6 Loudon Wainwright III

Album III/Attempted Mustache/ Unrequited

CHERRY RED 2011, FROM £8.98 You Say: “Three superb albums from ’72-75 in one affordable package.“Robert McLoud, via e-mail Bit of a cheat – three Loudon LPs, recorded at the height of his fame between 1972-75. All are problematic but all contain some of his finest songs. Album III begins with unexpected novelty hit Dead Skunk, but also has the stark, heartrending relationship metaphor Red Guitar, and self-loathing confessional Drinking Song. Attempted Mustache begins with the deceptively vicious Lullaby (“shut up and go to bed”) and lovely Swimming Song, but falls away, while the live/studio Unrequited shows Wainwright at his acerbic best (Hollywood Hopeful) and goofball worst (Hardy Boys At The Y, Rufus Is A Tit Man).