Eric Peltoniemi’s Playlist

Red House Records is a tiny label headquartered in a modest office in the St. Paul Midway, yet one that is internationally celebrated among roots-music devotees. Founder Bob Feldman spent more than twenty years signing a roster of folk musicians like Greg Brown, Peter Ostroushko, and Ann Reed. But when Feldman died unexpectedly last year, it was up to Eric Peltoniemi to take the reins. Peltoniemi was the first employee Feldman ever hired, and was working as vice president of production when his boss and friend died; he has not only cultivated the careers of many artists in his role as an exec, he’s also written songs for dozens of Red House artists like Robin & Linda Williams and Claudia Schmidt, played folk music himself in ensembles across the globe, and even dabbled in musical theater. So oddly, or perhaps not, he doesn’t listen to a lot of music outside of work. “I spend a lot of time listening to artist demos,” he explained. “And as a songwriter, that crazy orchestra is always running in my head as well. As a result, when I get home I need the silence. My main recreational listening takes place in the cocoon of my car.” Here’s a sampling of what’s impressed him during his commute in the past few weeks:

1. “Smile,” Tony Bennett
This is the classic performance of Charlie Chaplin’s great song and it was the Little Tramp’s favorite, too. With Tommy Flanagan’s piano and the exquisitely subtle orchestrations, it doesn’t get any better than this.

2. “Always Late (With Your Kisses),” Lefty Frizzell
I love most genres, but in my heart I am and ever will be a country cat. Lefty influenced everyone from George to Merle … and all points beyond. His unique and fluid phrasing turned single vowels into multi-syllable diphthongs and I can rarely get this song out of my head once it appears (which happens a lot).

3. “You’re a Wolf,” Sea Wolf
I listen a lot to The Current and XM Radio these days while ferrying my teenage son Alejandro around town. He is pretty tolerant of my tastes, so I am trying to be open to his. I like a lot of what I’ve heard from this L.A. band. Alex Brown Church is an interesting singer and quite poetic and smart as a lyricist.

4. “Little Laura Blues,” Sleepy John Estes
John Adam Estes has always been one of my favorite deep blues artists, with his plaintive voice and memorable observations about love and life in western Tennessee back in the mid-twentieth century. I recently got reacquainted with this slyly erotic and light-hearted tune about a girl and her sensual dreaming.

5. “Requiem,” Eliza Gilkyson/Conspirare
Eliza wrote this stunning masterpiece in response to the tsunami tragedy a few years ago and there are now three great recorded versions of it: the original duet with her daughter, Delia, on Paradise Hotel; a new live version on her latest CD Your Town Tonight; and finally, the Grammy-nominated choral version by the vocal ensemble Conspirare. Whichever you hear, it’ll get you down deep.

6. “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” The Temptations
I recently bought Motown’s Ultimate Collection of the Tempts and have really enjoyed revisiting songs from the various personnel lineups of this legendary group. I could have picked several other tracks from this CD, but you can’t top this epic montage of funk.

7. “The Restless One,” Robin & Linda Williams
Ideally the music I listen to at work is so compelling I have to keep playing it after I leave the office. This track, written years ago by Jerry Clark and Dakota Dave Hull, is such a song. It’ll be on Radio Songs, Robin’s and Linda’s Red House Records release next month, featuring highlights from thirty-plus years of performances on A Prairie Home Companion.

8. “Hang Me Up To Dry,” Cold War Kids
Nathan Willett’s vocals are almost operatic and over the top, but I enjoy this band whenever my son puts them on. There are probably other bands that I am unaware of doing this kind of stuff, but to my ears it sounds pretty fresh and original.

9. “Django,” The Modern Jazz Quartet
One of the undisputed masterpieces from the classic years of the Prestige record label—no self-respecting music listener should be without this title track.

10. “The Right Words,” Cliff Eberhardt
When they’re completed, I usually avoid listening to projects I’ve been real close to, either as a performer or producer. I only end up hearing the things I wish I had done differently! But producing this track and the others from Cliff’s new CD, The High Above and the Down Below, was one of the most satisfying experiences of my career. Cliff is a classic American songwriter cut from the true vine of Tin Pan Alley. The bass solo by Gordy Johnson on “Right Words” is worth the price of admission