ARTIST: Allison Russell
TITLE: Outside Child
LABEL: Fantasy Records
STREET DATE: 5.21.21
Produced and Mixed by Dan Knobler
Engineered by Kevin Sokolnicki and Dan Knobler
Recorded at Sound Emporium, Studio A, Nashville, TN, September 18-21, 2019
Assistant engineer: Zaq Reynolds
Additional recording at Goosehead Palace
Organ on “4th Day Prayer” recorded by Jon Seale at Mason Jar Music
Mastered by Kim Rosen, Knack Mastering
Photography by Marc Baptiste
Album Design by Tom Dolan
All songs written by Allison Russell (Po’Girl Music (SOCAN/ASCAP)) and Jeremy Lindsay aka JT Nero (Chicago Bird Music (BMI)) except for “All of the Women” and “Little Rebirth” written by Allison Russell (Po’Girl Music (SOCAN/ASCAP)).
The Community of Artists in alphabetical order:
Jason Burger – drums, percussion, apple cider vinegar bottle
Steve Dawson – pedal steel
Jamie Dick – drums, percussion
Dan Knobler – guitars, slide guitar, banjo, synths, Mellotron
Drew Lindsay – Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, pump organ, organ, piano
Alfreda McCrary – harmony vocals
Ann McCrary – harmony vocals
Deborah McCrary – harmony vocals
Regina McCrary – harmony vocals
Chris Merrill – bass
Ruth Moody – harmony vocals
JT Nero – acoustic guitar, vocals
Joe Pisapia – acoustic and electric guitars
Erin Rae – harmony vocals
Allison Russell – lead vocals, harmony vocals on “Montreal” and “Nightflyer,” clarinet, banjo
Jake Sherman – organ on “4th Day Prayer”
Yola (appears courtesy of Easy Eye Sound) – harmony vocals on “The Runner”
This is my first solo album. It is acutely personal. It was hard for me to write, harder still to sing, play, and share. Also, a relief. Like sucking the poison from a snake bite. Thanks to the supreme empathy, musicality, kindness, sensitivity, and humour of each artist who brought these songs to life with me, the recording process became — by some mystical alchemy – joyous and empowering… Eased by loving communal laughter as much as shared tears.
My hope is that in spite of the autobiographical nature of this work – or perhaps because of it – these songs may resonate for some of the many, many others (1 in 3 women, 1 in 4 men, 1 in 2 trans/intersex folx) who have endured similar trespasses. My hope is that these songs may reach some of the families ravaged by such circumstances and secrets. My hope is also to honour those who could no longer live with such trespasses and to honour those who were murdered – a staggering majority of whom were and are indigenous women/trans/intersex people and other women/trans/intersex people of colour. Silence is killing us. Silence is always, eventually, complicit, and I can no longer be.
My brother, Joe Henry, once said, “I don’t know if I can be cured, but I have hope that I can be healed.” He was talking about cancer. The twin pandemics of abuse and bigotry are cancers too - pandemics more insidious and destructive than even Covid. This is my attempt at truth and reconciliation and forgiveness – a reckoning and a remembrance. This is my attempt to be the hero of my own history, despite the shame that has been my closest and constant companion all these years. For my daughter – that she may never experience such things. For myself – who survived whole enough to sing out by the grace of my ancestors, my Grandma Isobel, music, mystery, and my hometown of Montreal. For our Fore-Mothers and Ancestors – who endured far worse and still survived. For Quasheba. For the ones whose names we’ll never know. Despite it all, we are living dreams beyond their wildest imaginings.
It is also for my adoptive father, my predator, who took 10 years of my childhood - and for my Mother, who pretended not to know, who lives with him still – in forgiveness.
Hope, Love, Empathy, Patience, Forgiveness, Resilience – these are Superpowers indeed.
We are not alone.
We are not what we’ve lost.
We are more than the sum of our scars.
I believe I can be healed. I believe we can be healed.
Allison Russell
PS – A good bit of this album came out in French – the primary language of my foster family (I lived with them for my first 4 years), and my home province of Quebec. I’ve provided rough translations of the French lyrics.
Many thanks to Dan Knobler and to all the musicians and technicians who elevate this album. Many thanks to Margi Cheske, Stephanie Hopson and the whole Fantasy Records Family. To Tom DeSavia and the Concord Music Publishing family for welcoming me in and lifting me up. To Brandi Carlile for bringing us all together. To my brilliant manager Carissa Stolting, Luke Hill, Joel Amsterdam and Meghan Helsel. To my Birds of Chicago, Our Native Daughters and Capital Sun Rays band families. To The Lindsays, The Russells, The Georges, The Fraziers, Awna Teixeira, Yola, Gregory Maxedon, Larry Saripkin and family, The Ciccone- Henry Family, The Dicks, The Washburn Fleck family, Ms Molly Eaton, The Swanks, The Dickinsons, Koitz Nation, The Thalers, The Foster-Keddies, The Millers, Larry Meyer, Barbara Manners, The Baptistes, Stuart McLean, my 105f yoga family. Endless love and gratitude to my partner in all things, JT Nero - and to our daughter Ida, who teaches me more than I could ever hope to impart - who spurs me to be a good future ancestor and leave this world a little better than I found it. This album is dedicated to Ida and all her Grandmothers --past and present.
I gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
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