldaur on the classic hymn “Softly and Tenderly” and “I Done Made It Up In My Mind," a gospel song authored and produced by the roots music legend (“Midnight at the Oasis”).
What the critics are saying about Clint Morgan's "SCOFFLAW," released June, 2016 by Lost Cause Records:
"A sweeping conceptual masterpiece of Americana. One of the Top Ten best roots albums of 2016." (Nick Cristiano/Philadelphia Inquirer)
"A sprawling, out-of-left-field Americana masterpiece." (BVT News) "I highly recommend 'Scofflaw' for the way Clint Morgan not only tells difficult stories, but also shows how some pretty dark moments can turn into times of redemption and hope." (Eric Steiner/Bluesletter)
"A 19-song set full of Americana-flavored blues, boogie woogie and country with healthy doses of old school rock and roll. It's a sound that recalls bits of pieces of artists like Paul Thorn and Watermelon Slim while still allowing plenty of Morgan's ample personality to shine through...for those who discover this diamond in the rough, they'll be smitten with Morgan's great songwriting and his rich musical backdrop, dripping with southern flavored Americana." (Andrew Greenhaigh/Country Standard Time)
"If cookie-cutter country music leaves you cold, check out Clint Morgan. On his sophomore release, the singer-songwriter and boogie woogie piano player drives a rootsy sound that mixes blues and rock with country in the spirit of Steve Earle and Johnny Cash" (Mike Cote/Union Leader)
"The romantic allure of post-Civil War outlaws like Jesse James, Cole Younger, and the Daltons are still motivating songwriters one hundred fifty years later. It’s impossible to listen to this epic themed album without recalling Paul Kennerley’s 'Legend of Jesse James', which was issued in 1980….the music sounds pretty similar, mostly country and rockabilly, but 'Scofflaw' leans much more toward blues and gospel too. One reason the two albums sound somewhat alike, aside from the subject matter, is that Morgan’s voice is reminiscent of Johnny Cash both in tone and phrasing...The rich liner notes further explain the stories. There’s plenty to dig into here and you don’t often find a collection of players across multiple genres on one record. Listen up as Morgan has tales to tell." (Jim Hynes/Elmore)
"With his classic country baritone voice and a delivery that ranges from sly to desperate, vocalist/pianist Morgan proves one more time that villains can be as charming as they are ruthless... Mr. Morgan's studio backup is first-rate and guesting vocally are Maria Muldaur and Diunna Greenleaf. Strong airplay candidates include 'Waco', 'D.B. Cooper Blues' and a splendidly country-fied workup of the Johnny O’Keefe rock classic,'Wild One'." (Duane Verh/Roots Music Report)
"'Scofflaw' is a weighty tome, a creation melding the complexities of beauty and ugliness that few recording projects attempt let alone accomplish. It will be displayed in pride of place alongside 'The Man from God Knows Where', 'My Favorite Picture of You', 'American Ballads', 'The Way I Should' and other classic folk recordings on my shelf. But, not yet—I want to listen again." (Donald Teplyske/Fervor Coulee) "
"A captivating listen from beginning to end." (Mark Smith/Music Revue)
"This just may be the best CD you will hear this year!…outstanding...he musicians are top rate, the quality of the recording is just right, this is one you've got to have!" (Barry Faust/Smoky Mountain Blues Society)
"The first time I ever heard of Clint Morgan was when I received 'Scofflaw' to review. And do you want to hear my objective opinion? I was blown away pretty much. This is in no way an ordinary album...Clint Morgan is a gifted blues and boogie-woogie piano player who sounds like early Johnny Cash and sometimes like Willie Nelson...Honestly, this album is amazing. I have never heard anything quite like it…I was enthralled." (Rhetta Akamatsu/Making A Scene)
"If you love traditional blues with traditional themes, then you are going to love this wonderful set by pianist/vocalist Clint Morgan, who explores a plethora of traditional styles, many based around criminality with spirituality and gospel thrown in for good measure...a set that delights on all levels." (Mick Rainsford/Blues In Britain)
"5 stars ***** outstanding...If you like piano-powered music including boogie, rock, jazz and more, here’s one for you." (Ricky Flake/Sun Herald) "
'Scofflaw' is truly a prime example of Americana at its best. Deeply rooted in folklore and legend, bringing images from the old west and the depression years up into modern times. The characters are timeless and this is an album that will continue to grow on you with each subsequent listen. Each number is like watching its own movie. Spectacular story-telling done right." (Greg Johnson/Cascade Blues Association)
"Singer, songwriter, piano player and master storyteller Clint Morgan manages to capture the pain and desperation of a life devoid of all hope, as well as the joy when things turn for the better. I have quite honestly never heard it done better...an incredibly powerful and passionate piece of work." (Bill Wilson/Reflections In Blue)
"Excellent musicianship makes this one blues history lesson we know you’ll enjoy!" (Don & Sheryl Crow/Nashville Blues Society)
"All pretenders to the roots music throne better get out the way of this comer that hits it out of the park with ease. Hot stuff throughout." (Chris Spector/Midwest Record)
"I knew I was going to like the new Clint Morgan 'Scofflaw' CD even before I stuck it in the player...great stories set to rough and rowdy music." (Jim Clark/The Courier) "Clint Morgan has a new CD called 'SCOFFLAW' that just may be the best CD you will hear this year! Singer, songwriter, and pianist Clint Morgan will soon be known worldwide for this outstanding CD. I rarely gush, but .... Get a copy! You can hear it 20 times and still hear new stuff. Just top notch! If you don’t like this one, you better give up music! Clint Morgan – SCOFFLAW……soon to be a household words!" (Blue Barry – Smoky Mountain Blues Society)
"Rootsy american music at its most accomplished." (Big City Blues) "A potent mix of roots music." (Tom Wilk/ICON)
thanks sooo much for the kind words, guys!!!
