Songs written by other people performed by Kenn (and sometimes with his friends.) BELOW
Old Irish songs from 1808. Kenn got interested in these because of an old book he received. His versions of about 15 of them, plus the lyrics and chords and some info about the times and the songwriters
A sample of a few of the hundreds of songs Kenn has played over the years. Most have never been recorded in any respectable way. Several of these were recorded with friends and I wanted to have them here just so I could remember those good times.
Borderline A David Francie song performed by Kenn Amdahl, who dubs all parts.
Ain’t Nobody’s Business Taj Mahal did this, I think it was written by Bessie Smith. Kenn does all parts, improvising harmony on separate tracks. Just for fun.
Kathy’s Song by Paul Simon. Kenn sings and plays guitar.
Scotch and Soda an old Kingston Trio song. Kenn sings, plays guitar and improvises a lead on a separate channel. He’d like to say he intentionally played the “lead” a bit loose to give the metaphorical impression of a guy who’d had a few scotch and sodas, but that would be fibbing. He just never spent much time playing lead against rhythm instruments, he didn’t practice it ahead of time, and he didn’t try it a second time. Unless it creates the illusion, for you, of a slightly inebriated guitarist, in which case, yes, of course. That’s what he was going for the whole time.
Second Cup of Coffee Gordon Lightfoot. Sung by Cottonwood, members at this point Kenn Amdahl, Barb Henry, and John Brady.
Beginning to See the Light done by Cottonwood, members at this point Kenn Amdahl, Barb Henry, Bill Wilton with Kc Dunn on percussion. Barb sings lead. This is a live recording.
Are You Ready An old gospel song, I think. Covered by the acapella group “Penn Street.” Its members at that time were Cap Hamilton, Kenn Amdahl, John Brady, Barb Henry, and Jill deLage. Cap arranged this version and sang lead in his cool bass voice.
Elijah Rock I think this is a traditional gospel song. This version is by The New Lulazick Singers, a group of high school kids back in the 1960’s. Its members at this point were Kenn Amdahl, Berta Keith, Stan Swanson, and Dean Reiter. Berta sings lead.
A Walk in the Irish Rain a Steve Spurgin song. This version by Cottonwood, whose members t that time were Barb Henry, Kenn Amdahl, and Bill Wilton. Kenn sings lead, Bill and Barb sing harmony, Bill Wilton whistles, Hereford Percy plays mandolin.
The Water is Wide traditional. This version by Cottonwood. At this point, members were Kenn, Bill Wilton and Barb Henry. Barb sings lead
I’ll Fly Away/Lover of the Lord Traditional songs, I think. This version done by The Bag O’Notes, a group of Kenn, John and Ann Imes, Sharon Kermiet and May Lawry. John sings lead on the first part with Kenn doing the low parts, then Kenn sings lead on Lover of the Lord with John doing the cool bass part.
Copper Kettle an old American folk song
Slave’s Lament Written in the 1600s by Englishman Charles Bates, discovered in the late 1700’s by Robert Burns who gave it some new verses and published it as his own creation. Kenn’s version includes some verses by Bates and some by Burns.
Gone the Rainbow traditional, this is Cottonwood’s version. At this point, Cottonwood members were Barb Henry, Bill Wilton, and Kenn Amdahl. Barb sings lead.
The River written by Steve Gillette. Kenn sings and plays guitar
Durham Town written by Roger Whittaker
Rainy Day People Gordon Lightfoot
Susan’s Floor Shel Silverstein wrote it, Kenn learned it from the Gordon Lightfoot version.
Sweet Baby James James Taylor
I Want You Bob Dylan
Wild Goose Frankie Laine
Turning Toward the Morning Gordon Bok
Broken Down Squatter Gordon Bok
Like to Sleep Late David Bromberg
Life is Hard Shel Silverstein?
Linin’ Track An old traditional “work song”
Wayfaring Stranger/Motherless Child traditional
Wasn’t Just the Morning Bob Lind
American Tune Paul Simon This is Kenn and Sharon Polamus, now Sharon Kermiet. They sang duets before Bag o’Notes got together.
City of New Orleans Randy Newman done by Kenn and Sharon
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho. Traditional gospel song. This is Kenn’s instrumental version with a subdued computer-generated percussion. He used this song in a couple of presentations to writers’ groups. For the writers, he explained the various techniques this arrangement employs before playing it. A video of that should be on the Videos page.
For Always Atlantic Starr Kenn and Sharon trying to learn this song. Tough to find a key that worked for both voices, but even this practice tape has some nice moments.
If I Needed You Townes van Zant Kenn and Sharon. We liked the chorus a lot, but not the verses, so we wrote our own words for those.
Rhumba Man Jessie Winchester
Molly Malone traditional
Water from Another Time written by John McCutcheon. Kenn once waited in line for coffee with John McCutcheon at the Walnut Valley Music Festival in Winfield Kansas. They did not speak so John probably won’t remember. Years later, Kenn and John had a pleasant email conversation about buying one of John’s extra hammer dulcimers (it would have been a surprise gift for Kenn’s wife Cheryl), but John ultimately sold it to someone else. Kenn was a fan for decades and wanted his group (Cottonwood) to sing one of John’s songs. This is Cottonwood’s version, Barb Henry sings lead, Kenn plays guitar and sings harmony, Bill Wilton introduces it, plays bass, and sings harmony. Recorded live at Swallow Hill in Denver.
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