Notes | Track Listing

Stephen Martin, artist/songwriter/poet, writes strange and beautiful songs. The works in Even Autumn were created and recorded at various stops along his wanderings, as he continued to search for beauty in unlikely places. His surreal soundscapes are peopled by American archetypes (the mad motorist, the drunk in the alley, the exotic dancer), jungle animals (monkeys, snakes, and elephants), and a few ghosts. Stephen cut his teeth in the coffeehouses and colleges of Worcester, Boston, and Amherst, Massachusetts. He's since shared the stage with the likes of B.B. King, Arlo Guthrie, Don McLean, Jackson Brown, Utah Phillips, Jaime Brockett, "Spider" John Koerner, and Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup. During the Summer of Love (1967), he conceived and nurtured into reality "Congress Alley", the controversial creative Worcester community that was home to artists like Brockett, Clean Living, the original J. Geils Blues Band, and Boston Sound centerpiece Orpheus. Martin's song, aptly titled Congress Alley, was introduced on Orpheus' first album, and has subsequently been covered a dozen times. The Iris Music Group label (IMG) is planning to release a special spoken word/musical commemorative album of the history and recordings of Congress Alley. Orpheus ultimately recorded 13 Martin compositions, on some of which he sang lead. Four songs from the fourth Orpheus album appear in this Anthology: Monkey Demon, a chilling ballad portraying drug addiction as demonic possession; Lucianne, a light-hearted ode to anarchy; It Gets Worse Every Time, a denouncement of materialism; and the well known Big Green Pearl where Stephen points out: The oak tree dont need an alibi, He knows the world is upside down, With his great roots all hanging in the sky, As well as in the ground. In 1973, Stephen moved to San Francisco, where he developed into a versatile harmonica player, performing in such Bay area cult groups as the Charles Biscuit Band, Rescue, and Rebecca West. Back in Massachusetts in 1991, Stephen joined Norman Schell and Bruce MacKay to make an independent country/rock album, Recipe. In 1995, he recorded Ball Peen Platter, a grunge EP on see-through vinyl, and in 2001, Oroboros, produced by Jamie Brockett. Some songs from these releases are included in "Even Autumn." Others will be included, along with new recordings, in forthcoming Stephen Martin Anthology CDs on the Iris Music Group label. Currently, Stephen records and performs with Orpheus Reborn and with Stephen and The Snake. TRACK LISTING: Click on the song titles to hear audio clips Even Autumn Monkey Demon Lucianne It Gets Worse Every Time Elephant Breakdown Lane Whiskey Waltz Buried Alive With Snakes Big Green Pearl Sailors' Ghosts The Past Is Gone Compilation produced by Alan Lorber. Tracks may be downloaded from iTunes, amazon.com, Rhapsody, eMusic and Napster. Physical CDs may be ordered from the Iris Music Group store, eBay or amazon.com. First | Previous | Next | Last Return to IMG Catalog Orpheus Reborn Home Page