We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

American Idle

by Mudcat

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    30 Miles Up is pleased to announce the arrival of blues/roots/Americana band Mudcat’s tenth studio album, American Idle. Vocalist and slide guitarist Danny Dudeck (Mudcat) is backed by the talents of Eskil Wetterqvist on percussion, Shannon Kirk on bass, and Lil Joe Burton on trombone. Guest appearances include Lori Beth Edgeman, Lola Gulley, and the Atlanta Horns.

    After creating and releasing five live-to-tape CDs, American Idle finds Mudcat returning to multi-tracking with the recording and engineering talents of Rob Gal. “This batch of new tunes was a bit different and benefitted from layering and soundscapes that required using the studio as an instrument,” said Mudcat. Fans will travel on an expansive musical journey from joyous, sing-along harmonies to psychedelic guitar riffs and sumptuous horn flourishes and then back home to front porch parties with close friends through the twelve original compositions.

    Includes unlimited streaming of American Idle via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 14 days

      $10 USD

     

1.
Born Perfect 03:38
Born Perfect Born perfect in a milky sea As we slept the Gods watched over thee Born perfect in a milky sea As we slept the Gods watched over thee Catching sharks out in the currency Taking bites out of reality All we do is cash the currency Come swim the reality Life is fine Dancing naked and drinking wine Hu Hu Hu Hu Mighty conqueror coming from the sea Lord Intruder I’m a refugee In Reality I want to be Like the blue man in the paintings I see Life is fine Dancing naked and drinking wine BLUE BLUE My dad was the dude that indeed Did the deed that was needed To bring me into this world To bring me into this world Life is fine Dancing naked and drinking wine Blue -D.Dudeck
2.
Picking up the pieces She tossed me a set of eyes Smashed my chin, snapped my neck In a manner blunt and derelict Churning volcano Your mouth is on fire Caribbean woman Molasses Razor wire We’ve got to pick up the pieces again... Reconstruction Your self-reliance makes me want to stand up and walk Weary, hungry, forgotten, shocked, Bishops in the flock Looking for loved ones among the destruction We need more encouragement for benevolent behavior Time is a weapon of distraction Time is distraction It's time people for reaction We’ve got to pick up the pieces again... Reconstruction Your self-reliance makes me want to stand up and walk People loving people People helping people People loving people love
3.
Cellblock 04:21
Cellblock Door It’s a cold feeling when they lock the cellblock door A lonesome feeling you will walk the floor It’s a cold feeling when they lock the cellblock door A lonesome feeling you will walk the floor You’ve got shackles on your hands You don’t feel like a man anymore People that run that Jail are mean and they aint no good People that run that Jail are mean and they aint no good They don’t treat person like a person should You’ve got shackles on your hands You don’t feel like a man anymore They are bullies and lazy The whole scene’s fucking crazy We must live and let live but it’s Hard to forgive yes it is If they let me go Won’t be a bad boy no more Take these shackles from my hands I am a man -D. Dudeck
4.
Nothing on my mind The winds brought change today The Sun was brilliant yesterday On the ground If they take my body away I’ll be with you anyway On the ground There is nothing on my mind That’s fine When the drama’s over and You feel like starting over Come see about me There are changes in the trees Flowers and the fleas Come see about me There is nothing on my mind That’s fine I have gathered from what I’ve heard There’s a monster in the Earth We’re spinning ‘round For what our spark is worth All the hard work We’re spinning ‘round There is nothing on my mind That’s fine D. Dudeck
5.
The Light When we meet somebody We stand before the light Down inside Burning bright Keeping eyes wide open Searching for the light Deep inside Shine Bright While I’m on this journey I tote this heavy load The weight is mine To carry alone When I loose this body Leave this world behind I am the light Shine bright © 2011 D. Dudeck / 30 miles Up/ ASCAP
6.
Only One 02:32
Only One You are the only one who likes to dance ‘til dawn Spinning records and kissing all night long You are the only one You are the one who knows how I like my eggs Only one with those sexy legs You are the only one At night when you ought to be dreaming You hold your head and you are weeping You are the only one who can calm my rages Stand by as this fickle world changes You are the only one Only one who can satisfy my life The only one to make my wife You are the only one
7.
mUD: Gtrs, Vocals, Ukulele, Banjo Eskil Wetterqvist: Drums, Percussion, Harmonies Dan Francis: Rubboard, Tamborine Shannon Kirk: Bass, Harmonies Joe Burton: Trombone Daryl Dunn: Saxophone Mico Boyles: Trumpet
8.
Another Day at the Office Another day at the office I feel fine I wish everybody had a view like mine I’ve got my health and work for myself Not rich but I’m not without wealth I’m not in the grind or in a bind I let the high tide - relax my mind Another day at the office the water is fine I wish everybody enjoyed a life so kind When her Majesty rings, you will hear me sing Kiss my baby and grab my wings Flying thru the air with executive flair Duty calls I’ll be there Love what you do, do what you love Be true, you don’t have to shove - rise above Another day at the office the water is fine I wish everybody had a taste of this wine Rocking the free world, petting pretty girls This big blue oyster has so many pearls We might take a rocket tonight Hold me tight - rocket right -D. Dudeck
9.
Mean World This can be a mean world to live in But it keeps spinning everyday The sun will rise tomorrow Like it did today Keep on walking You will be winning any day So many friends have gone We must carry on You came to this world from a boy and a girl It started with a kiss © 2011 D. Dudeck / 30 Miles Up / ASCAP
10.
Must Forgive 02:56
Must Forgive We must forgive and never forget Have peace without regret There is power in forgiving Start with yourself You can’t love somebody else If you refuse to love yourself Sleeping beauty fades and blames it on age We must cultivate learn to turn the page Change is in your mind Change your thought You can’t love somebody else If you refuse to love yourself Dream big because dreaming is free Believe possibilities Have courage when darkness is near Open your heart love will appear You can’t love somebody else If you refuse to love yourself © 2011 D. Dudeck / 30 miles Up / ASCAP
11.
Never done this before Morning sun to the ground Mr. Square to Miss Round Chestnut reaching to the sky The rain sang it to the windowpane Again and again Long legged bird gave answer cry I have never, I have never, never, ever, done this before Fire pressed to the holy man, ‘There must be a better man: Have no sorrow, have no fear’ ‘Screamed the dream to my head’ The glad tadpole said ‘There is so much beauty out here’ I have never, I have never, never, ever, done this before 500,000,000,000 points of light Flying thru the empty night Until, bound by gravity, you are here with me Morning sun to the ground Mr. Square to Miss Round Chestnut reaching to the sky Hand under earth Death and birth Little girl to little boy crying their tears of joy -D.Dudeck
12.
Shine Caroline (free) 04:34
Shine Caroline Apollo snuck thru the meadow Steam clung to the air In the haystack Lina threw her head back And pressed her notions across my ears Shine Caroline We swam that summer and over the clover Played in the Shade of the Oak In the pass we spread in the sweet grass And made a mess from that cotton dress Shine Caroline, Shine Caroline, Caroline We covered mountains and swung thru jungles She clenched her thigh and clung to the vine We rolled deserts and tumbled oceans The moon hung low and gave a lover’s sigh Shine Caroline Highlife Jack knife hold me tight thru this life Highlife Jack knife hold tight Some trick-and-treater has got a sweet tooth tonight Shine Caroline, Shine Caroline, Caroline Crimson fingers surrendered twilight Cicadas vocified thru the night Lina - leaned - low and kissed me Artemis’ tears swam in her eye Shine Caroline We held each other over heaven Ions and planets slowly wound We held tight over heaven The sun exploded and the stars fell down Shine Caroline, Shine Caroline, Caroline -D.Dudeck

about

30 Miles Up is pleased to announce the arrival of
blues/roots/Americana band Mudcat’s tenth studio album, American Idle.

After creating and releasing five live-to-tape CDs, American Idle
finds Mudcat returning to multi-tracking with the recording and
engineering talents of Rob Gal. “This batch of new tunes was a bit
different and benefitted from layering and soundscapes that required
using the studio as an instrument,” said Mudcat. Fans will travel on
an expansive musical journey from joyous, sing-along harmonies to
psychedelic guitar riffs and sumptuous horn flourishes and then back
home to front porch parties with close friends through the twelve
original compositions.

Blues Revue Magazine:
Multi-instrumentalist Daniel Dudeck is “Mudcat,” an Atlanta artist who brings his own uniquely contemporary vision to blues and roots music. At times, Mudcat’s perspective can seem quite puzzling, his musical flights of fancy taking off in unexpected directions, often welding odd parts together into a seemingly contrasting construct of blues, rock, folk, R&B, and even a bit of bluegrass. There’s no faulting the man’s instrumental talents, nor those of his backing band, which includes the engaging play of trombonist Lil Joe Burton.

But one sometimes feels like paraphrasing the late, great Frank Zappa in asking, “Does glockenspiel really belong in roots music?” The leadoff track, “Born Perfect,” is an example of the artist’s slightly skewed musical vision. Evincing a spry island rhythm and carefree vibe, the song and performance wouldn’t sound out-of-place on any given Jimmy Buffett album. The muscular “Cellblock” has more of a hard-rock vibe, softened somewhat by scraps of horn and piano, the rough edges smoothed to an ear-pleasing sheen by vocal harmonies and an ever-changing musical landscape closer akin to, say, David Bowie than to Muddy Waters.

The acoustic gem “The Light” is a sort of Piedmont-styled folk-blues song that showcases both Dudeck’s elegant fretwork and his lyrical prowess with a marvelous tale of soul-searching and truth seeking. Another fine six-string performance is provided the dark-hued “Mean World,” a modern take, perhaps, on Delta blues with scorching guitars, low-slung blasts of horn, and overall musical cacophony backed by soaring, gospel styled backing harmonies. Dudeck’s deep, soulful vocals drive the up-tempo “Must Forgive,” an R&B revue styled rave-up that swings like a clock pendulum on the strength of Burton’s lively horn and Dudeck’s imaginative guitar play.

While Americanidle is an impressive album, its relationship with the blues is tenuous at best, and that’s being somewhat charitable. Hard-to-classify and impossible to pigeonhole, I’d lump Mudcat in with musical eccentrics like the aforementioned Zappa, Col. Bruce Hampton, and likeminded fellow-travelers, i.e. not everybody’s cuppa but well worth checking out if you want to take a stroll on the wild side of the street.
– Rev. Keith A. Gordon


Jeff Clark, Stomp and Stammer, November 2011 (Atlanta GA)
Mudcat – which has gone through numerous lineup shifts, all centered around singer, songwriter, guitarist and banjoist Danny Dudeck – has become something of an Atlanta musical institution … With an extended cast of talented friends augmenting the current core lineup, the album itself is Mudcat's most varied to date, extending far beyond the blues realm with thick dollops of funk, gospel, jazz, rhythm & boogie, soul, folk, country, rock 'n' roll...basically, nearly every major American music form of the 20th century finds some representation within the group's jumbled jambalaya. It's presented in a festive manner meant to entertain, and especially in a familiar live setting like the Northside Tavern, Mudcat achieves that goal handily.

Michael Haislip, Atlanta Ambassador, CAP/ADID
What a great new cd "American Idle." We are so blessed to have this treasure in our midst. The cd is Mud’s finest, a mature mix of all of his styles, and over-the-top horns!

Sydney Titelman, WRFG 89.3FM Atlanta, Producer and Host of Good Morning Blues
‎I listened to the entire new CD on my I-pod during my afternoon walk. It put a strut in my step, the crowds in the East Atlanta Village parted, flowers bloomed on the sides of the road, and unhappy faces smiled and called out "Hellos". Love was everywhere. The CD is really special!

Atlanta Journal Constitution, November 25, 2011
A beloved fixture on the local blues scene, Daniel “Mudcat” Dudeck has been entertaining Atlantans since the tail end of the ’80s. Mudcat makes the blues fun without dumbing down the sound. It’s like a juke joint party where you might accidentally learn something cool, but you’re sure to have a good time. This show is a CD release celebration for his latest album, “American Idle.”

credits

released November 26, 2011

mUD: Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Organ, Banjo, Ukulele
Joe Burton: Trombone, Horn Arrangements
Eskil Wetterqvist: Drums, Percussion, Harmonies and vocal arrangments
Shannon Kirk: Bass, Harmonies
Aaron Trubic: Bass (trks 1,2,4,8,9,12)
Mico Bowles: Trumpet
Daryl Dunn: Saxophone
Eddie Boyd: saxophone
Lola: Organ (trks 2,9,10), Vocal on 9
Lori Beth Edgeman: Vocal on 5
Stephe 'Hobo' Reid : Mississippi Saxophone
Dan Francis: Rubboard and percussion on 'Dream'
Rob Gal: Fuzz Guitar on 'Must Forgive'

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Mudcat Atlanta, Georgia

“internationally known gospel and bluesman. Mudcat continues the traditions of the early blues pioneers while adding his own Mudcat edge, resulting in one of Atlanta’s greatest treasures. He regularly performs his Bayou-baked chicken-party revues at Atlanta’s premier blues club, Northside Tavern.”
– Atlanta History Center
... more

contact / help

Contact Mudcat

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Mudcat recommends:

If you like Mudcat, you may also like: