Fathers and Sons (Plus the Occasional Famous Non-Relatives)

Okay, this is like the coolest thing ever.

And the vinyl version drops, as today's kids say, on Record Store day, i.e. November 25.

What exactly is it? From the official Omnivore Records press release:

Growing up, I always loved my dad’s music. The recordings he made at that time were never properly released and only came out in limited quantities. We had the idea of re-recording some of his more recent songs with some guest artists to shed more light on his great back catalogue. Over the years we met a lot of the amazing musicians who lent their voices to this project and gave the songs new life. I’m happy with how the record turned out, and I hope it’ll turn more people onto his records and beautiful songwriting.
—Brian D’Addario (The Lemon Twigs)

The Lemon Twigs are not the phenomenon they are by accident. Brian & Michael D’Addario's father is a brilliant songwriter and musician in his own right. The Lemon Twigs pay tribute to him by producing and performing on a collection of their father’s music (with Ronnie involved every step of the way).

Written By Ronnie D’Addario features 13 tracks written by Ronnie with special guests and collaborators: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Todd Rundgren adds his layered lead and backing vocals to “I See The Patterns” and Canada’s Mac DeMarco leads “Love’s Won Me Over.” Sean Ono Lennon, Darian Sahanaja & Probyn Gregory (The Wondermints, The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson’s band), and Matt Jardine contribute vocals and accompaniment to others—all while The Lemon Twigs and Ronnie himself hold down the performances on these stellar tracks.

While not a “classic tribute album,” Written By Ronnie D’Addario is a testament to incredible songwriting and interpretation from artists from across the musical spectrum.

As attentive PP readers are aware, Ronnie is a wildly talented old friend and occasional bandmate of mine going back 40-plus years to our days on the Greenwich Village folk and New Wave scene, so I am tickled to death that this album (which I had no idea was in the making) is about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world (in both CD and streaming form on December 5; I'll keep you posted on where).

Also alas, none of the tracks are yet available for preview -- I haven't heard 'em, although I know for a fact anyway that they're great (😎) -- but because I love you all more than food, here's a recent (2015) Ronnie-only original version of one of them.

Have I mentioned that this album is like the coolest thing ever?