The Mcgarrigle Hour

To say the least, the eighth album by these French Canadian folk singing sisters is decidedly a family affair. Like one of those old Osmond family TV specials that the album's title parodies, the McGarrigles rally their kinfolk (Kate's ex-husband Loudon Wainwright III, their exceptionally talented kids Rufus and Martha) along with some high-profile pals (Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt) for a glorified after-supper sing- along. Serving up everything from Stephen Foster and Irving Berlin standards to such Kate and Anna classics as the exquisite ""(Talk to Me of) Mendocino,"" the McGarrigles and company prove more than worthy of the title First Extended Family of Folk. -- Michael Evans

It's a family affair. The harmonizing sisters gather round the old piano with kids (Rufus and Martha Wainwright), friends (Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt), and even Kate's ex-hubby, Loudon Wainwright III. Kate and Anna have been performing together for decades, somehow managing to avoid pitfalls along the way. The McGarrigle Hour shows they're not in a race to overtake anyone, but they're not coasting, either. --Steven Stolder

...[A] poignant meditation on the meaning of family and the power of shared history.

Kate and Anna McGarrigle are Canadian songwriting sisters whose talents came to global recognition in 1974 when Linda Ronstadt recorded Anna's "Heart Like a Wheel." The McGarrigle sisters were signed to Warner Brothers and recorded three albums. The sisters then recorded two albums for Joe Boyd's label, Hannibal, in the early 80's. During this time Kate and Anna raised families and toured on occasion. In 1998 the sisters rejoined Joe Boyd along with family and friends to record, The McGarrigle Hour. Ryko, which became home to Hannibal in the early 1990's, celebrates The McGarrigle Hour as part of the Ryko Analogue Vinyl Series. Ryko Analogue is committed to releasing classic albums, cult favourites, and audiophile titles on vinyl. The LP package for The McGarrigle Hour includes a set of liner notes from album producer, Joe Boyd, which he penned especially for this LP release (excerpt of these liner notes included below). "In the late `90s, I was suffering from McGarrigle withdrawal. Hannibal had licensed a number of their recordings and our paths often crossed, but I hadn't been in the studio with them since 1977 and I craved that experience again. Having convinced them that this was a good idea, we started filling out the lineup. Kate's precocious kids Rufus and Martha were joined by cousins Lily and Sylvan Lanken and their Dad Loudon Wainwright III. Old pal Chaim Tannenbaum joined in as did admirers Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, who had both recorded a number of McGarrigle songs.