Liner Notes
CHARITY TOWN
Monday they announced
They were shutting the paper mill down
Newsprint trading under
Seventy cents a pound
Back in the day
This place was renowned
Now it’s just a charity town
Nine hundred people let go
And there’s no other work to be found
They put up a chain-link fence
And a sign just says to keep out
There’s nothing left for anyone here
But a burial ground
Nothing but a charity town
Boarded up stores and donation cans
Discount clothes from the Helping Hands
Salvation Army makes a final stand
And there ain’t no sign of Superman
It’s hard and it’s sad
And it’s real and profound
The future’s got plans
And the future isn’t fucking around
The carey deck crane is
Taking the big letters sign down
Down to a charity town
I lie in bed thinkin’ ‘bout
The kids and the house
Had a dream I was up in the air
Trying not to look down
Then everything broke
I felt the rush of the ground
Woke up in a charity town
Boarded up stores and donation cans
Discount clothes from the Helping Hands
Salvation Army makes a final stand
And there ain’t no sign of Superman
Monday they announced
They were shutting the paper mill down
Newsprint trading under
Seventy cents a pound
Back in the day
This place was renowned
Now it’s just a charity town
Rob Allen: Electric guitar
Mark Browne: Percussion, drums
Dan Lutz: Acoustic bass
Dan Pallotta: acoustic guitar, vocals
Sage Smith-Pallotta: Percussion composition
Soozie Tyrell: Violin
Jane Scarpantoni: Cello
Produced by Rob Allen
Written by Dan Pallotta
Mixed by Rob Allen
Mastered by Jon Gordon
Published by CThings
Vocals and acoustic guitar recorded at Malcolm Burn Studios, Kingston, New York
Additional Recording at Jon Gordon Studios, Beacon, New York, and by Rob Allen, Los Angeles, and Mark Browne, Los Angeles
“Charity Town” Single Cover Photo by Matt Mahurin
Graphic design by John Carlos Harrington
American Pictures BY DAN PALLOTTA
PRODUCED BY ROB ALLEN
For Dad
American Pictures, Produced by Rob Allen
Copyright CThings and Dan Pallotta, 2022. All rights reserved.
Cover Photography by Matt Mahurin
Typography and Graphic Design by John Carlos Harrington
“Charity Town” Video Filmed, Edited and Produced by Matt Mahurin
“The Mailman” Video Filmed, Edited and Produced by Matt Mahurin
“John F. Kennedy” Video Filmed, Edited and Produced by Pulse Studios
John F. Kennedy Photo: George L. Honeycutt
Special Thanks
To Rob Allen for unbelievable sacrifice and dedication in making the music the best it could be, for his artistic prowess, instrumental and arranging genius, mixing chops, and for constant creative and moral support. To Jimmy and the kids for listening. To Malcolm Burn for building the foundational recordings for the songs. To Thomas Csorba for songwriting guidance. To Soozie Tyrell for love, encouragement and virtuosity. To Andrew Cooper for guitar instruction. To Jon Gordon for his beautiful mixes and mastering. To Coley Rybicki for introducing me to so many musicians and studios. To Coley, Phil Grayton, Peter Davis and Joe Cardoza for all the rehearsal and getting me started. To Cathy and Joe Cannatelli and Anxious Mike at On the Fringe Studios, West Newbury Massachusetts for the recording and the fresh eggs. To Steve Decker for making it OK to take it slow. To Stephen Gyllenhaal for listening and encouragement. To Jack Armitage for telling me about Keith and his story. To Matt Mahurin for his unbelievable visual poetry. To John Carlos Harrington for his exquisite designs and incomparable good nature. To Kari Hammer, for logistical acrobatics and general miracles. And to Kris for the constant support.