The Pickle Barrel
by Van Wagner and Ollie Wagner, 2003
$12
for CD's. This is the first ever
full-length recording done with Van's brother Ollie Wagner. Van released
Ollie's song "Falls Creek Brick" on the 1997 album "Living In Myself."
Ollie is a superb song-writer. He is older but much shorter than
his brother Van. His guitar playing and love of singing grew out
of Krislund--a Presbyterian camp in Madisonburg, PA. Ollie now lives
with his family in Montoursville, where he has a fondness for campfires,
the Loyalsock Creek, teaberry ice cream, backyard football, cross-country
skiing, his mom's cooking and his father's council.
$12 per CD.
or Send $12 to
Van Wagner
115 Tower Rd.
Danville PA 17821
________________________________________________
#1 Home town
#2 Up and away
#3 Talking Conformation Blues
#4 Angelique
#5 Winds of Idaho
#6 Lake Life
#7 Pickle Barrel
#8 Red Fender
#9 Borrowed tune
#10 Stuff
#11 Uncles
#12 Martin Luther King
#13 PA proud
The songs in detail...
Hometown (V.Wagner)
Surprise surprise!!! Another Danville song! I wrote this
after moving to Idaho. It’s not meant to be a lamenting ballad, but
rather just some snapshots of some of my Danville memories. It’s
a common theme in life that we often don’t appreciate things until they
are gone. I dedicate this song to my father. He is a big reason
that the Elephant Rock remains in the Susquehanna River today after the
new bridge construction.
“I’m Flying Today” (O. Wagner)
Imagination frees the soul. It is one of life’s most important
gifts. God bless the dreamers!
Talking Conformation Blues (V.Wagner)
I wrote this with my good friend Chad McKonly in 1996. We went
to Penn State Berks Campus together. Chad and I are both black sheep
in our own ways, and the other sheep were afraid of boots and banjos.
“Angelique” (O. Wagner)
Sitting in a Starbucks in Atlanta on the last day of a semester, a
newspaper article about a homeless woman and the neighborhood which is
trying to help her caught my eye. In the real world, life is more
gray than black and white.
Winds Of Idaho (V.Wagner)
I’ve been working as a logger here in Idaho. We’re salvage logging
up in the Sawtooth National Forest when I wrote this song. It’s like
something out of a western theme park; snow capped peaks in the distance,
cattle down in the plains, cooking off an open fire, and sleeping on the
ground surrounded by sweet smelling Sage Brush. I dedicate this song
to the bushy tailed fox that’s been hanging around our camp. So far
he stole: Tabasco Sauce, a bar of soap, a Bottle of Jack D., Gatorade,
and 2 dozen of Tamara’s fresh baked cookies (and the Tupperware lid…still
unaccounted for).
“Lake Life” (O. Wagner)
It’s hard to capture in song the sheer joy of a summer day on the lake.
Here’s to Lake Natalie, Georgia and the Smith family’s “Slip-a-Way” lake
house.
Sweet Pickle Barrel (V.Wagner)
Whenever I get song ideas I try to jot them down ASAP. The result
is scraps of paper in my car, in coat pockets, in my wallet, EVERYWHERE.
This song was sparked by a few of those random thoughts.
“Red Fender” (O. Wagner)
Our family river lot was a peculiar place to find a guitar pick—covered
with muddy silt in three inches of water. Hard to explain. The old
hymn “Amazing Grace” is still around for a reason—being “lost and found”
is both the human predicament and joy.
Borrowed Tune (V. Wagner)
This song originally appeared on my homespun album “MacLeod’s Dream.”
I try to resurrect one “MacLeod’s Dream” song for each new album.
Wrote this around 1995.
“Stuff” (O.Wagner)
One of those songs that I didn’t write—it fell on me like toys from
a disorganized closet. In a world with Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, 40% off
sales and lotteries. . . you can hum this tune, too.
“Uncles All Around” (O. Wagner)
It’s a life-long gift to grow up with so many characters who share
your last name and take an interest in you. Uncles for me have been
somewhere between having an extra set of parents and having lots of big
brothers.
Martin Luther King (V. Wagner and O. Wagner)
Ollie and I wrote this song together after hearing an “expert” on the
life of Dr. Martin Luther King on the radio. He said something to
the affect of “Martin Luther King has been celebrated in every form of
music…except bluegrass of course..” I’m not sure I totally
agree with the gentleman…but now that this song is out there shouldn’t
be any question.
“Pennsylvania Proud” (O. Wagner)
In “North of 80”, Van wrote about central PA. I wrote these lyrics
a few years before he released that song. A tune finally found those
words. People often leave the state for better jobs. Some return.
Those who don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it.
The Picker’s and Grinner’s
Guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, harmonic, vocals by Van Wagner
Guitar and vocals by Ollie Wagner
Hammered Dulcimer by Woody Wolfe
All songs written by Van Wagner and Ollie Wagner except “Talking Conformation Blues” by Van Wagner and Chad Mckonly
All songs recorded
and Mixed at Heart to Hand Studio by Woody Wolfe
Co-produced by Woody
Wolfe, Ollie Wagner, and Van Wagner
Mastered by George Graham
Album graphic design done by Kyle Umbenhauer, Dookiak Studios
