Ralph's World -
Peggy's Pie Parlor

Covert's fourth children's CD, Peggy's Pie Parlor, finds him both returning to his rock and roll roots with songs like "Banana Seat Bike" and "All I Wanna do is Play," and playing songs he knew and loved as a child, like "Go Go Pogo" and "I Never See Maggie Alone." The title track, "Peggy's Pie Parlor Polka," even features cameos from members of Eddie Blazonczyk, Jr.s's legendary polka band, the Versatones.   These tracks also feature former Bad Examples "Pickles" Piekarski on bass and Steve Gerlach on electric guitar.

"The song 'Go Go Pogo' (on the new "Peggy's Pie Parlor CD) is from an album of songs from Walt Kelly's comic strip 'Pogo,' and I loved that album and song so much I brought it into my Kindergarten class for show-and-tell," Ralph laughs. "Like 'The Banana Splits Theme' on the second Ralph's World CD, it was one of the songs I really loved as a kid."

The Mighty Worm and Cavemen! were written for Lookinglass Theatre children's summer theatre camp shows.    "67 Cents of Heaven" was co-written with Chicago songwriter Dean Goldstein; the original version can be found on Dean's 1996 Covert-produced album, "Liberty."

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Track Listing:

The Mighty Worm
Banana Seat Bike
Peggy's Pie Parlor Polka
Covered in Glue
Go Go Pogo
I Never See Maggie Alone
Tango Dancing Bears
All I Wanna Do Is Play
Cavemen!
Yon Yonson
Puppy Dog
Family Day
I'm My Own Grandpaw
67 Cents of Heaven

Note: Beginning guitar players, click here for an exhaustive list of chord charts to help you figure out some of the more difficult chords!

The Players:

Ralph Covert - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Matt Walker - Drums, Percussion
Pickles Piekarski - Bass Guitar
Jon Nudzen - Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Dobro
Steve Gerlach - Electric Guitar
Ben Lewis - Piano and Organ
Matt Lewis - Trumpet and Background Vocals
Andy Baker - Trombone
Michael Miles - Claw Hammer Banjo, "Tango Dancing Bears"
Ted Lang - Accordion, "Peggy's Pie Parlor Polka," "Yon Yonson"
Rick Rzeszutko - Trumpet, "Peggy's Pie Parlor Polka"
Eddie Blazoncyk, Jr. - Concertina, "Peggy's Pie Parlor Polka"

"Cavemen!" chorus and Kick-line - Rebecca Covert, G. Riley Mills, and Matt Lewis

"I'm My Own Grandpaw" and "Family Day" vocals - Eric Blomstrom, Diana Goulding, Deb Lader, Danny Orleans, Jim Powers, Angie Ranalli, Barbara Royal, Chuck Troyka, Char Walker

Background Vocals by The Kids - Olivia Blomstrom, Jordan Einhorn, Sean Gies, Haley Goulding, Miranda Montgomery, Leah Rose Orleans, Elisa Meyer, Fiona Schenkelberg, Evan Silver, Haley Walker, Olivia Wood, and Zoe Zehren

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All tracks Produced by Jim Powers and Ralph Covert
Engineered and mixed by Josh 'Cartier' Cutsinger
Assistant engineers: Noble Hibbs, Paul Long
Recorded at Gravity Studios, Chicago

Additional Kids recorded by Brad Wood, Los Angeles

Product Management: Anthony Musiala

Mastered by Dan Stout at Colossal Mastering
Artwork by Giselle Potter
Photo by 4-year old Sami Cummins live in concert
Graphic Design by Jo Mills

All songs written by Ralph Covert, published by Waterdog Music © 2003 (ASCAP), except:

"Go Go Pogo" written by Walt Kelly © 1948 Simon and Schuster

"I'm My Own Grandpaw" written by Dwight Latham, Moe Jaffe, published by Colgems-EMI Music Inc.

"67 Cents of Heaven" written by Ralph Covert / Dean Goldstein, ©1996 Waterdog Music (ASCAP) and Spiritual Reality Recording (ASCAP)

"Yon Yonson," public domain, arrangement by Carl Sandburg, 1958

Thanks to Eddie, Ted and Rick from the Versatones for their authentic polka craziness!

Thanks to Elizabeth Stegall, David Kersnar, and all the kids I worked with at Lookinglass Theatre summer camps.

Thanks to the many great retailers who have been so supportive (keep up the great work, Drew!), and to my many friends around the country whose hospitality and company have made touring so much easier -- to name just a few: Brad, Maria, Chris, Steve, Adam, Victoria, Joanie, Pete, Katie, Burt, Jan, Emery, Marjorie, Jerry, Mara, Carolyn, Jamie, Time, Sue, Doug, and Pam. I owe you a slice of pie at Peggy's Pie Parlor.         -Ralph