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Ellis Paul

Feature

Ellis Paul's The Dragonfly Races Makes NPR TOP 10!

The Year In Music For Kids (And Moms, And Dads)By Kathy O'Connell
WXPN, November 26, 2008 - This has been one of the best years for kids' music in recent memory, including many new releases from artists with feet firmly in both kid-friendly and adult-oriented worlds (Lisa Loeb, Medeski Martin & Wood). Old favorites (Trout Fishing in America, Gunnar Madsen) went in new directions, while emerging artists (Randy Kaplan, Ham & Burger) gave a glimpse of the future of a genre as diverse and unpredictable as kids themselves.
1.Trout Fishing in AmericaArtist: Trout Fishing in America

Album: Big Round World
Song: Alarm Clock Rings
My favorite band collaborated with classroom kids to create a variety of themes and genres, including forays into multicultural education that never lose the humor and balance at the heart of this duo. "The Alarm Clock Rings" veers from space-pop to heavy metal and back.
2.Lisa LoebArtist: Lisa Loeb

Album: Camp Lisa
Song: Disappointing Pancake
A summer-camp theme album, Camp Lisa celebrates friendship ("Best Friend") and camp rituals, like the litany of packing chores that forms "Going Away." "Disappointing Pancake" earns its syrup with the line, "The crowd yelled, 'Batter, batter' / He felt right at home."
3.Justin RobertsArtist: Justin Roberts

Album: Pop Fly
Song: From Scratch
The title cut's saga of dandelion dreams interrupted by a softball hurtling through the sky sets the tone for this chronicle of real-life kid experiences. "From Scratch" celebrates Grandma's magical powers in the kitchen.
4.Gunnar MadsenArtist: Gunnar Madsen

Album: I'm Growing
Song: Always on the Bottom
In a gentle offering that never gets babyish, Gunnar Madsen honors classical music with "Mozart's at the Window (40th Symphony)." Along the way, he makes underachieving appealing in "Always on the Bottom."
5.Scribblemonster & His PalsArtist: Scribblemonster & His Pals

Album: Songs with No Character
Song: Sleep
A chronicle of parent/child life, Songs With No Character lets a mainstream sound mask its anarchic core. "I'm a Utility Pole (The World's Worst Dance Song)" opens listeners to the wonders of the telephone pole, while "Sleep" is an anti-lullaby insomnia rocker.
6.Randy KaplanArtist: Randy Kaplan

Album: Loquat Rooftop
Song: Loquat Rooftop
Singer/storyteller Randy Kaplan crafts a brassy, old-timey collection with subjects from "The Fire Engine" ("It's big, it's red / It's metal with water") to laundry camp ("Clothes Dryer"). "The Ladybug Without Spots" showcases Kaplan's bluesy storytelling.
7.Ham & BurgerArtist: Ham & Burger

Album: Pharm Phresh
Song: Jungle Jim
Crafting inventive, high-energy hip-hop with infectious humor, Ham & Burger is the duo of a pig and a cow. (Guess which is which?) "Alphabet" functions as a joyous teaching tool for toddlers, while "Jungle Jim" addresses lying -- or is it imagination?
8.Sandra BoyntonArtist: Sandra Boynton

Album: Blue Moo
Song: Gorilla Song
This mini-musical pays homage to early-'60s rock. Real icons like Brian Wilson, B.B. King and Neil Sedaka perform original Boynton & Ford songs, each appropriate to the time frame and bursting with humor. Sha Na Na even turns up to get kid-silly in "Gorilla Song."

9. Ellis PaulArtist: Ellis Paul
Album: Dragonfly Races
Song: Because It's There
Folksinger Ellis Paul's intimate style mixes complex guitar riffs with simple themes. "Million Chameleon March" is about the power to change, and "Because It's There" celebrates possibilities that lead to the moon and under the sea

10.Medeski, Martin & WoodArtist: Medeski, Martin & Wood

Album: Let's Go Everywhere
Song: Where's the Music
The instrumental trio Medeski Martin & Wood adds a toy piano to a collection that sparks imaginative listening without lyrics. Kids' voices jump in occasionally to remind listeners of the target audience, asking, "Where's the Music?"

Nov 18 2008 - One Hit Song

The One Hit Song

Every musician wants to have at least one song that has crossed the ears of everyone in America. The one you sing in the shower, or driving to work. The one that slowly eats brain cells, until you have to sing some nursery song in order to clear it out of your mind. Some great songwriters do this constantly, while some great songwriters live out their careers in relative quiet driving from show to show. I've been lucky to have some success with songs in the greater media world of TV and movies. But none of them have hit it big on radio.

The World Ain't Slowin' Down was written after the break-up of my first marriage. I wanted to write a positive song, instead of one that wallowed in loss and sadness (which I had already done over and over again, good therapy, but a bit of a rut if you want to evolve into a healthy, happier person). It became a hit at my shows and was discovered by the Farrelly brothers who placed it as a theme song in the Jim Carrey movie they directed called "Me, Myself and Irene". The film traveled around the globe and carried the song into the ears of millions of people. It is, without a doubt, the most popular song I have ever written, as seen by the thousands of hits on YouTube it's received compared to the relative lower hits of my other popular songs.

The song even bought a house for me. Well... at least a down payment.

Whereas my other songs, in their quiet way, have bought happy meals at McDonald's drive thru's... (Though, I love those songs no less).

Over the years three separate big wigs in Nashville have called us declaring they thought that the World Ain't Slowin' Down was a top ten country hit-- which was good news considering it wasn't designed to be any such a thing. The last caller finally succeeded in recording it-- a country star by the name of Jack Ingram has done a wonderful version of the song for his upcoming record in January. No news on whether it will be used as a single or not, but the song is getting great reviews from the people who have heard it in the business. And everyone here in the office loves it.

Cross your fingers and request the song if you have an ear for Country music radio-- which is starting to sound like the place where all the good songs are hiding on the radio these days!

Just a quick note regarding fundraising for my new album! The efforts are going great! We have enough to record the cd, and print it, but we are still short on marketing money, which we hope to secure by the year's end. I know these are tough times, and I am amazed by everyone's support-- even if it includes a pre-order or just coming out to the shows. I will debut the new songs in the next couple months on the road-- if you want to get financially involved with my next batch of songs, please see the fundraising levels below!

Thanks for listening and take care!
Ellis Paul

Click this Link to donate

$15 "The Street Busker Level"

  • You will be one of the first to receive the new CD
  • You will be entered into a drawing to receive the perks of the $250 level (The winner will be randomly drawn at this year's Club Passim New Years Eve show and Ellis will contact you that night!)


$100 "The Antje Duvekot Level"

  • Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
  • Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
  • You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice


$250 "The James Taylor Level"

  • Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
  • Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
  • You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
  • Limited edition signed CD of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
  • One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
  • Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet



$500 "The Neil Young Level"

  • Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
  • Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
  • You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
  • Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
  • One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
  • Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
  • Ellis will hand write and illustrate signed lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, which will be suitable for framing


$1000 "The Johnny Cash Level"

  • Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
  • Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
  • You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
  • Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
  • One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
  • Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
  • Ellis will handwrite and illustrate lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, which will be suitable for framing
  • Limited Edition 11x 17 signed and numbered cover artwork from the new album which will be suitable for framing


$2500 "The Joni Mitchell Level"

  • Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
  • Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
  • You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
  • Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
  • One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
  • Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
  • Ellis will hand write and illustrate sign lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, suitable for framing
  • Limited Edition 11X17 signed and numbered cover artwork from the new album which will be suitable for framing
  • You will be designated and credited an Executive Producer in the CD booklet liner notes
  • A signed acoustic guitar from Michael Kelly Guitars; the brand played by Ellis www.michaelkellyguitars.com


$5000 "The Bob Dylan Level"

  • Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
  • Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
  • You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
  • Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
  • One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
  • Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
  • Ellis will hand write and illustrate sign lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, suitable for framing
  • Limited Edition 11X17 signed and numbered cover artwork from the new album which will be suitable for framing
  • You will be designated and credited an Executive Producer in the CD booklet liner notes
  • A signed acoustic guitar from Michael Kelly Guitars; The brand played by Ellis www.michaelkellyguitars.com
  • A live Ellis Paul concert in your home or designated venue for you and your friends

(Date of show will be booked through Ralph Jaccodine Management agreed upon date is based on Ellis' availability and tour schedule.)


$10,000 "The Woody Guthrie Level"

  • Receive an advance copy of Ellis' new CD personally signed and numbered; including a bonus disc of demos and outtakes of the songs
  • Antje Duvekot will personally sign a copy of her recent release "Big Dream Boulevard" on Black Wolf Records
  • You and a friend will be put on Ellis' guest list for an Ellis Paul show of your choice
  • Limited edition signed EP of Ellis performing live in the studio at Boston's WERS
  • One Year membership to Club Passim, the legendary folk room and Ellis' home venue
  • Ellis will thank you by including your name in the liner notes of the CD booklet
  • Ellis will hand write and illustrate sign lyrics to any one Ellis Paul song of your choice, suitable for framing
  • Limited Edition 11X17 signed and numbered cover artwork from the new album which will be suitable for framing
  • You will be designated and credited an Executive Producer in the CD booklet liner notes
  • A signed acoustic guitar from Michael Kelly Guitars; The brand played by Ellis www.michaelkellyguitars.com
  • A live Ellis Paul concert in your home or designated venue for you and your friends

(Date of show will be booked through Ralph Jaccodine Management agreed upon date is based on Ellis' availability and tour schedule.)

  • You can collaborate with Ellis and he will compose a personal song for you.

Ellis will record it on a CD and will hand draw the cover art.

  • Spend a day in the studio while Ellis records songs for his upcoming CD
  • A lifetime of guest list spots for you and a friend to Ellis Paul shows.

For Ellis Paul head lining shows not including private shows, house concerts and festivals,and Club Passim December 30 and 31st

Click this Link to donate

If you prefer to make your investment by check, please make payable to Back Wolf Records and mail to the following address:
Black Wolf Records
C/O Ralph Jaccodine Management
PO Box 381982
Cambridge, MA 02238