New Release!
New Songs of Freedom, a specially-priced mini-album from Chip Taylor, will be available on June 10.  A thought provoking and soul-stirring work, this new collection reflects Chip's unique perspective on America's past, present and future.

Chip & Carrie Live From the RuhrTriennale has been released and will be available soon in our store  This recording captures their amazing shows in Germany in October 2005 and features a stellar backing band including Bill Frisell and guest Buddy Miller.  In addition to cool versions of their own songs, C & C do great covers of classics like Big River and Maybellene.

Kendel Carson & John Platania albums

  Kendel Carson is only 22 but has been playing the fiddle in bands for more than a decade. Rearview Mirror Tears is her outstanding debut album. Chip worked with Kendel, writing and producing, and if you like his collaborations with Carrie Rodriguez you're gonna love this one too. Take a listen to the lead-off track Run to the Middle of the Morning.

John Platania has played guitar on some of the best recordings of all time - Van Morrison's Moondance for example - but this is his first ever instrumental album. It does have recitations from people such as Alejandro Escovedo and Jon Voight as well as featuring a great vocal by Lucinda Williams. Take a listen to Running With the Dogs.

Both albums are now available in the Store.

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July 2, 2008 - Talk of the Town

Chip is featured in the new issue (July 7, 14) of The New Yorker.  Click here to read the article and see the cool cartoon version of Chip.

Jun 6, 2008 - New Songs of Freedom

On June 10, Chip will release New Songs of Freedom, a potent sampler of topical songwriting with contemporary resonance and timeless appeal. As with all Taylor's recent work, 'New Songs Of Freedom' is modern acoustic music stoked by rock 'n' roll fire. The opener "Dance With a Hole in Your Shoe" – set like a '50s beat poem – is a political and musical mission statement offering sage advice on how to live in our world today. Click here to see the cool video. The next track, "Former American Soldier" is based on a Church of the Train Wreck podcast about the Lao soldiers of Vientiane who fought for the U.S. in the Vietnam War and were left behind. You'll definitely want to hear this CD.

RECORD RELEASE PARTY/PERFORMANCE in New York at BANJO JIM'S (9th & Ave C) - See here for more details and come join Chip if you are in the area.

November 8, 2007 - Holland Tour

Chip & Carrie's recent tour through the Netherlands (read all about it in the Road Journal) inspired Chip to write a batch of new songs. If you attended any of the shows and have photos, video or great memories, we love for you to share them with us for possible inclusion with a future release. Please direct them to info@trainwreckrecords.com. Thanks.

September 20, 2007 - Daddy is a Red Sox Fan

Chip has written and produced a new song for his grandchildren to perform and it has become a YouTube sensation.  The song is called Daddy is a Red Sox Fan and you can listen to and download it here.   To see the video, click here .  An entire album by the Grandkids will be released early in 2008 by Train Wreck - check back here soon for more details.

August 7, 2007 - Train Wreck Revue in Scandinavia

Chip, Kendel & John are currently in Sweden (check the Tour Dates for details) after a spectacular appearance in Norway at the Down on the Farm Festival. Chip will have a lot to say about it soon in his Road Journal about the concerts but we can tell you now that they jammed with Robyn Hitchcock and John Paul Jones among others in front of a huge crowd who had just come from watching the Flaming Lips.

In other news, we will have the debut of Kendel's video for I Like Trucks very shortly right here on the web site. Check back soon - it's really cool. And read what some of the critics are saying about John's new CD here.

July 18, 2007 – Message From Kendel

It's Kendel here, and I just wanted to let you guys know what's been happening lately. I'm excited to tell you that my album Rearview Mirror Tears has just hit number 10 on the Americana Radio chart! I've been so lucky to have so many great guys & gals at radio pick it up (thank you!) and especially XM Satellite radio where it was actually #1 for plays last week on the coolest station they have – X Country channel 12. (now even my brother-in law thinks I'm cool).

Chip, John and I have been doing lots of shows lately – we hit New Jersey and Sellersville, PA this past weekend (Chip's Tour Notes are up now) which were great gigs… and the week before we were in Nashville TN and Lexington KY. We recorded for the radio/online program Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour - check it out (we are show #444).

John's album, Blues, Waltzes & Badland Borders, has also been getting HUGE reviews… rightly so because it's a wicked record… so keep your eyes on the site because I'm sure some from No Depression, Harp, etc will be going up soon. Right now he's in Switzerland with Van Morrison playing the Montreux Jazz Fest… I'm jealous!

Next John will be meeting Chip & me on the other side of this continent – we'll be playing a bunch in California starting tomorrow night, and we'll even be on the West Coast Live radio show on Saturday July 21, at 10am Pacific Time if you want to listen. You can hear it on a whole bunch of stations  - for a list, see www.wcl.org -or online at www.kalw.org.

Then we head over to Europe for a couple of weeks…we're all really excited. It will be me, Chip, John and the fabulous Bryan Owings on drums and Ron Eoff on bass. All the dates are in the tour section – Norway, Sweden and London, UK.

Hope you're all having great summers!! Thanks for supporting me and my album :)

April 24, 2007 - On the Charts

Kendel Carson made her chart debut as Rearview Mirror Tears started out #39 on the Americana Chart in its first week out.  Kendel is out on the road in Europe with the Paperboys in Europe right now.  Check out Tour Dates for the details.  And she joined Chip and John in the Netherlands last weekend for the Blue Highway Festival.  The Road Journal tells the whole story about they did in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.

April 10, 2007 - The Latest

If you look to the your left, you may have noticed that we have two new albums out now - by Kendel Carson and John Platania.  They're both great - take a listen yourself to the MP3s by clicking on the song titles under the album covers.  And if you want to see Kendel and John live in concert, they are out on the road with Chip now - go to Tour Dates to see where they are now.

Also, Carrie is also touring at the moment (Tour Dates has the details) and you don't want to miss her show - it's outstanding.

January 29, 2007 - On Lu's List

Sunday's New York Times included Lucinda Williams' playlist of what she is listening to these days and included on the list is Seven Angels on a Bicycle by our own Carrie Rodriguez (along with a nice picture).  Carrie will be joining Lucinda on tour, opening some shows this spring - we'll have the details on the Tour Dates page very soon.

January 15, 2007 - Train Wreck Revue

The first in a series of show this year featuring Chip along with guitarist John Platania and singer/fiddler Kendel Carson took place this past weekend in Pawling, New York.  The Road Journal has all the details.  And come back soon for more details about the new solo albums that John and Kendel will be releasing in April.  Both were produced by Chip and they are excellent.  We will have MP3 samples in the next couple of weeks so don't be long.  We'll let you know what going on with Carrie too.

November 22, 2006 - C & C in England

The UK Tour is going very well.  For more details check out the Road Journal or read this article.

November 20, 2006 - Work on the Side

On the most recent edition of Austin City Limits you can see John Platania playing guitar behind Van Morrison.  Check out your local listings for the time and channel in your area.  And if you've already missed it, don't worry it will be re-run in a few months.  Maybe about the time that John's album will be released by Train Wreck.  Check back in 2007 for more details.  Also doing a little moonlighting was Carrie Rodriguez who can be heard adding her fiddle to an album by Eric Hanke.

November 9, 2006 - Coming To a City Near You

Check the Tour Dates because Chip and Carrie will be touring non-stop almost to the end of the year.  You don't want to miss this chance to see them - they are in peak form.  Also, check out the Road Journal for new entries - the latest describes Chip's experience on Jon Langford's radio show.  If you're in Chicago, listen on November 21 on WXRT for Chip's appearance.  Also, here is a new interview with Chip.  Finally, a rare old Chip composition, A Strange Song by the Sandpipers, is popping up on CD for the first time (iTunes has the Harry Belafonte version).

October 15, 2006 - New News and Old News

The West Coast trek by C & C was a real good time for everyone.  Catch up with Chip's Road Journal to learn all the details.

In other news, Chip's 1975 album This Side of the Big River is available on CD for the first time.  If you know and love Last Chance, you'll definitely want to hear this follow-up record - great originals and a cool cover of Johnny Cash's Big River, which Johnny himself endorsed back in the day.  The CD has a bit of strange release schedule.  It is out tomorrow in Europe (where it had a great following 30 years ago - link here.  For those of in the States, you'll have to wait until February 20 next year, unless you want to pay import prices.  Unfortunately, Train Wreck doesn't have the rights to this one, so it isn't available at our Store right now.

September 29, 2006

Chip and Carrie did not win the Americana Music award for Best Duo/Group but it was an honor to be nominated and even better - while they were down in Nashville for the ceremonies, Carrie played at the Grand Ole Opry and Chip met Elvis Costello.  For more of the story, check out Chip's Road Journal.  Many more entries will be coming shortly because C & C will be touring non-stop for the next few months.  Tour Dates has all the info.

Lastly, most everyone knows Janis Joplin's version of Chip's song Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) but did you know that the original was done by soul singer Lorraine Ellison and it is now available again on CD.

September 19, 2006 - Unglorious Angels

While Chip and Carrie tour separately thismonth - check out Tour Dates for more info - their respective new albums have been getting a great reception.  Click here, here (Harp Magazine), here and here for some nice words about Carrie in the press lately.  Also, click here for an article about Chip.  There is no link to a great review about Unglorious in this month's Uncut but we can tell you that they gave it 4 stars and said "a 2 CD set full of slow burning treasures."

August 24, 2006 - Flying Solo

Chip & Carrie are back from a great swing out West.  The first batch of Chip's notes are available now at the Road Journal.  Now, for the next few weeks, both Chip and Carrie will be doing a few solo concerts.  Check out the Tour Dates section for details.

In other news, a couple of older Chip songs are making new CD appearances.  The Pretenders version of Angel of the Morning is finally available on CD on the Pirate Radio box set.  And a cool novelty song, Beatles Please Come Back (co-written with Ted Daryll) can be found on the new Beatlemaniacs compilation.

August 3, 2006 - Go West

Chip & Carrie are heading west in the coming weeks - both in Canada and the U.S.  Check the Tour Dates to see if they'll be performing near you.

Our duo are doing incredibly well in the Americana field lately - both together and separately.  First, Chip & Carrie were nominated for Best Duo or Group by the Americana Music Association.  Next, Chip's new album was the most added new record on the Americana chart last week followed by this week's most added new record - Carrie's Seven Angels.

If you would like to buy both at a special discount combination rate, go to our Store now.

July 18, 2006 - Hallelujah! It's Here

Chip's album, Unglorious Hallelujah, is out now!  It is available for sale at the Store right now at a great price. 

And if you're in the Texas area this week, check out the Tour Dates section for information on Chip's quick trek down south.

June 21, 2006 - Angels, Angels, Angels, Angels, etc.

Want to hear a preview of Carrie's new album?  Sure you do - here is the short version (full length version will be on the album) of Seven Angels on a Bicycle, the title track from the album due August 15.  And take a look at the great cover to the left.

June 8, 2006 - Believe It

The video for I Don't Believe in That, the leadoff track from Chip's Unglorious Hallelujah can be viewed here.  Take a look and then share the link to a friend.  Also, you can see Chip's brother Jon Voight sing the first song Chip ever wrote, Faded Blue, at a concert in New York.

April 29, 2006 - Hallelujah Time

With Chip & Carrie entertaining the masses this weekend at Merlefest (come back in a couple of days for Chip's notes from the show) - we can now tell you that Chip's double album - Unglorious Hallelujah / Red Red Rose will be out on July 18.  There are 24 new, great songs in all (we'll post the full tracklisting here soon) and the cover will be posted to the left in the coming week.  If you haven't already - sample This Old Town (go to the link in the March 29 news item).  Those of you who have been listening to Chip's Church of the Train Wreck podcasts have heard some demo preview versions of a couple of the new songs.  And speaking of the podcast - there is a new one available now!  Check it out.

April 10, 2006 - Angels Coming in August

Yes, we were supposed to have this information last week but we wanted to make absolutely certain that it would be correct because this is big news!  The first Carrie Rodriguez solo album will be released on August 15!  It will be titled Seven Angels on a Bicycle and was produced by both Chip and Carrie, who also co-wrote many of the songs.  Keep checking back here in the weeks to come for more details - the cover, what musicians played, song titles and MP3 previews.

March 29, 2006 - Separate Ways?

2006 is the year of the solo record here at Train Wreck.  Chip and Carrie have taken a temporary detour from their duet recordings; each will have their own CD (in Chip's case two) release in the coming months.  The exact schedule is being determined right now but first up could be Chip's double album Unglorious Hallelujah / Red Red Rose.  We'll be bringing you many more details soon - check back here every Wednesday for more information about both releases - but for now here is a preview of Chip Taylor's This Old Town.

January 6, 2005 - Carrie solo!

Carrie Rodriguez will be playing two hour-long showcases in New York City in the coming weeks.  Carrie will be performing the songs that are being considered for her first solo album (due later this year) along with Andy Cotton (bass), Javier Vercher (percussion) and Sebastian Noel (guitar) at the Living Room on January 10 at 7:00 p.m. and at Pete's Candy Store on January 19 at 11:00 p.m.  Don't miss this chance to be the first to hear these new songs.

December 8, 2005 - Great Americans

Chip and Carrie will be featured on the Great American Country Channel in the coming week.  If your cable system carries it, check out the Edge of Country show on December 10 and 16 for a cool interview with our duo and a chance to see the excellent Keep Your Hat on Jenny video (also included on the DVD in this month's Paste Magazine.)

October 13, 2005 - The Latest Random News Items

Attention Western Canadians - Chip & Carrie are heading your way - click on Tour Dates for more information.  In other news, the video for Keep Your Hat On Jenny is being played on Country Music Television - give them a call or email to let them know you want to see it.  In the near future, look for a Church of the Train Wreck CD, collecting the podcasts and adding some extras.  Finally, a new CD collection, One Kiss Can Lead to Another, features a few of Chip's old compositions - check it out.

September 8, 2005 - All the News

To hear about Chip & Carrie's adventures in Scandinavia, shuffle over to the Road Journal where Chip's latest notes have just been posted.  There is a nice article on the duo at Country Standard Time, check it out. 

August 15, 2005 - World Listens In

Hear Chip & Carrie (interview and performance) on public radio's World Cafe, hosted by David Dye, on August 16 at various times around the country - check your local listings.  If you missed it, listen to it here.

August 3, 2005 - Look What We Just Done

Chip & Carrie were just profiled on NPR's Weekend Edition, click to hear it.  More reviews of Red Dog Tracks - Harp says it is "fresh and lively" and that C & C are "Americana's Townes and Emmylou."  Texas Music magazine describes the album as "a sublime mix of pickin', pluckin', strummin', and bowin' on fiddle."

There lots of new shows coming up so check the Tour Dates.  Chip will have his Road Journal notes for the first leg of the European tour up very soon (sorry for the delay).  And if you are in New York City, a very special show has been set up at the last minute.  On August 13 at Ulysses, Chip will be doing his first show without Carrie in several years (while she takes a well earned short break) - it will be a unique chance to hear some new and old songs that he has rarely, if ever, performed.

July 5, 2005 - Touring News Plus

The first part of the Red Dog Tracks U.S. tour wraps up this weekend with some shows in New England.  Next week, Chip & Carrie head to Europe for almost two straight months of shows.  Tour Dates has all the details.  Read the Road journal to learn about their misadventures in Canada and the cool shows opening for John Prine.

There are more Church broadcasts available now, with more to come soon.  They should also be available for subscription on iTunes in the near future.  The response to Red Dog Tracks continues to be strong - it has been firmly entenched in the top 5 on the Americana chart for the last month.  Also, look for a very cool video for Keep Your Hat On Jenny.

June 9, 2005 - Red Dog Reviews

There are reviews of Red Dog Tracks in the current issues of UnCut and Performing Songwriter and a podcast review at Americana Roots.  The album is up to #3 on the Americana Music Chart this week.  Chip & Carrie are trying to reach John Prine at the top of the chart and happen to be opening shows for Mr. Prine in New York, Philadelphia and Washington next week.  Check out Tour Dates for all the details.  We'll have more details on the European summer schedule very shortly, so come back soon.

May 27, 2005 - Put Your Whole Self In

With the release of Red Dog Tracks this week, a lot of news to report.  First, Chip & Carrie are up to #4 on the Americana Music Chart already - all but certain to be #1 soon.  The record release show in New York was great, read about it here.  New England and Texas are next up, Tour Dates has all the info.  And if you are a Sirius satellite radio subscriber, listen this weekend to a C & C show.

Lastly, one small bit of bad news.  If you bought a copy of Red Dog Tracks here at the site, the initial batch had some minor printing problems in the booklet.  If you'd like a new booklet, just email us and let us know.

May 15, 2005 - Assorted News

Chip & Carrie's 2005 tour in support of Red Dog Tracks is in full swing.  To read about how the shows are going, check our the Road Journal.  Early reviews of the album have been great - check out the latest issue of No Depression and the May 19 issue of Rolling Stone.  Also, check out this article from the Aspen Times.  Finally, there wil be a record release party and show at Joe's Pub in New York City on May 25.  If you're in the area don't miss it - details at Tour Dates.

April 11, 2005 - The Church Is Open

To find out what the Church of the Train Wreck is all about and hear some great songs as well, click here.  New Broadcasts now available, including one featuring the stories of Carrie's grandmother, Frances Nail.

March 23, 2005 - Keep Your Hats On - Two Months to Go

Red Dog Tracks, Chip & Carrie's best album yet, will be out in exactly two months.  Since we know you don't want to wait that long, here is a sneak preview to tide you over until then.  It is the second track on the album, Keep Your Hat on Jenny.

Also, click here to read a recent article on Chip & Carrie.  And there are new Tour Notes from SXSW.

March 14, 2005 - Chip, Carrie and Videotape

Chip and Carrie are back in Austin, Texas for the South by Southwest Festival and there are new Road Journal notes from the first Texas show of 2005.  Also, Chip and Carrie are looking for some video footage of their performances at Ulysses in the past months.  If you were there and have some good video, please let us know at chuck@trainwreckrecords.com.  Thanks.

March 7, 2005 - Big News

The new album, Red Dog Tracks, has an official release date and a new label in North America!  Narada/Emi's Back Porch label will be putting out Chip and Carrie's new bunch of wonderful songs on May 24.  It will be out on Train Wreck in Europe a day earlier and our own web site store will have it at the same time.  We'll post the track listing soon and a preview track for download.

Don't forget to check out Tour Dates for new listings and Chip's account of the last Ulysses show in New York City is now up.

February 9, 2005 - Yes

The series of concerts at Ulysses in New York will conclude with one last show on March 5.  Chip's notes from the Feb 5 show are now posted in the Road Journal section.  2005 is shaping up to be a big year of touring for Chip and Carrie - check back soon for more details but chances are they will be in your area some time this year.  And it looks like the new album, Red Dog Tracks, will be coming out with a new label in North America, most likely in June.  It is well worth the wait.

January 14, 2005 - He Wrote Them

A new book about songwriters features an entire chapter about Chip.  Sean Egan's The Guy's Who Wrote 'Em includes extensive interviews with songwriting greats Leiber & Stoller, Motown legends Holland, Dozier & Holland, Greenwich & Barry and several others including Chip.  If you ever wondered about how Chip goes about his songwriting this is a good read.

January 11, 2005 - On Your Radio

This Old Skin, the duet between Chip and Paul Heaton of the Beautiful South, has been getting airplay on BBC2 radio in the UK.  It entered the chart at #43 last month.  The single version is available now on CD, backed by the BS's version of the Smith's Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - a song that Paul originally wanted Chip to sing on.

November 26, 2004 - Angels in America, and all over the world

If you've been enjoying Chip and Carrie's new version of "Angel of the Morning" you should know that several other versions of the classic song have recently become available on CD for the first time.  Skeeter Davis, a great country singer who recently passed away, recorded Angel in the late 60s and it is finally available on this album.  Soul singer Bettye Swann did an unusual, but cool, version that has gone completely unreleased until now.  And the original album by Merrilee Rush, who was the first to make it a big hit, is just out.

November 9, 2004 - The Latest Scoop

For those you in the New York City area, there are new shows scheduled at a small club in Wall Street area on November 13 and 27.  Check out the tour dates section for more information.  UPDATE: NEW ROAD JOURNAL NOTES.

For fans everywhere, the new album by the Beautiful South features a song, "This Old Skin", where Chip shares the vocals with Paul Heaton and they both sound wonderful.  Highly recommended.  It is out now in the UK (but available here in the US only as an import).  UPDATE: "THIS OLD SKIN" WILL BE THE NEXT SINGLE - DUE OUT DEC 6.

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