THE RIGHTEOUS READER
your leopard-skin guide to the pillbox world of ani difranco brought to you by the tambourine men and
rainy-day women at Righteous Babe Records Super-special Dylan Tribute Issue * August 13, 1997
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S FIRE DOOR
Single #2 from Living in Clip shall be released: "Fire Door" should be hitting radio even as you read this.
(Sez Billboard: "DiFranco appears to be on the verge of her first hit single with this fine effort ... the
acoustic-rooted music has a percussive drive that will play well over the airwaves, while DiFranco's quirky
vocal style and smart lyrics will wash over playlists like a cool and refreshing breeze.") The b-side is a
previously unreleased version of Single #1, "In or Out," recorded for "Acoustic Cafe" by Rob Reinhart. (It's
a radio-only release, boys and girls; not for sale.) We expect to hear these perky little ditties blowin' in the
wind, any day now.
IF YOU SEE HER (ON TV), SAY HELLO
Ani returns to NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" on Thursday, Sept. 18 (the night before her Central
Park show) for a song and (time permitting) a chat with Conan. In case you missed her earlier appearance
(singing "Shameless") on the show last year, it will be included on "Live from 6A: Great Musical
Performances from ?Late Night with Conan O'Brien,'" in stores October 7 from Mercury Records). In
related news, Ani is taping an episode of the new PBS concert-and-interview series, "Sessions at West
54th," in early September. Watch for airdates and times--'cuz you know they are a-changin'.
EAT THE DOCUMENT: MORE ADVENTURES IN MASS MEDIA
Other upcoming compilations: "Women Like Us: Lesbian Favorites" (out in October on Rhino) and
"Amazing Grace," a benefit for the T. J. Martell Foundation for cancer treatment (coming from Island in the
fall). In movieland, listen for "Buildings and Bridges" over the closing credits of "Slaves of the Underground"
and "My IQ" in the new British film "Groove on a Stanley Knife." And speaking of movies and albums, the
soundtrack to "My Best Friend's Wedding," featuring Ani's opening-credits cover of "Wishin' and Hopin',"
has gone gold--but don't think twice, it's all right.
TANGLED UP IN NEWSPRINT (LIKE A ROLLING STONE... AND A SPIN)
This November, watch for photos of Ani by Mary Ellen Mark in Rolling Stone's 30th anniversary issue
devoted to women in rock. (Actually, Ani will be a part of the anniversary festivities in more ways than one,
hint hint...) Meanwhile, the hard rain of press continues: Check out the cover story on "Rock's Most Unlikely
Superstar" in the August Spin, whydoncha. And the cover of the August issue of Current Biography. And
the photo spread in the August 4 People (alas, they gave the cover of that one to a barefoot Han Solo). And
the nice snippet in The Advocate's August 19 special issue on "The best and brightest under 30." And the
swell interview with Ani and Utah Phillips in the August Acoustic Guitar.
Speaking of joint interviews, Ani chatted long-distance with John Prine in the June 18 Chicago Tribune
("coming up with the words is like making license plates--but it's where the song is for me."). Ah, but she
was so much older then; she's younger than that now.
DON'T FOLLOW LEADERS, WATCH THE PARKING METERS
Join us as we track Ani's global domination of mass consciousness. First, from the June 97 Lollipop's list of
"More Names for Ska Bands": "Skani DiFranco." Elsewhere in TrendLand, mayhaps you've heard of The
Rogue Market, the online game that treats celebrities as stocks [http://roguemarket.com]; well, the bidding
has begun on Mr. DiFranco, for better or worse. Then there's that wire service story last June in which
Jennifer Grant, daughter of Cary and one-time resident of "Beverly Hills 90210," quoted lyrics from "Egos
Like Hairdos" to explain her approach to acting, or something.
HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED
The long-awaited, much-lauded Dylan/DiFranco joint tour continues thusly.
Play, lady, play!
8/15: Holmdel, NJ *
8/16: Mansfield, MA *
8/17: Jones Beach (NY) *
8/20: Philadelphia *
8/22: Virginia Beach
8/23-4: Vienna, VA *
8/26: Cuyahoga Falls, OH *
8/27: Noblesville, IN *
8/28: Chicago *
8/29: St. Paul, MN
Righteous Babe Records
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