“‘Baby’ has been a staple on just about every playlist/mixtape I’ve assembled in the past 3 years. It is nothing short of sublime.” – Ariel Pink
Pacific Northwest isolation mixed with wide-eyed ambition, a strong sense of family and the gift of music proved to be quite the combination for teenage brothers Donnie and Joe Emerson. Originally released in 1979, Dreamin’ Wild is the sonic vision of the talented Emerson boys, recorded in a family-built home studio in rural Washington State. Situated in the unlikely blink-and-you-missed-it town of Fruitland and far removed from the late 1970s punk movement and the larger disco boom, Donnie and Joe tilled their own musical soil, channeling bedroom pop jams, raw funk, and yacht rock.
Spurred on their high school’s music program, Donnie and Joe received a further push from their lifelong farmer father, who drew up a contract stating that he’d support his sons lofty ambitions with their very own recording studio as long as they focused on original material, sage advice for a man with zero experience in the music business. After taking out a second mortgage to help cover costs, Don Sr. also built his children a 300-capacity concert hall (dubbed Camp Jammin’) replete with ticket booth, stage, and fully functioning snack bar. The only problem was that the projected audience never quite materialized, despite a prime time TV profile entitled “The Rock And Roll Farmers” from nearby Spokane, Washington. Even the Emerson brother’s school pals were nonplussed at their privately pressed long player; hand distributed to local music stores, but not as far as Seattle, five hours away from their rural home. Somewhat rejected by the muted response, but never surrendering, both Donnie and Joe continued down a musical path and are still active as performers today.
This rare slice of bedroom-funk gets the usual Light In The Attic treatment with newly remastered audio, detailed liner notes interviewing the Emersons, and expanded original album art with loads of photos from the Emerson’s collection. Be sure to also check out the short documentary Rock and Roll Farmers (directed by Matt Sullivan and Michelle M. Witten), premiering below. Stay tuned for more Donnie and Joe goodies in the coming weeks!
Pre-order Donnie & Joe Emerson Dreamin’ Wild (LITA 082 – CD/LP/Digital) here now. Available at fine record stores world wide June 26, 2012.
* First ever CD & LP reissue
* SOLD OUT – Limited edition (100 copies) on “Baby” Blue (wink-wink) 180-gram wax, only available to the first 100 pre-orders on LightInTheAttic.net SOLD OUT
* CD and LP include detailed liner notes by Dave Segal, interviewing the Emersons plus unseen photos
* 180-gram LP housed in gatefold “tip-on” jacket and includes download card for full album plus audio interview between Ariel Pink and Donnie Emerson!
* 25 random copies of LP include an original copy of Donnie & Joe’s 1977 debut 45 single
