Red House is the label that Greg Brown more or less built, turning his own microscopic imprint over to others who made it an independent power in the folkie, singer-songwriter world with a roster of more than 60 artists. Here Red House returns the favor with an all-female cast — including Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gillian Welch, Iris DeMent, Lucinda and Victoria Williams — doing strong turns on chapters from Brown’s own extraordinary songbook.
Brown’s wry humor, insights into the human condition, and feel for the prairie lands have attracted a devoted following over the years. Those addicted to his low grumble will adjust easily to the interpretations by this stellar cast. Ani Difranco takes to his personal "Poet Game" as if it were her own, with effective help from bass clarinet; Lucinda Williams’s work on "Lately" is as forlorn and naked as on her own best compositions. Ferron warbles forcefully on the hardest-rocking tune on the set, "Where’s Maria?" And Red House regulars Lucy Kaplansky and Eliza Gilkyson are also on board, along with Brown’s daughters, who gather round the campfire for a harmonious "Ella Mae." Royalties go to the Breast Cancer Fund.