NEM#238: Eric Andersen Endures

Eric was a major figure in the 1960s NYC folk scene, and his early tunes have been covered by Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, and many others. He’s released 22 solo albums plus several live albums and two albums with The Band’s Rick Danko as Danko/Fjeld/Andersen.

We discuss “Don’t It Make You Wanna Sing the Blues” from Dance of Love and Death (2025), “Rain Falls Down in Amsterdam” from Memory of the Future (1998), and “Six Senses of Darkness” from Ghosts Upon the Road (1989). End song: “Time Run Like a Freight Train” from Stages: The Lost Album (recorded 1973). Intro: “Violets of Dawn” from ‘Bout Changes and Things (1966). More at ericandersen.com.

Hear all of “Violets of Dawn” and his version for the 1967 European re-recording of that album. Here’s what it sounds like in his current voice.

His other really big hit was “Thirsty Boots.” Here’s the same song sung by Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, John Denver, and The Kingston Trio. Here he is singing it in 1985 with a lot of harmonies.

Hear the earlier (2007?), live version of “Don’t It Make You Wanna Sing the Blues.” Watch him sing it live in 2020. Another particularly strong tune from the new album is “Troubled Angel.” Here’s the title track, and here’s the political tune we mention.

Watch a more recent, live take on “Rain Falls Down in Amsterdam” with more dense instrumentation. From that same era, listen to him do a duet with Lou Reed. He’s also recorded some recent albums related to literature, including an EP about Camus; listen to “The Plague.”

His biggest hit from his early ’70s post-folk period was “Blue River.” As he describes at the end of the interview, it was the album right after that which was “lost,” though some tunes were then re-recorded; hear the 1975 version of “Time Run Like a Freight Train.” Another tune from that lost album I particularly like is “Lie With Me.”

One of the better songs from the “Exiles” period in the ’80s we talk about near the end of the interview is “Messiah.” One of the more “80s” tunes from that era (with a big hook and horns, but no obvious synths) was “Tight in the Night.”

The (co-written) song “with a hook” I referred to from the 1989 album is “Too Many Times (I Will Try).” Just after that album he did the collaborations with Rick Danko; the big song from that was “Driftin’ Away.” Here they are singing it on TV, and here he is singing it live with his own band in the early ’90s.

Watch this other interview with Eric that prepared me to talk with him.

Hear more Nakedly Examined Music. Support us on Patreon.

Sponsor: Visit square.com/go/nem to learn about how Square helps local businesses.