Social Studies (Loudon Wainwright III album)

Social Studies is a studio album by Loudon Wainwright III, released in 1999.^[2][3] The album comprises various topical and satirical songs, originally produced for National Public Radio and based upon then-current issues and events, such as the Tonya Harding scandal, the O. J. Simpson murder trial, the lead-up to Y2K, and controversies surrounding comments made by former Republican U.S. Senator Jesse Helms.^[4]

Social Studies
Studio album by Loudon Wainwright III
Released	1999
Genre	Folk, satire
Length	52:08
Label	Hannibal[1]
Producer	Joe Boyd, John Wood
Loudon Wainwright III chronology
BBC Sessions (1998) Social Studies (1999) Last Man on Earth (2001)

Regarding the album's topical nature, Wainwright notes: "It's something that no-one does anymore; write songs about current events. When I was young there were a lot of topical songwriters around; maybe folk music had more impact on culture back then. I see these songs as a kind of musical journalism. My father was a journalist, for Life magazine, and I've definitely inherited something of that approach."^[5]

Production

The album was written over a period of 15 years, with Wainwright composing on his Martin guitar.^[6][7] It was produced by Joe Boyd and John Wood.^[8] NPR declined to air several of the songs that eventually became part of the album's track listing.^[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
Robert Christgau	[11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[12]
Rolling Stone	[13]

Rolling Stone wrote that "the best political songs combine passionate commitment and analytic command, laced with streaks of black humor, as in prime Mekons or Gil Scott-Heron."^[13] The Guardian deemed Social Studies "largely an album about alienation, anonymous telephone sex, and a society that lives vicariously, either through the OJ soap opera, or by watching TV news."^[14]

The Boston Globe thought that the album "shines with the same wise-guy wit, but also with a kind-eyed empathy that gives even his goofiest songs a sage maturity and warm emotional resonance."^[15] The Independent opined that Wainwright "is as wry and acid as ever, but most tracks should probably have remained one-off live broadcasts, as intended."^[16]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Loudon Wainwright III

1. "What Gives" – 3:29
2. "Tonya's Twirls" – 3:37
3. "New Street People" – 2:50
4. "Carmine Street" – 2:57
5. "O.J." – 3:13
6. "Leap Of Faith" – 2:53
7. "Conspiracies" – 2:17
8. "Christmas Morning" – 3:36
9. "Y2K" – 6:13
10. "Number One" – 3:39
11. "Bad Man" – 3:21
12. "Inaugural Blues" – 3:19
13. "Our Boy Bill" – 3:11
14. "Jesse Don't Like It" – 4:06
15. "Pretty Good Day" – 4:19

Personnel

• Loudon Wainwright III – guitar, vocals
• The Roches – vocals
• John Scofield – electric guitar
• Greg Cohen – bass, piano
• Richard Crooks – drums, percussion
• Peter Ecklund – trumpet, cornet
• David Mansfield – guitar, harmonica, violin, mandolin
• Jenni Muldaur – vocals
• Ken Pearson – organ, piano
• Lenny Pickett – clarinet, saxophone
• Chaim Tannenbaum – banjo, harmonica, vocals

Charts

Chart performance for Social Studies

Chart (1999)	Peak position
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[17]	38

Release history

• CD: Hannibal HNCD 1442