Jenny Magnus

Thrifty


Beau O'Reilly
March 20, 2021

Uvulittle Records

Beau says about the album:

“I needed some intrigue. I challenged myself to make something new during the weird year that was 2020. I enjoy writing songs with different people, and felt interested in what would happen if I had to keep the instrumentation spare. I sent lyrics out to friends, they sent back demos, and most of it was recorded with no rehearsal. I accepted the keys and tempos my collaborators offered, though I enjoyed figuring in little musical touches and... [more]

(Not) Another Day Songs


Jenny Magnus
September 11, 2018

Uvulittle Records

These tracks are part of a larger show called (Not) Another Day, a sung play about process and the ends of things, produced by The Curious Theatre Branch in September/October of 2018 at Prop Thtr in Chicago. In the live performance they were sung by the cast: Paul Brennan, Leo Brun, Brook Celeste, T-Roy Martin, Beau O’Reilly, Vicki Walden, and Julia Williams. These are versions I made to teach the songs to the cast.

All musics by Jenny Magnus.

Engineering and mastering with... [more]

Lovelovelovelove STOP lovelovelove


The Crooked Mouth
December 7, 2016

Uvulittle Records

Third release by Chicago's The Crooked Mouth.

Sharp, confident and rollicking. LoveloveloveloveSTOPlovelovelove shows off the band's new line-up to good effect. The songs are focused, intelligent and funny. The musicianship tasteful and just slightly off-kilter. The arrangements show off a playfulness that only comes with the confidence gained from hundreds and hundreds of gigs. As always, Crooked Mouth displays a strong theatrical bent as they mash up old-timer string band sounds... [more]

Yes Face


The Crooked Mouth
November 7, 2013

Uvulittle Records

Yes Face picks up where their debut ended. A little less country, perhaps.. First, though, the recording is lovely. Simple, complex, beautiful... It breathes. Deeply. As expected, the vocal arrangements are well conceived and executed flawlessly by people with an obvious passion for such perfections. The instrumentation is tasteful - bringing banjo and bluegrass sounds to folky show tune-y (almost) rock numbers. There's a nod to the blues in there, too. Fun, serious, sad and furious.... [more]

Rares


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
March 7, 2013

Uvulittle Records

This collection of "Rares" from the Maestro Subgum and the Whole catalog spans their entire run, 1980 - 1995. Consisting of live and studio recordings, the sound quality varies but the creativity, beauty and humor remains high. In choosing the songs we prioritized songs that never made it onto one of the official releases and kept a lookout for the amazing.

Produced by Jon Hain and Beau O'Reilly.

At The Wart Hog Museum


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
December 19, 2012

Uvulittle Records

The 1993 album At The Warthog Museum was curated by Red Ned. The band had set out to do a live album, and indeed much of it was recorded direct to DAT at The Beat Kitchen and other venues. Some tracks were also done completely in studio (Sedistudio, Monster Disk), and the complete list of engineers and mixers included Spencer Sundell, James Koffee, Ricky Barnes, Jim Janick, John Hughes, Pink Bob, and Red Ned.

Ned put the sequence together and edited a number of Lefty Fizzle rants,... [more]

Don't Flirt


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
December 2, 2012

Uvulittle Records

The last official Maestro Subgum and the Whole release was Don’t Flirt in 1995. The core of the group was still cranking out titles like Dust and Self-Disgust, Eat the Beauty, and Buttocks on the Moon. Much of the recording magic happened at Junior’s Motel, a converted chicken coop on a farm in Otho, Iowa, with additional tracks laid back in Chicago. The songs reflect a sound and an attitude honed by extensive gigging, first at the Lower Links Club and then at the Lunar Cabaret.

... [more]

Lost Lost Lost


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
December 2, 2012

Uvulittle Records

The pinnacle of the band’s recording career was Lost Lost Lost, both because of the variety of writers and singers and the size and tightness of the ensemble. The writing was still strong, but the horn and vocal arrangements had reached a new, fantastically satisfying level.

It was recorded at Acme Studios and mixed at C.M.C. Recorders, where mixer Joe DeLeonardis had a huge influence on the flow of the record. Bobby Ray led the horn section with new trombonist Mark Hollman (Mark Ray... [more]

Jiggle The Constable


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
December 2, 2012

Uvulittle Records

The touring version of Maestro Subgum and the Whole bopped around the Midwest and the east coast and points in between (and even across the ocean) as the band continued adding to its extensive original catalog. The 8-song EP, Jiggle The Constable, originally released only on vinyl, is a dance album and a fan pleaser. Updated versions of mid-80s stalwarts ‘Life Outa Wack’ and ‘Misty Mountain’ highlight the set, along with Jenny’s Skit Skit Skat, celebrating the Maestro haunt Club Lower Links... [more]

Hot Ol' Wadda


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
December 2, 2012

Uvulittle Records

By the early 90s, the creative font that was Maestro Subgum and the Whole erupted with an almost complete turnover in its song catalog. The sound changed significantly with the addition of a regular horn section, although a cappellas still happened, too.

The dual cassettes that came out of the Double Amazement sessions were dubbed Stormin’ And A Fever and Hot Ol’ Wadda. Jenny, Beau, and Miki wrote a lot of the tunes, but new member Bobby Ray contributed a couple of key songs, too... [more]

Stormin' And A Fever


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
December 2, 2012

Uvulittle Records

By the early 90s, the creative font that was Maestro Subgum and the Whole erupted with an almost complete turnover in its song catalog. The sound changed significantly with the addition of a regular horn section, although a cappellas still happened, too.

The dual cassettes that came out of the Double Amazement sessions were dubbed Stormin’ And A Fever and Hot Ol’ Wadda. Jenny, Beau, and Miki wrote a lot of the tunes, but new member Bobby Ray contributed a couple of key songs, too... [more]

A Soft Fist In A Hard Place


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
December 2, 2012

Uvulittle Records

Essentially the soundtrack for one of the first scripted Maestro shows written by Jenny Magnus and Beau O’Reilly, A Soft Fist In A Hard Place features the writers on all the lead vocals with a band lead by pianist Michael Greenberg. Davy, the show’s title song Careening Is A Skill, and Darkness, Darkness are among the most enduring tracks here. Originally released on cassette, it is now available to all a ya’s on CD.

Originally released in 1988.

A Diamond In The Dumpster


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
December 2, 2012

Uvulittle Records

In the late 80s, after years of gigging, personnel changes, and demo tapes, the Chicago-based, Beau O’Reilly-led Maestro finally recorded a cassette designed for sale to the public. Recorded at James Bond’s home studio, the first official Maestro Subgum and the Whole full-length album, A Diamond In The Dumpster, featured songs and players from all over the Maestro history. Musical guests included youthful vocalist Colm O’Reilly, Paul Amandes on banjo, Josh Huppert on violin, and Pat Fleming... [more]

Maestro Subgum and the Whole Archive


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
April 4, 2012

Uvulittle Records

The archive contains concerts and un-released studio sessions. We will continue adding material as long as stuff keeps turning up.

Purchase a year long subscription and stream Maestro 24/7.

Maestro Subgum - Box Set


Maestro Subgum and the Whole
March 10, 2012

Uvulittle Records

We printed 100 numbered copies. Each box contains all 8 original Maestro Subgum and the Whole albums and a "Rares" CD containing some of the best of the previously un-released tracks from the archive. Box buyers also get access to the on-line archive of live and unreleased recordings. The albums are also available individually and as downloads. The "Mp3" and "Flac" versions include all the albums and a digital version of the booklet.

Included:

... [more]

Subscribe to Jenny Magnus