Sings Country Winners

America's hardest working, most profoundly suffering Funnyman returns with his eighth Drag City release. No two Neil Hamburger albums have ever been alike, but this one will throw even the staunchest fan for a loop: Neil Hamburger sings country and western. As with the classic "celebrity vocal" albums by the likes of William Shatner and Telly Savalas, Neil's personality shines through even when his vocal chords don't. Seven originals and three obscure covers pack in a maximum of storytelling and pathos in the tradition of the late great Porter Wagoner. On this once-in-a-lifetime release, Neil is backed up by a "too good for Neil Hamburger" band who ensure that the sound is vintage country rather than unwanted novelty -- or worse yet, the universally-hated sound of contemporary country radio. The Sings Country Winners band: on drums, Prairie Prince, founding member of legendary '70s theatrical-rock band The Tubes (and a man whose resume includes backing Todd Rundgren, John Fogerty, George Harrison and Jefferson Starship); California deep-rooted country and western guitar ace Dave Gleason; Atom Ellis, bass player for Dieselhed, Link Wray, and more recently The New Cars; Rachel Haden, whose extraordinarily beautiful vocals have graced albums by The Rentals and Weezer; and the West Coast's most noted pedal steel player Joe Goldmark. The album was recorded by Tim Green (Fucking Champs) at Louder Studios in San Francisco.