Thirteen Stories High is a 2008 album by California-based folk singer-songwriter Joel Rafael. The album's political tone is set by the first track, "This Is My Country", which features David Crosby and Graham Nash on background vocals. Political themes continue throughout the album both in Rafael's own songs and in two covers: Steve Earle's "Rich Man's War" and Jack Hardy's "I Oughta Know".

Thirteen Stories High
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 8, 2008
Genrefolk, singer-songwriter
LabelInside Recordings
ProducerJoel Rafael
Joel Rafael chronology
Woodyboye: Songs Of Woody Guthrie And Tales Worth Telling, Vol. 2
(2005)
Thirteen Stories High
(2008)

This is the first album in which Rafael is billed as a solo artist and here he records with a few talented session players rather than with the members of his Joel Rafael band. Rafael does spend a bit of time covering old territory, re-recording his own songs, "Time Stands Still" and "Reluctant Angel". Rafael has announced plans to tour in support of the new record.[1]

Track listing edit

  1. "This Is My Country" (Rafael) – 4:55
  2. "Ball & Chain" (Rafael) – 3:01
  3. "Rich Man's War" (Earle) – 3:09
  4. "I Ought to Know" (Hardy) – 3:45
  5. "Missing Pages" (Rafael) – 4:33
  6. "Dancing to the Dream" (Rafael) – 3:45
  7. "Open Up Your Heart" (Rafael) – 3:11
  8. "Wild Honey" (McClemore, Rafael) – 3:03
  9. "Time Stands Still" (Rafael) – 3:19
  10. "Song of Socrates" (Rafael) – 3:34
  11. "Reluctant Angel" (Rafael) – 2:45
  12. "Promised Land" (Rafael) – 4:27
  13. "Rivers and Rain" (Rafael) – 3:31

Credits edit

Musician edit

Production edit

  • Produced by Joel Rafael
  • Engineered Jared Brown, John Inmon, Joel Rafael, and Fred Remmert
  • Mixed by Joel Rafael
  • Mastered by Gavin Lurssen
  • Executive producer/Management – Cree Clover Miller

Artwork edit

  • Brian Porizek – Art direction, design
  • Pete Lacker – Photography

Charts edit

year chart peak
April 2008 Freeform American Roots Chart 19[2]

Releases edit

year format label catalog #
2008 CD Inside 80219

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ Press release, Jensen Communications, March 2008
  2. ^ Freeform American Roots Chart April 2008, 3rd Coast Magazine