Bill Taft

Infobox musical artist
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Name = Bill Taft
Birth_name = William Wilson Taft, Jr.
Born = Shaker Heights, Ohio, 1965
Origin = flagicon|USA Georgia, United States
Instrument = Vocals, Guitar, Cornet, Banjo
Genre = Punk rock Folk
Years_active = 1980s–2000s
Associated Acts =Smoke Opal Foxx Quartet Hubcap City Kick Me, The Jody Grind, The Chowder Shouters, An Evening with the Garbageman, Dr. Dixon and the Operators

Bill Taft is an American rock musician living in Atlanta, Georgia. Most of the bands he has been in have broken up due to the death of at least one member.

Biography

In 1982, Bill moved from Ohio to Atlanta to attend Emory University. His first band of note was The Chowder Shouters, whose instruments included garbage cans. [cite web|title= Six Nights for Sampling A World of Unsung Bands|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=New York Times |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1D91539F930A25754C0A966958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2] . They released one 6 song vinyl record. [cite web|title= "Dedicated to Bob Dylan, Our Biggest Fan"|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=Otherwise Unavailable |url=http://otherwiseunavailable.blogspot.com/2006/03/dedicated-to-bob-dylan-our-biggest-fan.html] .After the demise of the Chowder Shouters, Bill joined The Opal Foxx Quartet, a group consisting of anywhere from 2 to 14 members at a time. They broke up in 1992 after the death of several members [cite web|title= Smoke|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=Trouser Press|url=http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=smoke] . They released one posthumous CD, which was largely produced by Michael Stipe. [cite web|title= The Love That Won't Shut Up|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=Amazon.com|url=http://www.amazon.com/Love-That-Wont-Shut-Up/dp/B000008FRF/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1199401456&sr=8-1] .Around 1988, Bill started An Evening with the Garbageman, a spoken-word open-mic variety show, hosted by Bill, that eventually morphed into The Jody Grind [cite web|title= An evening with the Garbageman|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=Kelly Hogan Fan Club|url=http://www.kellyhogan.com/bands/garbageman/] . The Jody Grind released two CDs before disbanding after the death of half their members. [cite web|title= Just a Few Years Later They Would Have Been Huge|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=Otherwise Unavailable|url=http://otherwiseunavailable.blogspot.com/2006/03/just-few-years-later-they-would-have.html] .After The Opal Foxx Quartet broke up, Bill joined Smoke.After The Jody Grind broke up in 1992, Bill formed Kick Me, with Allen Page (of Opal Foxx Quartet) and Kelly Hogan (of The Jody Grind). They recorded several songs that eventually came out on a compilation album called "Hidden Tracks", released by Daemon Records. [cite web|title= Railroad Tracks|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=Creative Loafing|url=http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A343] . Kick Me broke up after Allen Page died of a drug overdose. [cite web|title= Jody grind (Kick me, actually) reunion|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=Otherwise Unavailable|url=http://otherwiseunavailable.blogspot.com/2006/03/jody-grind-kick-me-actually-reunion.html ] .
Smoke recorded two full-length CDs and several compilation tracks, playing until 1999 when lead singer Benjamin died of hepatitis C. A year after Benjamin died, Bill started Hubcap City, who continue to this day. He has also started Another Evening with the Garbageman, an open-mic spoken word project similar to An Evening with the Garbageman.

Bands and Instruments

*Dr. Dixon and the Operators (guitar)
*The Chowder Shouters (guitar and vocals)
*Opal Foxx Quartet (guitar)
*The Jody Grind (guitar and vocals)
*Kick Me (guitar, vocals)
*Smoke (band) (vocals, cornet, banjo)
*Hubcap City (vocals, guitar, cornet, banjo)

Discography

The Chowder Shouters

*"Chowder Shouters" vinyl (1986)
# Weather Report
# Little Wing
# Amazing Grace
# Instrumental
# The Arkansas Side
# The Old Tar River [cite web|title= "Dedicated to Bob Dylan, Our Biggest Fan"|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=Otherwise Unavailable |url=http://otherwiseunavailable.blogspot.com/2006/03/dedicated-to-bob-dylan-our-biggest-fan.html] .

Opal Foxx Quartet

*"The Love That Won't Shut Up" CD (1994, LongPlay Records) [cite web | title = The Love That Won't Shut Up; | work = Amazon.com | url= http://www.amazon.com/Love-That-Wont-Shut-Up/dp/B000008FRF/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-0673938-3720636?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1192918963&sr=8-1 | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ]
# Clean White Bed
# Frail Body
# Blue Exception
# Sleep
# Tub of Love Rumble
# Nightingale
# MTM
# Christmas
# Dirt
# I Don't Know How to Love Him/Strange Fruit
# AliensTrack 1 written by Tracy Snow.Track 2 written by Grady Cousins.Track 4 written by Debbey Richardson.Track 5 is Deacon Lunchbox sleeping in the back of a truck.Track 7 is The Mary Tyler Moore Show Theme Song, "Love is All Around."Track 10 is a medley of the song from Jesus Christ Superstar and the Billie Holiday song.Track 11 written and performed by Deacon Lunchbox.

The Jody Grind

*"One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure" CD (1991, db Recs)
# Peter Gunn
# One Man's Trash (Is Another Man's Treasure)
# Eight-Ball
# Mood Indigo
# Death of Zorba
# Blue and Far
# Governor of Hong Kong
# Just Because You Wear Big Shoes
# It Ain't Necessarily So
# Love, Love Alone
# Wishin' and Hopin'
# My Darlin'
# Florida Maine
# I'm a Fool to Want You

*"Lefty's Deceiver" CD (1992, Ichiban)
# 3rd Of July
# Lounge Axe
# Funnel Of Love
# Friday
# Hands Of June
# Can't You See
# Promise Of Sleep
# Circle
# Driving At Night
# Superhero
# Rickie
# Carry You
# Blues For The Living

Smoke (band)

*"Dirt" 7" (1992)
# Dirt
# Pretend
*"Heaven on a Popsicle Stick" CD (1994, LongPlay Records)
# Hole
# Awake
# Freak (Winn's Song)
# The Trip
# Hank Aaron (lyrics by Dana Kletter)
# Luke's Feet
# Beeper Will
# The Pond
# I Do
# Ballet
# Guilt
# Abigail
# Curtains
*"Another Reason To Fast" CD (1995, LongPlay Records)
# Trust
# Friends
# When It Rains
# Clean White Bed
# Shadow Box
# Dream
# Fatherland
# Train Song
# Debbey's Song
# Chad
# That Look
# I Don't
# Snake

Hubcap City

*"EP 1" CD (2001, Self-released)
# Day Job
# My Punk Ass
# Paul's Boot
# My Wasted Friends
# Weegee
*"Live: 2001-2002" CD (2002, H.I.G. Records 004)
# Action!
# Breakfast at Taxi Driver's
# The Man Who Never Forgets
# Hubcap City
# Paul's Boot
# Reservoir
# Some Things
# Stomp/Atomic Fireball
# Faulkner's Typewriter
# Debby
# Vital Pimp Flash
# Ready to Serve
# Rahab
# Jack Henry
# The Top of the Hill
# Sandbox
# Beautiful and Fucked UpTracks 1-8 recorded at WREK radio on 11/13/01. Tracks 9 and 12 recorded outside at Railroad Earth Studios 5/19/01. Track 10 recorded at Eyedrum 3/10/01. Track 11 recorded 12/30/01 at The Earl. Tracks 13-17 recorded 8/02/02 at Earthshaking Music.

*"EP 2" CD (2002, self-released)
# Reservoir
# Breakfast at Taxi Driver's
# Action
# Atomic Fireball
# Hubcap City

*"EP 3" CD (2004, self-released)
# Jack Henry
# Kiss Me, Arturo
# Left Eye Went the Wrong Way
# Sandbox
# Cat Hair on Rockabilly Dress
# Slug Party
# Door

*"More Songs For Dead Children" CD (2004, self-released)
# Will's 4-Track
# Damaged
# Fried
# Hold On
# Slough of Despond
# Court
# Dumped
# Sassy Magazine Record Review #2: Dear Madonna
# One-Eyed Rapists Attack
# Unfinished Film Festival Song
# Beautiful and Fucked Up

* "Super Local 13" CD (2005, self-released)
# Staircase
# Hurrah Hurrah
# U Don't Know Me Stomp
# Message Received 2:34 AM Thursday
# Guest of Honor
# Five Slugs More Party Minutes
# 7 Zebra Heads 2 Plastic Skulls
# Yippie Yeah Yeah
# Message Received 2:51 AM Thursday
# Preacher
# Blackout
# Ham on Rye
# Snarl Baby Snarl [cite web|title= Hubcap City Official Discography|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=H.I.G. Records|url=http://neonvomit.net/higrecords/hubcapdisco.html] .

=Hubcap City (from Belgium)=

* "Deerhunter/Hubcap City Split" 7" (2006, Rob's House Records)
# Hubcap City - Mad House
# Deerhunter - Grayscale

* "Five More Minutes b/w Sally" 7" (2006, Ponce de Leon Records)
# Five More Minutes
# Sally

* "Superlocalhellfreakride" CD (2007, Xeric 112)
# Get Rid of Now
# Unexpected Guest
# Ring Around the Rosie
# Wind Blowing on a Sick Man
# Deer Hunting
# Sticks in the Graveyard
# Valley of Bones
# No Return
# When the President Sez
# Bottle of Rum
# He Brings the Hatchet in the Evening
# Rahab 2:39
# Boxcar Gamelan
# Guy on Street
# Hippest Trick
# More Guy on Street
# Arabella Sabotage
# The Anti-Christ is Alive... [cite web|title= superlocalhellfreakride|accessdate=2008-01-03|work=Amazon.com|url=http://www.amazon.com/Superlocalhellfreakride-Hubcap-City/dp/B000MDH89G/ref=cm_lmf_tit_5] .

Compilation appearances

with Kelly Hogan

* "The Mother of all Flagpole Christmas Albums" CD (1992, Flagpole) [cite web | title = The Mother of All Flagpole Christmas Albums; | work = Artistdirect.com | url= http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,134886,00.html | accessdate = 2008-01-03 ]
# Introduction - Deacon Lunchbox
# Santa's Hard - Follow for Now
# Thomas Tinsel's Holiday - Kevn Kinney
# Santa vs Magneto - Bliss
# Santa Baby - Michelle Malone
# Santa Claus - The Woggles
# Jingle Bells - Flat Duo Jets
# Learn to Love Again - Dreams So Real
# Papa's Home - Widespread Panic
# Here Comes Christmas - Daisy
# You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch - Labrea Stompers
# Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto - Seersucker
# Snowflakes Are Falling - Hear it Love it Dance it
# Christmas in August - BloodKin
# Just Think About Christmas (And Sing What You Want) - Five Eight
# O Magnum Mysterium - Kelly Hogan and Bill Taft
# No Vacancy - Marlee MacLeod
# On Christmas Day - Opal Foxx Quartet
# Candles and Miracles - Hetch Hetchy
# This Holiday Season - Porn Orchard
# Christmas With the Devil - Allgood
# White Christmas - Vic Chesnutt

Cake

*"Low Life 17" LP (1993, RRRecords) [cite web | title = Compilation: Low life 17; | work = Borft.com | url= http://www.borft.com/details.php?ProdID=235 | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ] Side a:
# Tinnitus - Seven Minutes or Less
# Cake (Tracy Snow) - Blue Moles
# Cake (Tracy Snow) - I Want to Sleep
# Freedom Puff - Visiting with the White Rock Girl
# Freedom Puff - 2 Dixie Cups and a String Side b:
# Murray Reams & Paul Hoskin - The Dispossessed
# Murray Reams & Paul Hoskin - Submission
# I See the Moon - Somnambulist Waltz
# I See the Moon - Snellville
# Dairy Queen Empire - The World
# Dairy Queen Empire - Burning

NOTE: Bill played banjo for Cake on this record.

olo

* "The Soft-Spoken Beatnik Cousin of the Flagpole Christmas Albums" cassette (1994, LongPlay Records)Side 1
# Gayle Danley - Just Like the Girl on Channel 17
# Chris Chandler - Just Say No But Spell it with a K
# Hillary Meister - Latkes at Chanukkah in America
# Gwen O Looney - Meditations for Women who Do Too Much
# Randy Blazak - Jump Around Santa
# Charlie Ginste - Flockogank
# Mudcat - Rudoplh's Party
# Copacetic Chris - A Holiday Poem
# David Oats - Shopping Prayer
# David Greenberger - Let Women Chase Me
# Blondie - The 12 Days of Christmas
# Murray Attaway - Up on the Housetop
# Sheila Doyle - Christmas IslandSide 2
# Deadbeat Burt - Rudolph the Red Eyed Reindeer
# Douglas A. Martin - Undercover Empty Moon Gazing
# A.E. Stallings - A Winter Nursery Rhyme
# Vic Varney - True North
# Ripley - I Drank with the Devil
# R. Tod Smith - Christmas at Charter
# David Greenberger - Quincy Sore Throat
# Julie Thrasher - Cowboy Dreams
# Richard Fausset w/Neutral Platypus Uncollective - Under the Breath of The Salvation Army Santa
# Scott Royal - Joke
# Emory Laughing Wolf - Merry Grimace
# Todd Mortensen - Autumn's Prayer, Winter's Touch
# Bear Step and Joe Brennan - Bear and Joe's Wish List
# Bill Taft - Happy Birthday Baby Jesus

=Smoke=

* "?" CD (1992)
# Smoke - DogThe lineup on this song was Benjamin, Bill Taft, Brian Halloran, and Todd Butler. This CD was a benefit compilation.

* "Radio Oddyssey Volume 2: The Georgia Music Show" CD (1997 Altered Records/Ichiban) [cite web | title = Radio Oddssey, Vol. 2: The Georgia Music Show; | work = Amazon.com | url= http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Oddssey-Vol-Georgia-Music/dp/B000000N0Y | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ]
# The Rock*A*Teens - Black Ice
# The Continentals - Please, Please
# Pineal Ventana - Dark Cloud
# DQE - Mermaid And The Sailor
# #1 Family Mover - Hey Soul
# Bob - Ants
# Velvet Overkill Five - Pillow Talk
# The Goodies - Live On WRAS-FM
# Tweezer - Sucking Midgets
# Marcy - Driver
# Heinous Bienfang - Stay Behind The Cones
# Babyfat - Redd Lobster
# Frontstreet - Scandinavian Pamphlet (Sex Book)
# 17 Years - Doing Wrong
# Smoke - Hamlet
# Benjamin - Big Daddy Story and Other Saucy Tales
* "Rudy's Rockin' Kiddie Caravan" CD (1997 Bloodshot Records) [cite web | title = Rudy's Rockin' Kiddie Caravan; | work = Bloodshot Records and Bloodshot Records Compilations | url= http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/album/bloodshotrecordscompilations/136 | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ]
# Susie Honeyman - Bus
# Schoolly D - This Old Man
# Smoke - Old Joe Clark
# Calexico - The Man on the Flying Trapeze
# The Waco Brothers - Them Bones
# Giant Sand - Blow the Man Down
# Anne Richmond Boston - What Can the Matter Be?
# D.L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces - J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte?
# Zydeco Elvis - The ABC Song
# Sally Timms - Hush Little Baby
# New Orleans Klezmer All Stars - Nokas for the Kinder
# The Chiselers - Playmate
# The Rock*A*Teens - She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain
# Moonshine Willy - Skip to My Lou
# Kelly Hogan - The Great Titanic
# The Black Mama Dharma Band - A Frozen Road
# Mekons - Oranges & Lemons
# New Kingdom - John Henry
# Rob Gal - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
# Blacktop Rockets - Froggy Went A-Courtin'
# Vic Chesnutt - Home on the Range
# The Grifters - The Muffin Man

* "Hidden Tracks" CD (2000, Daemon Records) [cite web | title = Hidden Tracks; | work = Daemon Records | url= http://www.daemonrecords.com/hidden_tracks/index.htm | accessdate = 2007-10-20 ]

# Kick Me - Arms
# Smoke - Midnight
# DQE - Ivytwine
# Parlour - The Cold Snap
# Kick Me - Black Coat
# Kick Me - Blue Midnight
# Parlour - Baby Doll
# Bill Taft & Neil Fried - Old West
# Smoke - Pretend
# Palookaville - Seventh Day
# Long Flat Red - Eighty-Six Days
# Railroad Earth - Keep Seeing That Soul
# Kick Me - Lucky Nights
# The Hollidays - Miles Away

Guest Appearances

Indigo Girls - "Shaming of the Sun" CD (1997, Daemon Records) 12. Hey Kind Friend Bill played cornet on this song, written about his friend Benjamin.
The Rock*A*Teens - The Rock*A*Teens (January 23, 1996) 13. Arm in Arm in the Golden Twilight We Loitered On Bill played cornet on this track.

References

ee also

*Smoke
*Hubcap City