Always ready to reinvent herself, in 2004 Susan Werner released her album of instant songbook classics “I Can’t Be New” on Koch Records. For years she incorporated cabaret-style numbers in her live performances, exchanging her guitar for a piano (when there was one to be had), and she’d been asked by her audience to put all those songs in one recording. Fans and critics alike sang her praises: the All Music Guide calling it “a brilliantly constructed, soulful, and cleverly tender effort by a songwriter and musician who is in such complete command of her gifts that it’s almost scary.”
Performing Songwriter Magazine’s Editor’s Choice, top 10 DIY records of the year. Washington Post: “always an impressive songwriter, Werner continues to compose sharp, funny, compassionate lyrics, a gift rare enough to set her apart…”
Released 2001. Recorded in Nashville in the summer of 2001, NNF was produced by colin linden (producer of the bruce cockburn’s charity of night and breakfast in new orleans cd’s) and features richard bell on keyboards (from janis joplin’s pearl album), dave roe on bass (johnny cash’s gut-string bass player) and colin playing tasty slide solos and rollicking electric guitar parts.
Quintessentially Nashville and rich with stand-out performances that highlight Susan Werner’s strong songwriting. Produced by guitar wizard Darrell Scott, features the likes of upright bassist Viktor Krauss and legendary timekeeper Kenny Malone.
Released 1998. Bottom Line Records. Recorded in Nashville.
Released 1995. Private Music. Susan’s national label debut (Private Music/BMG) created an audience for her beyond the east coast, with two tours with joan armatrading following this release, recorded in New York City and Los Angeles.
Produced by Fernando Saunders (Lou Reed’s long time bass player and collaborator), the cast of players includes Marshall Crenshaw and Mitchell Froom.
Released 1993. Collected solo performances from Susan’s early years, all recorded at Philadelphia’s best listening room, the tin angel located on Second Street in old city Philly.
Highlights include My Mother’s Garden, My Soul’s Not At War, Society Ball, The Country Send Up, Ain’t I Lonely Tonight, and a version of Edith Piaf’s La Vie En Rose.
Released 1993. Susan’s first recording, made possible by a gift from the late Philadelphia philanthropist Phoebe Valentine. Produced by Grant Macavoy and performed with a cast of Philadelphia musicians, this collection of songs indicates musical styles Susan would continue to explore over the next years of her career.
Highlights include Greg Simon’s The Great Out There, The Satirical Baby Boomer Song, Uncle John, and the first recording of the piano ballad Maybe If I Sang Cole Porter.
