Social Studies (Loudon Wainwright III album)

Social Studies is a studio album by Loudon Wainwright III, released in 1999. The album comprises various topical and satirical songs, originally produced for National Public Radiom and based upon then-current issues and events, such as the Tonya Harding scandal, the O. J. Simpson murder trial, the lead-up to Y2K, and controversies surrounding comments made by former Republican U.S. Senator Jesse Helms.

Regarding the album's topical nature, Wainwright notes: "It's something that no-one does anymore; write songs about current events. When I was young there were a lot of topical songwriters around; maybe folk music had more impact on culture back then. I see these songs as a kind of musical journalism. My father was a journalist, for Life magazine, and I've definitely inherited something of that approach."^[1]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Loudon Wainwright III

1. "What Gives" – 3:29
2. "Tonya's Twirls" – 3:37
3. "New Street People" – 2:50
4. "Carmine Street" – 2:57
5. "O.J." – 3:13
6. "Leap Of Faith" – 2:53
7. "Conspiracies" – 2:17
8. "Christmas Morning" – 3:36
9. "Y2K" – 6:13
10. "Number One" – 3:39
11. "Bad Man" – 3:21
12. "Inaugural Blues" – 3:19
13. "Our Boy Bill" – 3:11
14. "Jesse Don't Like It" – 4:06
15. "Pretty Good Day" – 4:19

Personnel

• Loudon Wainwright III - guitar, vocals
• The Roches - vocals
• John Scofield - electric guitar
• Greg Cohen - bass, piano
• Richard Crooks - drums, percussion
• Peter Ecklund - trumpet, cornet
• David Mansfield - guitar, harmonica, violin, mandolin
• Jenni Muldaur - vocals
• Ken Pearson - organ, piano
• Lenny Pickett - clarinet, saxophone
• Chaim Tannenbaum - banjo, harmonica, vocals

Release history

• CD: Hannibal HNCD 1442

References