Alice Childress (song)
Encyclopedia
"Alice Childress" is a song from Ben Folds Five
's 1995 self-titled debut album. It was written by Ben Folds
and Anna Goodman
. The song is a look from a distance at the breakup of a couple who have fundamental differences in their outlooks on life.
.
While song lyricist Anna Goodman
was working at a mental hospital, a patient named Alice Childress became agitated and threw mop water on her. Goodman, at the time Ben Folds' wife, was inspired to write the lyrics to a song as a parody of Folds' style. She decided to name both the song and the eponymous character after the mental patient.
Folds has referred to Goodman's lyrics as "bad Folds," a wink to the now-defunct "International Imitation Hemingway Competition
" put on by Harry's Bar & Grill in Century City, California. The competition, commonly referred to as "Bad Hemingway", had participants submit "a really good page of really bad Hemingway."
Folds was moved by the parody lyrics to write music. He eventually replaced nearly all of Goodman's words "line by line" as the focus of the song became clear:
Because of her contributions to the song, Goodman retains a writing credit.
public radio station KCRW
during the program Morning Becomes Eclectic
, appears on the 1998 compilation and rarities album Naked Baby Photos
.
An in-studio performance of the song was recorded for the 2005 download-only album iTunes Originals - Ben Folds.
/Caroline
in 1995 to promote the band to radio programmers.
The live version of the song appears on the 1997 album KCRW: Rare On Air, Vol. 3, put out by the Santa Monica public radio station on Mammoth Records
. The album also includes songs by Cowboy Junkies
, Fiona Apple
, Guided By Voices
, Stereolab
, and others.
Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five is an alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprises Ben Folds , Robert Sledge , and Darren Jessee . The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes...
's 1995 self-titled debut album. It was written by Ben Folds
Ben Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
and Anna Goodman
Anna Goodman
Anna Goodman is an American songwriter who was married to Ben Folds from 1987 to 1992. She co-wrote several Ben Folds Five songs including Kate , Alice Childress , The Last Polka , Alice Childress , Smoke , and Lullabye .Anna was also a...
. The song is a look from a distance at the breakup of a couple who have fundamental differences in their outlooks on life.
History
Despite the name, the song has nothing to do with noted playwright and author Alice ChildressAlice Childress
Alice Childress was an American playwright, actor, and author.-Early life:Childress was born in South Carolina, but at age nine, after her parents separated, she moved to Harlem where she lived with her grandmother on 118th Street, between Lenox Avenue and Fifth Avenue...
.
While song lyricist Anna Goodman
Anna Goodman
Anna Goodman is an American songwriter who was married to Ben Folds from 1987 to 1992. She co-wrote several Ben Folds Five songs including Kate , Alice Childress , The Last Polka , Alice Childress , Smoke , and Lullabye .Anna was also a...
was working at a mental hospital, a patient named Alice Childress became agitated and threw mop water on her. Goodman, at the time Ben Folds' wife, was inspired to write the lyrics to a song as a parody of Folds' style. She decided to name both the song and the eponymous character after the mental patient.
Folds has referred to Goodman's lyrics as "bad Folds," a wink to the now-defunct "International Imitation Hemingway Competition
International Imitation Hemingway Competition
Also known as "The Bad Hemingway Contest," The International Imitation Hemingway Competition is an annual writing competition begun in Century City, California...
" put on by Harry's Bar & Grill in Century City, California. The competition, commonly referred to as "Bad Hemingway", had participants submit "a really good page of really bad Hemingway."
Folds was moved by the parody lyrics to write music. He eventually replaced nearly all of Goodman's words "line by line" as the focus of the song became clear:
Because of her contributions to the song, Goodman retains a writing credit.
Additional versions
A live version of the song, recorded October 16, 1995, at the Santa Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
public radio station KCRW
KCRW
KCRW is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, carrying a mix of National Public Radio news, talk radio and freeform music format. The general manager of KCRW is Jennifer Ferro...
during the program Morning Becomes Eclectic
Morning Becomes Eclectic
Morning Becomes Eclectic is a three-hour adult album alternative radio program first aired in 1977 and broadcast live every weekday from KCRW in Santa Monica, California. The show's name is a play on the Eugene O'Neill trilogy of plays, Mourning Becomes Electra.The show is hosted by Jason Bentley,...
, appears on the 1998 compilation and rarities album Naked Baby Photos
Naked Baby Photos
Naked Baby Photos is a compilation album comprising outtake material from recordings of Ben Folds Five's first two studio albums and live performances. Most of the tracks are previously unreleased rarities....
.
An in-studio performance of the song was recorded for the 2005 download-only album iTunes Originals - Ben Folds.
Singles
The song has not been released as a single and does not appear in a studio or live version as an additional track on any other single release.Compilations and soundtracks
The album version of the song appears on the Summer EP, a four song CD released by PassengerPassenger Records
Passenger Records was a New York-based boutique record label that released music by Adult Album Alternative artists. A subsidiary of Caroline Records, it was owned by Virgin Records/EMI. Its albums were distributed by Caroline Distribution in the US and Virgin or a variety of smaller labels...
/Caroline
Caroline Records
Caroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s. The label originally specialized in putting out budget price LPs by mainly progressive rock and jazz artists generally not considered to have a great deal of 'mainstream' or...
in 1995 to promote the band to radio programmers.
The live version of the song appears on the 1997 album KCRW: Rare On Air, Vol. 3, put out by the Santa Monica public radio station on Mammoth Records
Mammoth Records
Founded by Jay Faires in 1989 in Carrboro, North Carolina, Mammoth Records was one of the premiere independent record labels of the 1990s. Its roster featured such diverse talent as Antenna, Blake Babies, Chainsaw Kittens, Dash Rip Rock, Dillon Fence, Far Too Jones, Frente!, Fun-Da-Mental, Fu...
. The album also includes songs by Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins , Michael Timmins , Peter Timmins and Alan Anton ....
, Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success...
, Guided By Voices
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
, Stereolab
Stereolab
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes...
, and others.
Personnel
- Ben FoldsBen FoldsBenjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Darren JesseeDarren JesseeDarren Jessee is an American musician and songwriter. He is perhaps best known as the drummer for the alternative rock group Ben Folds Five...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Robert SledgeRobert SledgeRobert Sledge is an American musician, best known for his work with Ben Folds Five.-Biography:Robert Sledge began playing bass guitar at the age of eleven. His brother was playing guitar at his house so he also learned how to play the guitar at the same time...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....