To All We Stretch the Open Arm


To All We Stretch the Open Arm is a collection of political songs by a variety of songwriters, performed by Mirah and the Black [Cat Orchestra]. It met with a positive review in AllMusic and mixed review from Pitchfork.

Production

The album was produced by Pat Maley and Ed Varga, and recorded in early 2003 in Seattle, Washington. Mirah and the orchestra cover songs by artists such as Fausto Amodei, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Kurt Weill, Bertholt Brecht, Horacio Guarany, and Stephen Foster, and also cover several original songs by Mirah as well. It was released on Yoyo Records in 2004.

Reception

It met with a positive review in AllMusic and mixed review from Pitchfork. According to AllMusic, "While the album certainly addresses war and oppression with an appropriately somber tone, To All We Stretch the Open Arm doesn't lose sight of how important passion and wit are to any good protest."

Track listing

  1. "Per I Morti Reggio Emilia" – 2:30
  2. "Monument" – 3:40
  3. "Dear Landlord" – 3:25
  4. "Story of Isaac" – 4:09
  5. "The Light" – 4:10
  6. "What Keeps Mankind Alive?" – 3:15
  7. "How Sweetly Friendship Binds" – 1:47
  8. "Si Me Quieres Escribir" – 2:48
  9. "Si Se Calla el Cantor" – 3:16
  10. "Hard Times " – 4:02
  11. "El Cant Dels Ocells" – 2:58
  12. "Bella Ciao" – 2:01

    Personnel

  • Mirah - primary artist
  • Black Cat Orchestra - instrumentals
  • Ed Varga - producer
  • Pat Maley - producer