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What's Up?
The Latest News From Joel...
Scroll down -- most current comes first.
(If you are looking for upcoming concerts click here)
I went into the studio and cut new versions of 12 of my older original songs. Some of my most requested songs and ones that I do differently these days. Included are studio versions of songs previously only available in "live" versions: "Touch a Name on the Wall," "Duct Tape Blues," "Swing That Thing" and "The Naked Truth."
This CD is available at CDbaby for sale or download, and at Apple iTunes and other popular download sites. Also at efolkmusic.org and good old Elderly Instruments both in-store and online.
NEWS -- #1 -- for the month of February, RETOLD was ranked #1 in airplay for folk music (North America, Australia, NZ and UK reporting too) according to playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L. I was the #1 played artist for the month as well.
KUDOS
NY Times -- My picture is on the front page of the arts section of the Sunday
NY Times 2/10/08 -- however I am not named. Not fit to print, I
suppose was their thinking.
CHART TOPPERS -- The Banjo Monologues placed in the top ten most played CDs in the year 2007, according to the compilation of more than a 100,000 airplays, according to FOLKDJ-L (that is mostly North American deejays who play mostly folk and bluegrass music on mostly non-commercial radio). I was also in the top ten most played artists. Highest ranking indy release, by the way.
NOMINATION -- Looks like I am nominated for the Traditional Artist of the
Year to be awarded by the Folk Alliance in Memphis on 2/20/08. I'll be
sure to let you know if I win!
[update: Levon Helm won. Gosh darn those aging rock stars!]
I have recorded a new cd of banjo music and more, called
The Banjo Monologues. Tunes, songs and storytelling done to the clip of a
clawhammer banjo. Click here to read reviews!
This CD is also available at CDbaby.
If that is how you would prefer
to shop, click here.
NOTE: I just added "How Like The Holly" to sell at
CDbaby, too, in
advance of the Christmas Season. That means the tunes from both cds are
also available as downloads at Apple Itunes and other pod-fodder sites.
ALSO -- BANJO TAB
I have added a number of banjo tabs to my list of sheet music for sale. Check
out the
sheet music page for details.
Golden oldies !
Selections on my MP3 page from
my very first album, an LP entitled GRASSROOTS.
Early original songs, mandolin tunes, flatpick duets, and even bluegrass
banjo. Featuring the mandolin playing of the legendary Frank Wakefield.
ALSO -- check out my new "download of the moment" selection at the MP3
page!
NEW SERVER FOR JOELMABUS.COM
As of March 27, 2007, there is a new hosting site for this website. You shouldn't see any differences other than hit recorders (starting over). Please let me know if you have any problems.
I promise to get to, and fix, bad music links on the older recordings. It is tedious work, but I am plugging away at it. As of 4/14/07 The latest SIX recordings now have mp3 samples for each song. If your browser has a plug-in to listen, simply click -- or you can right-click and save the mp3 to file. Go to Recordings and click on the album titles for the details and the samples.
I don't play the entire song in most cases, but give a healthy length of sound clip at FM quality sample rate. I still have a few songs in entirety at the MP3 page, and will be adding some tunes there, too, in the near future.
The new CD in fall of '05 is called Parlor Guitar. Click HERE
to read about it. All fingerstlye
instrumentals on a Larrivee parlor model guitar.
The music is from early 1900's or late 1800's. Eubie Blake, Gershwin,
Jerome Kern, etc.
I have had great response from fans on this one -- a lot of people remember
their parents or grandparents playing this music on the piano!
I'm doing a book based on Parlor Guitar for Hal Leonard publishing. Ten of the cuts from the album will be painstakingly transcribed note-for-note and a CD of those ten songs will be included. It is available in music stores anywhere, including Amazon. Get your copy here for an autograph!
SHEET MUSIC AVAILABLE
A number of my guitar arrangements are available in full music and tab
notation, including several of the numbers from Parlor Guitar and a few from
other albums. Also lead sheets to several of my more requested songs and the
melodies to my many original fiddle tunes are available. Check out my new SHEET
MUSIC page.
NOTE: Once the book is published, the tunes included in it will no longer be
offered on the website, per agreement with the publisher, so be forewarned.
"Blue Jig" Published!
A little tune I wrote for contradancers, "The Blue Jig" has certainly been making the rounds. It has been recorded at least 6 times by contradance bands, and has been played around the world for dancers. The news now is that the music for it has been published in a great book of tunes for contra & square dancing, "The Portland Collection, Vol. 2"
Volume
I'm honored to be included. The website for the book is www.theportlandcollection.com
You can find "The Blue Jig" on Top Drawer
String Band CD (fossil 1199)
Bad Audio Links? Bear with me...
There have been problems with some of the real audio links to listen to
my songs online. It is because the audio files live somewhere else and a third
party switched computers. I'll try to straighten it all out as I get the
chance. It is a time-consuming process. Meanwhile, the tunes on the actual CDs don't stop working -- no streaming
involved, just a trip to your mail box.
Email list
I have begun a more serious email list for letting folks know about my
tours and new cds, etc. It is not a discussion list, just an occasional message
from me -- I promise -- occasional. If you'd like to sign up click
here.
FORTUNES in CD format
My early CD, Fortunes, came out in LP form in 1987, and a cassette tape followed. Last month, I finally had the original master digitized to a new CD master. For now, I am burning music CD-R's and selling them in slimline cases for the low price of $10, shipping included. click here for more info.
"You Can't Buy My Records at Wal-Mart"
I've been singing a short song of this title in concerts lately and many fans have been asking where they can get a copy. Well, I won't sell it to you but you can have it for free. Visit my MP3 page for a free and legal download.
PROMISED LAND IS BACK
After being out of print for a few months, I am now well-stocked with my CD, Promised Land of 1994. With such request favorites as "Alice & Ralph," "Holding To The Land" and "Sea Of Dreams" ("In the morning comes the sun / And it shines on everyone ...") I was persuaded to bring this back to the catalogue, and not be a "CD-R - only" item. Glass-mastered
CD-R FOR OUT-OF-STOCK TITLES
ONE of my older titles -- Western Passage -- is for the time being out-of-stock as a typical, mass replicated CDs. However, I have plenty of the inserts (booklets and tray cards) and have the technology to burn Music CD-Rs one-at-a-time from the original masters. The sound is identical. Only the label on the disc itself will be slightly different. So until further notice, that's what you would get if you order this title. Not available at stores -- only through this website.
ONLINE PRESS KIT
I have always had promotional materials on this site, ready for download, but now I have a specific page for an easy starting place for all the materials in a full "press kit." Go to PRESS KIT ONLINE (also in the menu on the left of every page) for a listing of all the tools you might need to promote a concert or other publicity. It also includes a new page for all the folks I've shared a stage with -- quite a motley crew.
PAYPAL OPTION FOR CD PURCHASE
I have registered with Paypal ( www.paypal.com) to take payment for any CDs you may wish to purchase directly from me. I am just as happy with a check in the mail, but if you would rather use your credit card, Paypal offers a method to send me your money instantly. They do require you to go through a "sign up" procedure, which may or may not be to your liking. But many folks who do payments online are already signed up. If you want to use PAYPAL, click HERE for info, or drop me an email if you want further details.
300dpi PHOTOS ONLINE
A selection of promo shots are now available on this site scanned at the rate of 300 dots per inch, for high quality print applications. Click HERE to check it out.
NEW PAGES --Folk Alliance Columns, WORKSHOPS & SONG INDEX
I've been writing a column on performer's issues for the Folk Alliance newsletter since 1997. I've archived the past and current columns here at my site. Click on Folk Alliance or go straight to the index of columns, for such topics as CD sales, royalties, touring and contract advice. A few opinions too!
Check out the page on this site titled Workshops. I have been adding online copies of handouts I often use at festival and music camp workshops, music business conferences, etc.
If you are looking for a song you heard at a concert or on the radio, but don't know which CD it's on, now you can check the Song Index page. All songs and tunes are listed alphabetically followed with the title of its CD.
(c) 2001 - 2007 Joel Mabus
Last revised: March 06, 2008
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