Howe Gelb - Collection '1998-2018

Tracks list

Howe Gelb Biography
It took singer/songwriter Howe Gelb nearly 20 years to receive the type of
attention upstart indie rockers routinely obtain by their second album. During
those two decades, Gelb released an abundance of material at the helm of his
group, Giant Sand, presenting a highly original take on Southwestern roots and
garage rock. He rarely stepped off his wayward musical course and onto even
ground for any length of time. Combine this with inadequate promotion and
distribution from a number of independent labels, and Gelb was ensured
regrettable obscurity. By the late 90s, however, people finally began to take
notice of a group of musicians gathering in Tucson, Arizona. Gelb and Giant Sand
had spawned a number of side projects including OP8 (Giant Sand plus Lisa
Germano), Calexico, and the Friends of Dean Martinez. Gelb received the biggest
critical and commercial success of his career with his Chore of Enchantment
album in 2000.

Gelb formed the first incarnation of Giant Sand (then, the Giant Sandworms) in
1980 with longtime friend Rainer Ptacek. Like most of the early lineups,
however, the group didnt last long, undergoing the first of many personnel
changes. In 1985, Gelb took a new quartet (which included future Friends of Dean
Martinez drummer Tom Larkin) into the studio to record Valley of Rain (their
official debut as Giant Sand) for $400. More members came and went until 1988,
when Gelb had settled briefly on a trio of bassist Paula Brown (his first wife,
who had joined in 1987) and drummer John Convertino. While Gelb and Brown would
part ways in 1989, Convertino would eventually make up one-third of Giant Sands
most consistent lineup. The final ingredient came in 1991 with the addition of
Joey Burns. This core group recorded Ramp (1991), Center of the Universe (1992),
Purge & Slouch (1993), and Glum (1994), albums that alternated pulsating rock
with dusty acoustic etchings.

In the years that followed, the story of Giant Sands extended family grew
increasingly complex. Convertino and Burns launched their duo project, Calexico,
and co-founded the Friends of Dean Martinez. Gelb laid relatively low, releasing
live and outtake material on Goods and Services, Backyard Barbecue Broadcast,
and Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 1 (all 1995). He lent piano and organ to the
Friends debut (The Shadow of Your Smile, 1995) and joined an exceptional cast
for contributions to Richard Buckners stunning Devotion + Doubt album (1997). In
1998, V2 released Gelbs formal solo debut, the ethereal, lo-fi home studio
project Hisser.

In 1997, Gelb lost his close friend Ptacek to cancer, months before he was
preparing to record the next Giant Sand album. The event threw him into an
emotional tailspin. Initial Tucson sessions (at the same studio where he had
worked with Ptacek just weeks previously) were largely unsuccessful. Three
producers (John Parish, Jim Dickinson, and Kevin Salem) later, Gelb emerged with
Chore of Enchantment, only to have the album rejected by V2. Chicagos Thrill
Jockey ended up releasing what, against all odds, was one of Gelbs most cohesive
collections. Chore drew from the broadest palette yet. Gelb stretched from the
laid-back grooves of X-tra Wide to the escalating rock of Satellite with ease.
He seemed less reliant on Giant Sand as an outlet than ever before. Near the end
of the 90s, he launched his own Ow Om label. The Internet/mail-order imprint
released discs from Gelbs Official Bootleg Series.

Gelb spent a great deal of 2000 touring, orchestrating an increasingly
spontaneous live show. A set list-free performance, a walkman playing snippets
of previous shows, and a looping device (with 82-percent accuracy) were all used
to supplement his extensive catalog of songs. More and more, both his live and
studio performances began incorporating chance elements like these. At the start
of the new millennium, the singer seemed busier than ever, working on a series
of releases including a collection of solo piano instrumentals and a new album
for Thrill Jockey. The latter project, designed as the follow-up to the intimate
Hisser, was issued in early 2001 under the title Confluence, and displayed a
sound closer to Giant Sand than any of Gelbs previous solo outings. Lull, a
collection of piano pieces, appeared that same year.

Gelb returned in 2003 with the similarly muted Listener album, and released
Arizona Amp and Alternator in 2005. The latter included collaborations from M.
Ward and Scout Niblett. Sno Angel Like You, an album deeply influenced by gospel
music, arrived in March 2006. (It was reissued by Fire Records in 2016.) Gelb
spent the next five years touring both solo and with Giant Sand. The band
released 2008s Provisions and 2010s Blurry Blue Mountain. In the spring of 2011,
Gelb finally issued another solo album, entitled Alegrias. This set showcased
the songwriter fronting a group of Andalusian Gypsy flamenco musicians —
including guitarist extraordinaire Raimundo Amador — who went under the
moniker A Band of Gypsies. The album was recorded on a rooftop in Cordoba,
Spain, and released by Fire Records during an extensive Giant Sand reissue
campaign by the label. Gelb produced KT Tunstalls Invisible Empire/Crescent
Moon, which was released in the spring of 2013. In the late fall of that year,
his own album, The Coincidentalist, appeared on New West.

Gelbs next effort found him in a completely collaborative and supporting role
when he teamed with the Viennese experimental trio Radian, comprising guitarist
Martin Siewert, drummer Martin Brandlmayr, and bassist John Norman. Over four
loose sessions in Europe, the Tucson musician added piano, acoustic guitars, and
vocals to the groups compositions. Radian Verses Howe Gelb was released on the
bands label in November of 2014. In February 2016, Gelb released a statement in
which he announced he was retiring Giant Sand, and he said of his future
endeavors, Piano for now. Songs forever. Gelb was good to his word with his next
solo release; Future Standards, which arrived in November 2016, was an engaging
set of low-key tunes dominated by Gelbs vocals and piano work. ~ Nathan Bush

Albums
1991; 2017 Dreaded Brown Recluse WEB
1998; 2012 Hisser WEB
1998 Upside Down Home CDRIP
2001; 2012 Confluence WEB
2003; 2012 The Listener WEB 
2006; 2013 Sno Angel Like You WEB
2010; 2011 Alegrias WEB 
2013 Dust Bowl WEB
2013 Plucklings (The Best of Howe Gelb) WEB
2013; 2015 The Coincidentalist WEB
2016 Future Standards WEB; Hi-Res
2016 Sno Angel Like You + Sno Angel Winging It WEB
2017 Further Standards [with Lonna Kelley] WEB; Hi-Res
2018 Label Pop Session WEB

 2000 Upside Down Home 2000
01. Howe Gelb - Rain M/W Parade
02. Howe Gelb - The Bargain
03. Howe Gelb - Horses Still Coming
04. Howe Gelb - Actual Desert, Rose
05. Howe Gelb - Dispatch
06. Howe Gelb - Timber Town
07. Howe Gelb - Train Wack
08. Howe Gelb - Its Yer Ropes, Cisco
09. Howe Gelb - Cpt. Copenhagen
10. Howe Gelb - Gypsy Cold Care
11. Howe Gelb - R. Johnson Tribute
12. Howe Gelb - The Meantime
13. Howe Gelb - Superpowers
14. Howe Gelb - Tender Trap
15. Howe Gelb - Dear Diary
16. Howe Gelb - BMG W/ Luka
17. Howe Gelb - Duck

2011 Alegrias
01. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - 4 Door Maverick
02. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - Uneven Light of Day
03. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - The Ballad of Lole Y Manuel
04. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - Cowboy Boots On Cobble Stone
05. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - Notoriety
06. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - Blood Orange
07. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - Lost Like a Boat Full of Rice
08. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - Broken Bird and the Ghost River
09. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - (There Were) Always Horses Coming
10. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - The Hangin judge
11. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - Saint Conformity
12. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - Where the Wind Turns the Skin to Leather
13. Howe Gelb & A Band of Gypsies - One Diner Town

2012 Confluence
01. Howe Gelb - 3 Sisters
02. Howe Gelb - Saint Conformity
03. Howe Gelb - Pontiac Slipstream
04. Howe Gelb - Sputter
05. Howe Gelb - Blue Marble Girl
06. Howe Gelb - Source
07. Howe Gelb - 2 Rivers
08. Howe Gelb - Available Space
09. Howe Gelb - Pedal Steel and Shell
10. Howe Gelb - Cold
11. Howe Gelb - Cant Help Falling in Love
12. Howe Gelb - Hatch
13. Howe Gelb - Shadow of Where a River Was
14. Howe Gelb - Vex (Paris)
15. Howe Gelb - Vex (Tucson)
16. Howe Gelb - Hard On Things
17. Howe Gelb - Slide Away

2012-11-02 Hisser
01. Howe Gelb - Temptation of Egg
02. Howe Gelb - 4 Door Maverick
03. Howe Gelb - This Purple Child
04. Howe Gelb - Shy of Bumfuck
05. Howe Gelb - Propulsion
06. Howe Gelb - Catapult
07. Howe Gelb - Creeper
08. Howe Gelb - Tanks Rolling Into Town
09. Howe Gelb - Halifax in a Hurricane
10. Howe Gelb - Living On a Waterfall
11. Howe Gelb - Like a Store Front Display
12. Howe Gelb - Explore You
13. Howe Gelb - Nicos Lil Opera
14. Howe Gelb - Theremineder
15. Howe Gelb - Hisser
16. Howe Gelb - Intro Speck
17. Howe Gelb - Soldier of Fortune
18. Howe Gelb - Lull
19. Howe Gelb - Short Way to End the Day

2012-11-05 The Listener
01. Howe Gelb - Glisten
02. Howe Gelb - Felonious
03. Howe Gelb - Jasons List
04. Howe Gelb - Cowboy Boots
05. Howe Gelb - Torque (Tango De La Tongue)
06. Howe Gelb - Piango
07. Howe Gelb - Lying There
08. Howe Gelb - B 4 U (Do Do Do)
09. Howe Gelb - The Nashville Sound
10. Howe Gelb - Blood Orange
11. Howe Gelb - Moons of Impulse
12. Howe Gelb - Now I Lay Me Down
13. Howe Gelb - Lemmy n Emmy

2013 Dust Bowl
01. Howe Gelb - Dust Bowl
02. Howe Gelb - Porch Banjo
03. Howe Gelb - Lost Love
04. Howe Gelb - Man on a String
05. Howe Gelb - Reality or Not
06. Howe Gelb - John Deere
07. Howe Gelb - Windblown Waltz
08. Howe Gelb - Redelivery Blues
09. Howe Gelb - Forever and a Day
10. Howe Gelb - Plane of Existence
11. Howe Gelb - A Coffee Song
12. Howe Gelb - The Old Overrated
13. Howe Gelb - Mystery Spot
14. Howe Gelb - Blink of an Eye

2013-09-30 Plucklings (The Best of Howe Gelb)
01. Howe Gelb - But I Did Not
02. Howe Gelb - Neon Filler
03. Howe Gelb - Blue Marble Girl
04. Howe Gelb - Felonious
05. Howe Gelb - Blood Orange
06. Howe Gelb - Explore You
07. Howe Gelb - 4 Door Maverick
08. Howe Gelb - Creeper
09. Howe Gelb - Available Space
10. Howe Gelb - The Nashville Sound
11. Howe Gelb - Wild Dog Waltz
12. Howe Gelb - Brown Recluse
13. Howe Gelb - Robes of Bible Black
14. Howe Gelb - Worried Spirits
15. Howe Gelb - Excursion Disruption
16. Howe Gelb - Denmark Stunningly Soaked

2013-07-30 Sno Angel Like You
01. Howe Gelb - Get to Leave
02. Howe Gelb - Paradise Here Abouts
03. Howe Gelb - But I Did Not
04. Howe Gelb - Hey Man
05. Howe Gelb - The Farm
06. Howe Gelb - Thats How Things Get Done
07. Howe Gelb - Love Knows (No Borders)
08. Howe Gelb - The Voice Within
09. Howe Gelb - Nail in the Sky
10. Howe Gelb - Howlin a Gale
11. Howe Gelb - Robes of Bible Black
12. Howe Gelb - Worried Spirits
13. Howe Gelb - Neon Filler
14. Howe Gelb - Chore of Enchantment
15. Howe Gelb - Get to Leave - Holy (Bonus Track)
16. Howe Gelb - Nail in the Sky - Original (Bonus Track)

2015-10-01 The Coincidentalist
01. Howe Gelb - Vortexas
02. Howe Gelb - Left of Center
03. Howe Gelb - Running Behind
04. Howe Gelb - The 3 Deaths of Lucky
05. Howe Gelb - Unforgivable
06. Howe Gelb - The Coincidentalist
07. Howe Gelb - Triangulate
08. Howe Gelb - Picacho Peak
09. Howe Gelb - An Extended Plane of Existence
10. Howe Gelb - Looking That Way
11. Howe Gelb - Instigated Chimes

2016 Future Standards
01. Howe Gelb - Terribly So
02. Howe Gelb - Irresponsible Lovers
03. Howe Gelb - A Book Youve Read Before
04. Howe Gelb - Relevant
05. Howe Gelb - Ownin It
06. Howe Gelb - Clear
07. Howe Gelb - Impossible Thing
08. Howe Gelb - The Shiver Revisted
09. Howe Gelb - Mad Man at Large
10. Howe Gelb - May You Never Fall In Love
11. Howe Gelb - Sweet Confusion
12. Howe Gelb - Mad Man at Home
01. Howe Gelb - Terribly So
02. Howe Gelb - Irresponsible Lovers
03. Howe Gelb - A Book Youve Read Before
04. Howe Gelb - Relevant
05. Howe Gelb - Ownin It
06. Howe Gelb - Clear
07. Howe Gelb - Impossible Thing
08. Howe Gelb - The Shiver Revisted
09. Howe Gelb - Mad Man at Large
10. Howe Gelb - May You Never Fall In Love
11. Howe Gelb - Sweet Confusion
12. Howe Gelb - Mad Man at Home

2016-09-23 Sno Angel Like You + Sno Angel Winging It
01. Howe Gelb - Get To Leave
01. Howe Gelb - Paradise Here Abouts (Live)
02. Howe Gelb - Dirty From The Rain (Live)
02. Howe Gelb - Paradise Here Abouts
03. Howe Gelb - But I Did Not
03. Howe Gelb - Thats How Things Get Done (Live)
04. Howe Gelb - Hey Man
04. Howe Gelb - Spiral (Live)
05. Howe Gelb - Robes of Bible Black (Live)
05. Howe Gelb - The Farm
06. Howe Gelb - Thats How Things Get Done
06. Howe Gelb - Vortexas (Live)
07. Howe Gelb - Ballad Of The Tucson 2 (Live)
07. Howe Gelb - Love Knows (No Borders)
08. Howe Gelb - Hey Man (Live)
08. Howe Gelb - The Voice Within
09. Howe Gelb - Nail In The Sky
09. Howe Gelb - Worried Spirits (Live)
10. Howe Gelb - Howlin A Gale (Live)
10. Howe Gelb - Howlin A Gale
11. Howe Gelb - Nail In The Sky (Live)
11. Howe Gelb - Robes Of Bible Black
12. Howe Gelb - Astonished (Live)
12. Howe Gelb - Worried Spirits
13. Howe Gelb - But I Did Not (Live)
13. Howe Gelb - Neon Filler
14. Howe Gelb - Chore Of Enchantment
14. Howe Gelb - Love Knows (No Borders) (Live)
15. Howe Gelb - Get To Leave - Holy (Bonus)
16. Howe Gelb - Nail In The Sky - Original (Bonus)

2017 Dreaded Brown Recluse
01. Howe Gelb - Spirit Lie
02. Howe Gelb - Picture Shows
03. Howe Gelb - Loretta And The Insect World
04. Howe Gelb - Actually Faxing Sophia
05. Howe Gelb - Cello of the City
06. Howe Gelb - Still Too Far
07. Howe Gelb - Warm Storm
08. Howe Gelb - Always Horses Coming
09. Howe Gelb - Vigdis
10. Howe Gelb - Vienna Two-Step Throw-Away
11. Howe Gelb - Bible Black, Book II
12. Howe Gelb - Brown Recluse
13. Howe Gelb - Wild Dog Waltz
14. Howe Gelb - Blanket for Tina
15. Howe Gelb - Victoria Wisp
16. Howe Gelb - Detrimental Instrumental (Bonus)
17. Howe Gelb - Vigdis (Uninterrupted bonus)
18. Howe Gelb - Cello In The City (Archivist Remix Bonus)

2017 Further Standards
01. Howe Gelb - Presumptuous
02. Howe Gelb - All you Need to Know
03. Howe Gelb - Clear (Recycled)
04. Howe Gelb - Irresponsible Lovers (Recycled)
05. Howe Gelb - Impossible Thing (Recycled)
06. Howe Gelb - Relevant (Recycled)
07. Howe Gelb - Sweet Confusion (Live)
08. Howe Gelb - Clear (Live)
09. Howe Gelb - May you Never Fall in Love (Live)
10. Howe Gelb - Irresponsible Lovers (Live)
11. Howe Gelb - A Book Youve Read Before (Live)
12. Howe Gelb - Ownin It (Live)
13. Howe Gelb - Terribly So (Live)
14. Howe Gelb - Not the End of the World
15. Howe Gelb - Gypse Candle
16. Howe Gelb, Howe Gelb featuring Lonna Kelly, Lonna Kelly - Severe Season
(Recycled)
01. Howe Gelb - Presumptuous
02. Howe Gelb - All you Need to Know
03. Howe Gelb - Clear (Recycled)
04. Howe Gelb - Irresponsible Lovers (Recycled)
05. Howe Gelb - Impossible Thing (Recycled)
06. Howe Gelb - Relevant (Recycled)
07. Howe Gelb - Sweet Confusion (Live)
08. Howe Gelb - Clear (Live)
09. Howe Gelb - May you Never Fall in Love (Live)
10. Howe Gelb - Irresponsible Lovers (Live)
11. Howe Gelb - A Book Youve Read Before (Live)
12. Howe Gelb - Ownin It (Live)
13. Howe Gelb - Terribly So (Live)
14. Howe Gelb - Not the End of the World
15. Howe Gelb - Gypse Candle
16. Howe Gelb, Howe Gelb featuring Lonna Kelly, Lonna Kelly - Severe Season
(Recycled)

2018-05-18 Label Pop Session
01. Howe Gelb - 4 Door Maverick
02. Howe Gelb - Roses of Bible Black
03. Howe Gelb - Bottom Line Man
04. Howe Gelb - Paradise Here Abouts
05. Howe Gelb - Looking That Way
06. Howe Gelb - Not the End of the World
07. Howe Gelb - Man on a String

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