Kate Wolf/Lionel Kilberg/Don Coffin "We Walked By The Water" (Shoostryng Records, 1973) (LP)
Although all the song lyrics were written by touchie-feelie New York folkie Lionel Kilberg (1930-2008), the music and vocals are by newcomer Kate Wolf, who the liner notes inform us had been playing local shows in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1971. Most importantly, it's her voice -- unmistakable, incandescent -- that rises up on the first track and that defines this disc, imbuing the album with an immediacy and resonance, particularly on highlight tracks such as "You," "I'm 82" and the title track, "We Walked By The Water." Some songs are more fluid and poetic than others; some are a bit blunt and clumsy, wearing their messages of kindness and sensitivity on their sleeves. (Additionally, Kilberg's musical contributions, particularly his kazoo solos, are occasionally unfortunate distractions from Wolf's otherwise captivating debut...) Sebastopol, California's Don Coffin was married to Kate Wolf for seven years and worked with her as a duo and as a founding member of Wolf's first group, the Wildwood Flower Band; he contributes here on mandolin, harmonica and guitar. Although it's not a dazzling record, this is still a nice snapshot of Northern California's folk-scene grand dame at the start of her career. This was later released on CD as a "Kate Wolf" album, retitled Breezes, after one of the tracks on Side Two.
Kate Wolf "Back Roads" (Kaleidoscope Records, 1976) (LP)
Kate Wolf "Lines On The Paper" (Kaleidoscope Records, 1977) (LP)
Kate Wolf "Safe At Anchor" (Kaleidoscope Records, 1979) (LP)
Kate Wolf "Close To You" (Kaleidoscope Records, 1980) (LP)
Kate Wolf "Give Yourself To Love" (Kaleidoscope Records, 1983)
Kate Wolf "Poet's Heart" (Kaleidoscope Records, 1985)
Kate Wolf "The Wind Blows Wild" (Kaleidoscope Records, 1987)
Kate Wolf "An Evening In Austin" (Kaleidoscope Records, 1989)
Kate Wolf "Looking Back At You" (Rhino Records, 1994)
Kate Wolf "Breezes" (Gadfly Records, 1995)
A reissue of Wolf's 1973 debut, We Walked By The Water, with lyrics by fellow folkie Lionel Kilberg.
Kate Wolf "Carry It On" (Flat Rock Records, 1996)
Kate Wolf "Live In Mendocino" (Owl Records, 2018)
An archival set, gathering tracks from several concerts held up around Mendocino, California from 1979-82. Accompanists include guitarist Nina Gerber, as well as bass guitar and harmony vocals from Rick Byars (on some tracks) or Ford James (on others).
A pioneer of the modern folk scene, Northern California's Kate Wolf (1942-1986) recorded nearly a dozen albums before succumbing to leukemia in the 1980s. Her work, originally released on the independent Kaleidoscope label, presents a series of soft-edged contemplative singer-songwriter meditations. Many performers who came in her wake, notably Nanci Griffith, cite Wolf as an inspiration in forging a new style of updated, more introspective acoustic-based songwriting. Definitely worth checking out if you like the softer, more mature side of the style.
