Per the suggestion of the usually-reliable-arbiter-of-taste over at Blog-Sothoth (I think, can't find a direct link at the moment), I ordered a CD by Rachael Davis and Steppin' In It from CD Baby.
The album sounds fun,
but the confirmation email I received from Derek Sivers, President and founder of CD Baby, cracks me up:
The album sounds fun,
Rachael Davis and the boys from Steppin’ In It found a common love for Jazz music of the 1930’s and ‘40’s after playing concerts as a double-bill. The summer of 2006 found the two Michigan acts working at the same festivals, as classic tunes from Nat King Cole or Sarah Vaughan found their way onto set-lists. By the fall, the quintet was dubbed ‘Shout Sister Shout’ (after the Sister Rosetta Tharpe classic of the same name) and an album was in the works. Combining the timeless rhythm section of Steppin’ In It and Rachael’s velvety vocals, this group “creates a live show that is hot, energetic and brilliant…” WXPR Radio- Rhinelander, WI
Their self-titled debut release was recorded on location at The Creole Gallery in Lansing, MI. Built in the late 19th century, the Creole provided the perfect atmosphere to record and album of classic standards, lending to the character of the project.
Although both are known nationally for their folk repertoire, Shout Sister Shout focuses on old-time American Jazz featuring torch swing numbers alongside bluesy ballads. Old-time radio fanatics Steppin’ In It provide the perfect backdrop for Rachael, who posses a voice that demands your attention.
“The quintet is a tribute to the smoky, sophisticated sound of 1930s and '40s jazz, with plenty of influence from Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole Trio and Sarah Vaughan, and it's a trip to hear Davis channel those old greats. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a bunch of guys playing the hell out of vintage instruments as backup.” The Metro Times- Detroit, MI
but the confirmation email I received from Derek Sivers, President and founder of CD Baby, cracks me up:
Your CD has been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.Not all record label executives are shriveled up corporate drones, some obviously still love music and the musicians that make it. I'll be buying more from CD Baby if I can.
A team of 50 employees inspected your CD and polished it to make sure it was in the best possible condition before mailing.
Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over the crowd as he put your CD into the finest gold-lined box that money can buy.
We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of Portland waved "Bon Voyage!" to your package, on its way to you, in our private CD Baby jet on this day, Tuesday, February 12th.
I hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby. We sure did. Your picture is on our wall as "Customer of the Year." We're all exhausted but can't wait for you to come back to CDBABY.COM!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Sigh...
CD Baby is wonderful. I helped Jimi Mbaye get his CD in their store (http://cdbaby.com/cd/jimimbaye). Every time they sell a CD he gets an email. When they send him a payment, they always send an email like this:
Yes it's good to get paid paid paid paid for making music!
I hope I write you a million more checks.
I hope you write a million more songs.
I hope you get a million more fans
who give you a million kisses
all because of CD Baby.
Ciao!
When they sell your CD, you can optionally have them also sell it through iTunes, eMusic, and other download services with no extra work.
Even better!
I ordered the Jimi Mbaye CD too, looks good. Thanks for the tip!
I did mention Steppin' In It, but the CD was "Hidden in the Lowlands." Let me know how "Shout Sister Shout" is...