Only A Mother - Naked Songs For Contortionists
 T.E.C. Tones - 1991

Marko Novachcoff  Bassoon, Cello, Sax (Baritone), Clarinet, Harmonica 
Frank Pahl  Balalaika, Euphonium, Harmonium, Horn, Sitar, Multi Instruments, Lyricist, Squeezebox, Banjo, Clarinet, Guitar, Mandolin, Percussion, Piano 
Ken Stanley  Drums (Bass), Melodica 
Only a Mother  Main Performer 
Rex Ray  Design, Package Design 
Joe Malechuk  ? 
Joel Faddol  Digital Remastering 
Nelson Smith  Cover Art 
Tim Holmes  Saxophone, Flute 
Mary Richards  Vocals, Mandolin, Violin 
Bobbi Benson  Oboe, Vocals, Bass (Upright), Bass, Trumpet 
Doug Gourlay  Bongos, Drums, Marimba, Percussion 
Eugene Chadbourne  Guitar (Electric), Dobro 
Tracks
1 The Contortionist Song 3:05
2 Fingers of a Pumpkin 2:45
3 Bricks Are Naked, Dammit!!! 2:19
4 Licorice Stick Drum Corps 1:21
5 Ballad of Wild Bill 3:18
6 Hideous Humunculus 4:38
7 Bucket of Brains 2:50
8 Vegetables 4:44
9 Jump Start My Heart 1:56
10 The Romantic Side of Masking Tape 3:33
11 She Walks in Beauty 3:19
12 Warped #16 2:52
13 A Little Blackout 3:30
14 Ode to Euphonium #5 2:12
15 I Could Be Happy 3:16
16 Dirge #13, Pt. 2 1:01
17 Gertie Day 2:28
18 Warped #21 2:11
19 Warped #21 (Reprise) 0:36
20 Riding White Alligators 3:25
21 Warped #17 2:57
22 The Brick Sequel (Epilogue?) 4:02
23 Only an Overture 3:18
Naked Songs for Contortionists may not be wrapped in Dennis Palmer's off-the-wall drawings, as subsequent albums by Only a Mother and Frank Pahl will, but it still has all the excitement and weirdness the group is capable of. This early opus by Bobbi Benson, Doug Gourlay, Marko Novachcoff, Frank Pahl, and Mary Richards contains 23 tracks. Half are instrumental, the others support Pahl's warped stories. The instrumentation roughly follows that of a country-folk band, with the addition of euphonium, occasional woodwinds, and tons of odd percussion, small objects, and homemade instruments. Although most of the songs are pretty straightforward, there is always an element dragging it to the left side. Instrumental pieces are more overtly avant-gardist or freeform, the series of "Warped" tracks standing on top of this category. Highlights include "Bricks Are Naked, Damnit!!!" and "The Brick Sequel (Epilogue?)," two songs about a man who taught bricks to sing, leading to a revolt of masonry, "A Little Blackout," a sordid tale of marriage, and "Vegetables," a list of veggies sung with a ridiculous amount of heartfelt (!?) emotion. Some tracks sound muffled or crowded, putting the average sound quality a little bit under average for this group. The writing also is not yet up to its peak level, but Naked Songs for Contortionists is sure worth any fan's efforts to locate it. As a bonus, maverick guitarist Eugene Chadbourne guests on two tracks.
~ François Couture, All Music Guide
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