|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZANDERSEN, Eric(b 14 Feb. '43, Pittsburgh PA) Singer-songwriter in folk style; plays guitar, harmonica. Raised in upstate New York, dropped out of college early '60s; discovered by Tom Paxton '63 sharing a bill with Janis Joplin in San Francisco; soon working Boston area with Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Judy Collins, etc. Expected to assume mantle of Bob Dylan when Dylan went electric, he just carried on being Eric: writing songs, touring, occasional album; best- known song probably 'Thirsty Boots'. Signed with Vanguard '64; first LP Eric Andersen '65 (aka Today Is The Highway) followed by 'Bout Changes And Things, Take 2, More Hits From Tin Can Alley, Country Dream '66--9, plus two-disc Vanguard Best Of. Switched to WB '69 for LPs Eric Andersen and Avalanche; to Columbia for Blue River '72, which made Billboard Top Pop Albums; then masters of material for second Columbia LP were lost. Switched to Arista for Be True To You '75 which charted, Sweet Surprise and The Best Songs which did not. Sometimes added electric bass guitar to act from mid-'70s, but emphasis always acoustic; published Eric Andersen Songbook, formed music publishing company Wind and Sand which distributes latest albums in USA: Midnight Sun, Tight In The Night, film soundtrack Istanbul mostly made in Europe; the latter was to be retitled Movin' With The Wind for an album. US tour late '85 incl. party at NYC Cat Club for 1,000 friends; he foresaw recording other artists, publishing song books and fiction: 'I'm interested in people who really care about what they're doing.' Long-term hard- core fans are still being rewarded. He divides his time between New York and a home in Norway; Ghosts Upon The Road '89 on Gold Castle was prod. by Steve Addabbo (also Susanne Vega's producer), said to be Andersen's best since Blue River. |