13 new tunes from Mary, plus covers of songs by Nick Salomon (“Stars Burn Out”), Philip Stevenson (“The Brokenhearted”), and a co-write (“Stolen Flowers”) with Karl Straub.
Produced by Philip Stevenson and Mary Battiata, recorded at Scary Clown Studio on a c. 1967 Studer eight-track. Features Mary on vocals and acoustic and electric rhythm guitars, Chris Watling (accordion, baritone sax), Eric Shramek (upright bass), John Gnorski (electric and acoustic lead guitars), Ben Peeler (Weissenborn, lap steel, electric lead guitar), Charles Steck (electric bass), Lyle Kissack (drums), Don Campbell (harmony vocals), and Philip Stevenson (lead and rhythm guitars, Hammond organ, Omni Chord, Mellotron, bass, drums, harmony vocals). And Walter (barking).

Cul-de-sac Cowgirl Songs: Rocking Horse Ceiling Rain Neon Postcard Shadow Cry All Night All Right, Okay Indigo Dried Out Loud Fall, Fall, Fall Cannibal Seven Years Big Top

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Voted Best Debut Recording by the Washington Area Music Association in 2002, and put Mary on Harp Magazine’s annual list of “Songwriters You Should Hear.” Produced by Karl Straub, Philip Stevenson and Mary Battiata. Tracks 1 – 8 recorded at Inner Ear Studio (Arlington, VA) by Don Zientara. Tracks 8 –12 recorded by Philip Stevenson at Scary Clown Studio (Bethesda, Md.). Additional production help from Jason Stelluto at Nightingale Studio (Nashville, TN). Features Mary Battiata (lead vocals, acoustic and electric rhythm guitars), Karl Straub (electric and acoustic lead guitars, harmony vocals), Jim Gray (bass), Martin Lynds (drums), Philip Stevenson (electric and acoustic lead guitars, drums, bass, harmony vocals), Thomas Kane (bass), Brian McGuire (fiddle), Chris Watling (accordion), Nick Ruggieri (drums), Scott Hallgren (organ). Released on Adult Swim Records in 2001 (AS 11CD).

 

“ … ethereal and poignant” -- The Washington Post

“An intriguing blend of airiness and attitude …” – Amplifier.

“Recommended to fans of the Cowboy Junkies and Victoria Williams.” -- highbias.com

“ Portraits of damaged innocence and erotic longing, like tuning in a very clear radio station from thousands of miles away.” -- Harp

“An astonishingly fresh debut, … irresistible pop/folk/celtic melodies that underscore singer Mary Battiata’s quirky yet insightful songwriting.” – Country Music Plus (UK and Ireland).

“Treads the same ground as the sparsely beautiful Calexico” – Journal Newspapers.

Tracks 2, 3 and 4 recorded live at Jammin’ Java, Vienna, Va. in 2003 by Jared Bartlett, and mixed by Philip Stevenson at Alpha Beat, Washington, D.C. Mary (vocals, rhythm guitar), John Gnorski (lead guitars, dobro, harmony vocals). Title track produced by Philip at Scary Clown Studio, Bethesda, Md. Features Mary (vocals, rhythm guitar), and Philip Stevenson (guitar, Hammond B3, percussion). The title song was commissioned by Washington, D.C.-based Hungry for Music [http://hungryformusic.com] for its annual Christmas compilation. The EP also includes a cover of Philip Stevenson’s “Gone Over.” Released in 2003 on Adult Swim Records (AS 14CD).

“Mary Battiata’s 2001 debut as Little Pink, Cul-de-sac Cowgirl, was on my very short list of favorite discs in 2002. If this singer-songwriter has a trademark, it’s the sound of a broken heart being dissected with a steely gaze and a steady hand. She also draws on a full bag of references without freighting her songs with too much art. … 12 Birds whets the appetite for more to come.” – Gary Whitehouse, Greenman Review

 

A Case for Case

Mary’s cover of Peter Case’s “Paradise, Etc.,” recorded at Scary Clown in late 2005, produced by Philip Stevenson, with Eric Shramek (upright bass) and Chris Watling (accordion). A three-CD set, with tracks from John Prine, Joe Ely, Gurf Morlix, James McMurtry, Sam Baker, Hayes Carll, Brad Rice, Pieta Brown and more. The CD was number one on the 2006 Freeform American Roots airplay chart, compiled by independent radio deejays around the country. CD sales benefit Washington-based Hungry for Music.

 

ParkinSong: 38 Songs of Hope

Mary’s previously unreleased “Miles From Nowhere,” recorded at Bias Studios in 2003, produced by Philip Stevenson, with Mary on vocals and rhythm guitar, Karl Straub (lead guitars), Thomas Kane (bass), Chris Watling (accordion), Matt Tebo (drums). Produced by Lloyd Maines, and described as a Who’s Who of American Songwriting. Includes tracks from Bonnie Raitt, Eliza Gilkyson, Dave Alvin, Neko Case, Greg Brown, Kelly Willis, the Hot Club of Cowtown and others. ParkinSong uses music to raise awareness and money to research new treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Available at ParkinSong.

 

Americana Motel

Mary’s cover of Karl Straub’s “Cathode Ray Blue,” recorded with Karl, Martin Lynds and Jim Gray. Produced by Peter Fox. “An inspired outing that marries some Phil Spector-inspired production – layered vocals and big guitars – over a driving rock ‘n roll rhythm section. The whole thing devolves into a glorious blast of Theremin weirdness during the remarkable bridge.” The Wall Street Journal called the CD one of the top 10 of 2001: “Crackles with organic purity – deserves a big audience.” 18 tracks in all, from Karl Straub, Kevin Johnson, Last Train Home, Scott McKnight, Ruthie and the Wranglers, Jumpin’ Jupiter, the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, Bill and Louise Kirchen and others. CD Baby .

 

Washington Area Music Timeline, Vol. 1

Mary’s cover of Tim Buckley’s “Moulin Rouge,” recorded live at the Strathmore Hall, in North Bethesda, Md., in January 2004, with Keith Grimes on lead guitar. Caldwell Gray, recording engineer. This is the first of several CDs that will document the Washington Area Music Association’s two-year, 64-show concert series exploring the work of composers, performers and songwriters with roots or other significant ties to Washington: Marvin Gaye to Patsy Cline, Duke Ellington to John Philip Sousa, Nils Lofgren to Danny Gatton and on … Timeline Concert Series Vol. 1