Buddy Mondlock is a gifted writer. You don't have to tell that to Nanci Griffith, members of Cry Cry Cry, Peter Paul and Mary, Janis Ian, They have all sung his tunes. Twenty years ago Buddly Mondlock was playing in the Chicago club scene. Opening for Gamble Rogers or Steve Goodman he began to play as a headliner himself at well known clubs such as the Earl of Old Town.
In 1986 Mondlock met Guy Clark at the Kerrville Folk Festival who took Mondlock's music to Bob Doyle at ASCAP. Doyle left ASCAP to manage Mondlock and Garth Brooks. Here is a tune co-written by Garth and Buddy, sung by the Smith Sisters.
1. A Canary's Song -(Mondlock/G.Brooks) Smith
Sisters
A Canary's Song - Flying Fish
70616
"Living in this hole where I don't belong"
2. The Kid - (Mondlock) David Wilcox
How Did You Find Me Here - A
& M Records
"I could no more stop dreaming,
than I could make them all come true"
Lets hear Buddy himself. Here he is with a song co-written with Tom Kimmel
3. Poetic Justice - Buddy Mondlock
Poetic Justice -
Major Bob Prod Songs.Com/buddy
Fullfilling a dream on this new release he was able to work with a string quartet. Guest artists on his new release include Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith and Ellis Paul. Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul and Mary said "With writers like Buddy around I don't think we need to worry about the future of Folk Music". I asked him about some of his favorite lines and the fact that many big names in Folk are recording his tunes:
The whole interview can be viewed at www.wjffradio.org/FolkPlus/interviews
4. No Choice - Buddy Mondlock
Poetic Justice - Songs.Com/buddy
"a beautiful fire inside of him
as he balanced way out on that limb,
could have burned
right through that branch so thin,
but he never really
had no choice"
5. Baby - Buddy Mondlock
Poetic Justice -
Songs.Com/buddy
"How can she make a home
for some little heart"
6. Bagger - Michael McNevin
Sketch - Songs.Com/mcnevin
Mudpuddle Music - mmcnevin@aol.com
"I know I'm the low man
on the pole, nowhere to go but up"
Written for Walter Hyatt after discovering that he died on the plane that crashed in the Everglades. Carol felt he was telling her he was OK and in a good place.
7. Message From Walter - Carol Elliott
People I Meet - Songs.Com/carol
"As far as I can see there
will never be a boundary between your heart and mine"
8. Neutral Ground - Pierce Pettis
Everything Matters
- www.compassrecords.com
I asked Buddy what song of his he'd like to be covered by what artist. Buddy mentioned that he'd like Joan Baez to do his following tune
9. Cats of the Colosseum - Buddy Mondlock
Buddy Mondlock - Doyle/Lewis
Prod Songs.Com/buddy
"They are living by their
wits"
10. Break the Cup - (Mondlock) Carol Elliott
The People I Meet -
Songs.Com/carol
"I want to stain the emptiness"
"I want to get a mouthful
and I want to break the cup"
Here are some of the names of people Buddy would have at a songwriter's festival that he would book.
11. Can't Win - Richard Thompson
Amnesia - Capital
Records
"They told me to fail, better
sink than sail, just play the game"
12. None But the Rain (Van Zandt) Robin &
Linda Williams
Robin and Linda Williams
- Flashlight www.dn.net/williams
13. Lincoln Park Pirates - Steve Goodman
The Essential Steve Goodman
- www.hepcat.com/goodman/good.html
14. Stumpy's Last Dance - Frank Tadesso
Songs From Einstein's
Violin - www.rebeccamartin.com/franktedesso.html
"In the first light of the
morning I crawled to the river"
15. Climb On - Shawn Colvin
Fat City - Columbia
"Sometimes we don't know
what to do"
16. Honor Among Thieves - Tom Pasada-Rao
Hear You Laughing
- ISG 9974 Asheville, NC 28815 Songs.Com/tpr
"Every band of gypsies know
what no one else believes"
17. Any World That I'm Welcome To - Darrell Scott
Family Tree - www.sugarhillrecords.com
"I only know I must obey
this feeling I can't explain away"
18. Down in Dixie County - Chris Rosser
Archeology - Inc
Songwriters Group Songs.Com/asheville/cr
POBox 9974 Asheville, NC
28815
"They say he came from somewhere
north, white woman by his side"
19. Up Until Then - John Gorka
Out of the Valley
- www.flemtam.com/jg.html
"He's living with that bimbo
up on Raspberry Street"
Gorka says this is the line
that drove the song
20. My Aunt Anna - Buddy Mondlock
On the Line - Songs.Com/buddy
"When any of us wee doubting
ourselves she told us we were all right"