I met Gretchen Phillips at South By Southwest, when Meow was playing its debut / farewell concert there. She came to the show with her (then girlfriend, now wife) Ann Cvetkovich, who, like my man Jason Tougaw, is a professor. I loved them both immediately and kept in touch with them via postcards (this was before cellphones and the interweb). They came to New York City for an extended stay, and during that period we developed the material that would become this album. I love singing and playing with Gretchen – her voice is, to me, like a crystal bell, which I think offers a good contrast to the worn-in leather & wood vibe that I think mine has. We are similar in many ways, but remarkably different in others – which I also enjoy. The cover of this record was inspired by that of Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry’s duets album. Which, in truth, is not the best work either of them ever did, but I’ve always enjoyed the packaging. Gretchen Phillips / vox, guitar. David Driver / vox, trumpet, Omnichord. John Paul Keenon / drums. Tony Lauria / keys. Marni Pickens / bass. Don Piper / lap steel guitar. John Turner / keys.