Malvina Reynolds

Malvina Reynolds ( born August 23, 1900 in San Francisco as Malvina Milder, † March 17, 1978 ) was an American singer, composer and political activist. One of her most famous songs is Little Boxes, which in the television series Weeds - was played as the theme music Small deals among neighbors.

Life

She was born to Jewish immigrants, and married in 1934 the carpenter William Reynolds, a communist functionary. In 1935 she got the daughter Nancy. Malvina Reynolds acquired the academic title of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Berkeley and acquired in 1938 there also a PhD.

Although she played with twenty years in a dance band violin, began her career later as a composer. It was the end of 40 when she met Earl Robinson, Pete Seeger and other folk singers and " songwriter ". She returned to the University of Berkeley, where she studied music theory. She started, a few popular songs, including " Little Boxes " to write ( a song about suburban life, supposedly inspired by Daly City in California ), " What Have They Done to the Rain ", recorded by The Searchers ( about fallout ) " It Is not Nice" ( a hymn, which deals with the civil rights ), " Turn Around " ( sung by Harry Belafonte ), and "There 's a bottom Below" ( about depression ). Reynolds was also a composer of children's songs; e.g. "Magic Penny " or "Morning Town Ride", a number 1 hit in the UK in December 1966, recorded by The Seekers.

There are two summaries of their music on CD, both of the Smithsonian Folkways Publisher: "Another County Heard From" ( Folkways 02524 ) and " Ear to the Ground" ( Smithsonian Folkways 40124 ).

Anecdotes

Malvina Reynolds once said: "I was once as the woman who wrote so many songs that they have probably already composed every day before breakfast a song must be presented '. Although this was not true, but I decided to write a song times before breakfast -. , And out came Little Boxes "

Pete Seeger describes his first encounter with Malvina Reynolds: "It was in 1947, at a folk music festival in Los Angeles - a middle-aged woman asked me if she could speak to me., What is it? ' I asked. - Well, it requires more time than we have here, ' The next day she visited the place where I and my little family had found shelter and said,' I'm trying to do what you do - for the union.. , for people to sing, trying to change things for the better - in their little corner of the world, 'I said,' Well, you'll certainly not rich there, but you meet lots of wonderful people. ' I told her probably that she should pick up the phone when the newspapers would pay attention to them and which should then say that they would have the song, after which they would have been looking for. She was 46 or 47 and had wonderful white hair. I was 28, I remember that I thought. , Oha, it is already quite old, to now begin only ' But I had a lot to learn: soon after she wrote a song for the song " ( excerpt from a letter of 13 February 2006)

Discography

Albums

  • Another County Heard From, 1960 ( folkway Records). CD reissue of 2000.
  • Malvina Reynolds Sings the Truth, 1967 ( Columbia Records).
  • Artichokes, Griddle Cakes, and Other Good Things, 1970 ( Pacific Cascade ).
  • Malvina Reynolds, 1971 ( Century City Records). LP reissues 1977 Cassandra Records, Love Records as West Coast Woman
  • Malvina, 1972 ( Cassandra Records)
  • Funny Bugs, Giggleworms and Other Good Friends, 1973 ( Cascade Records). With Nancy Raven.
  • Held Over, 1975 ( Cassandra Records).
  • Magical Songs, 1978 ( Cassandra Records).
  • Mama Lion, 1980 ( Cassandra Records, Amigo )
  • Ear to the Ground, 2000 ( Smithsonian Folkways Recordings). CD compilation is already published recordings.
  • Malvina Reynolds, 2007 (Omni Recording Corporation ). CD reissue of the 1971 album with bonus material.
  • Malvina Reynolds ... Sings the Truth, 2008 ( Omni Recording Corporation ). CD reissue with bonus material.

Singles

  • Like the Miller Grinds the Wheat / It Is not Nice 1969 ( Cassandra Records).
  • The Albatross / Tungsten, 1969 ( Cassandra Records).
  • Alcatraz / Let It Be, 1969 ( Century City Records).
  • Little Boxes / Cement Octopus, 1971 ( Cassandra Records).
  • Casitas / Little Boxes, 1973 ( Cassandra Records).
  • The Judge Said / Young Moon, 1977 ( Cassandra Records).
Weeds (TV series) Daly City, California Folkways Records
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