Cackalack is a 2010 studio album by Americana singer-songwriter Jonathan Byrd. The title is a variation of the word "Cackalacky", a popular (though at times derogatory) nickname for the Carolinas and the songs all connect to the culture and music of Byrd's home state of North Carolina. The album was recorded in a single day with a group of musicians, including members of Creaking Tree String Quartet.
Reception
The recording was well received by DJs playing folk and Americana music formats. It reached No. 22 on the Americana Music Association radio chart during the week of February 7, 2011.Radio chart at americanaradio.org for the Americana Music Association. (accessed February 21, 2011; chart shows Cackalack at No. 24 w/ 138 spins for the week of February 14, 2011, No. 22 w/ 141 spins for previous week, No. 23 w/ 135 spins for two weeks prior) The album was also ranked No. 3 for the month of January 2011 on the Folk DJ-L radio chart. The most played tracks included "Cackalack!" and "I Was An Oak Tree".Richard Gillmann, Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of January 2011 (with DJ list) , at folkradio.org. See also Top Folk Albums, Songs, Artists and Labels of December 2010 (with DJ list) The album also reached No. 1 on the Roots Music Report "Top 50 Folk" chart.Top 50 Folk at rootsmusicreport.com, this chart is also linked by Cashbox Magazine. (accessed February 4, 2011—showing rank at No. 2 for current & previous week; was ranked No. 1 as of January 14, 2011)
In a review, Folk Alley's Jim Blum described the album as "much more rootsy than his previous releases, and sometimes quite bluegrassy.
Track listing All songs written by Jonathan Byrd unless indicated otherwise "Chicken Wire" (Jonathan Byrd & Tom Gould) – 3:39 "Wild Ponies" – 4:41 "I Was an Oak Tree" – 2:44 "Reckon I Did" – 3:48 "New Moon Rise" – 3:53 "Dungarees Overalls" – 2:10 "Father's Day" – 4:01 "White Oak Wood" – 3:24 "Scuppernong" – 3:11 "Cackalack!" (Jonathan Byrd & Leonard Podolak) – 2:18 "Livers & Gizzards" (Hidden tracks/outtakes available as WAV files on the CD release) "38 Baby" – 2:49 "Amelia My Dream" – 5:15 "Arkansas Traveler's Check" (traditional) – 3:01 "Blackberry Blossom" (traditional) – 2:21 "Dream Life" – 3:20 "Maureen" – 3:01
Credits Musicians: Jonathan Byrd – guitar & vocals John Showman – fiddle & vocals Brian Kobayakawa – bass & vocals Andrew Collins – mandolin & vocals Chris Quinn – banjo & vocals Treasa Levasseur – piano, accordion & vocals Ken Whitely – National Steel & vocals
Production: Produced – Jonathan Byrd Executive producers – Ed & Jand Grant, Jim & Brenda Prescott Recorded – Ken Whitely & Nik Tjelios at Casa Wroxton, Toronto, Ontario, November 23, 2009 Mixed – Jonathan Byrd & Jerry Brown at The Bonus Room, Hillsborough, North Carolina, & The Rubber Room, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Baby photo – Darling Art, (darling-art.com) Design – John Dixon (haledixon.com)
Notes and sources