[Uncle Walter] was actually based on this woman, the mother of this guy I played in a garage band with, and she was a total absolute drunk. They'd leave to go get a cord or beer or something - I was 14 - and she'd trap me in the corner and just talk, talk, talk. [drunk voice] "If I was President, I would have done this..." She's dead now 'cause she was washing her hair in the bathtub and the bathtub was filling up, and she hit her head on the faucet and she passed out into the tub and drowned. The Uncle Walter I actually have is a nice guy.[3]
Charles Leahy, first cousin of songwriter (and Folds' former wife) Anna Goodman, corroborates this in a June 2006 interview:
Uncle Walter was actually a real, genuine uncle (by marriage) of Anna's mom and my mom. (They're sisters). Uncle Walter had a great log cabin in the mountains of Virginia with an awesome large creek running beside it. He was a farmer from the depression days and a REAL character. Anna's mom and my mom were always telling stories about him and that's where the name comes from. Of course the character in the song is indeed a compilation of characters (including the woman you referenced), but I just wanted to give my great uncle some credit![4]
Additional versions
This song appears on the Ben Folds Five Live album which was released on June 4, 2013. It was recorded at the Kool Haus, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 10/5/12.[5]
Singles
U.S. promotional CD single
Released in 1996 to radio programmers in the United States to promote the song and the album Ben Folds Five. Features the album cut of the song.[6]
Uncle Walter – 3:49
European commercial CD single
Released in 1996 in Europe by Intercord Records for Passenger/Caroline. Features the album cut of the song. The other tracks were recorded live on August 12, 1995, at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry. The tracks were mixed at Rutabaga Studios in May 1996. "Tom & Mary" also appears on the Japanese release of Ben Folds Five.[7]
Uncle Walter – 3:49
Tom & Mary (Live) – 2:51
Emaline (Live) – 3:40
Australian commercial CD single
Released on 21 October 1996 in Australia by Virgin Records for Passenger/Caroline. Features the album cut of the song. The other tracks were recorded live on August 12, 1995, at Ziggy's in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry. The tracks were mixed at Rutabaga Studios in May 1996. "Tom & Mary" also appears on the Japanese release of Ben Folds Five.[8]
Uncle Walter – 3:49
Tom & Mary (Live) – 2:51
Emaline (Live) – 3:40
Compilations and soundtracks
The song appears on the 1996 Caroline Records compilation album How Low Can A Punk Get.
^Galgano, Rob (1996). . You Could Do Worse Magazine; reprinted online at SmartAss.org. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
^"a Ben Folds Five "Who's Who"". michaelbluejay.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
^"Ben Folds Five First Official Live Album To Be Released June 4". Retrieved 19 April 2013.
^Promotional Singles - The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five
^Singles - The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five
^Singles - The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five
January 18, 2023
uncle, walter, song, uncle, walter, song, from, folds, five, 1995, self, titled, debut, album, written, lead, singer, folds, uncle, walter, single, folds, fivefrom, album, folds, fivereleasedaugust, 1995, album, 1996, single, recordedwave, castle, chapel, hill. Uncle Walter is a song from Ben Folds Five s 1995 self titled debut album 1 It was written by lead singer Ben Folds 2 Uncle Walter Single by Ben Folds Fivefrom the album Ben Folds FiveReleasedAugust 8 1995 album 1996 single RecordedWave Castle Chapel Hill North CarolinaFebruary 1995GenreAlternative rockLength3 49LabelPassenger CarolineIntercord EU single Virgin Australia single Songwriter s Benjamin Scott FoldsProducer s Caleb SouthernBen Folds Five singles chronology Philosophy 1996 Uncle Walter 1995 Battle of Who Could Care Less 1997 Contents 1 History 2 Additional versions 3 Singles 3 1 U S promotional CD single 3 2 European commercial CD single 3 3 Australian commercial CD single 4 Compilations and soundtracks 5 Personnel 5 1 Production 6 ReferencesHistory EditBen Folds has stated Uncle Walter was actually based on this woman the mother of this guy I played in a garage band with and she was a total absolute drunk They d leave to go get a cord or beer or something I was 14 and she d trap me in the corner and just talk talk talk drunk voice If I was President I would have done this She s dead now cause she was washing her hair in the bathtub and the bathtub was filling up and she hit her head on the faucet and she passed out into the tub and drowned The Uncle Walter I actually have is a nice guy 3 Charles Leahy first cousin of songwriter and Folds former wife Anna Goodman corroborates this in a June 2006 interview Uncle Walter was actually a real genuine uncle by marriage of Anna s mom and my mom They re sisters Uncle Walter had a great log cabin in the mountains of Virginia with an awesome large creek running beside it He was a farmer from the depression days and a REAL character Anna s mom and my mom were always telling stories about him and that s where the name comes from Of course the character in the song is indeed a compilation of characters including the woman you referenced but I just wanted to give my great uncle some credit 4 Additional versions EditThis song appears on the Ben Folds Five Live album which was released on June 4 2013 It was recorded at the Kool Haus Toronto Ontario Canada 10 5 12 5 Singles EditU S promotional CD single Edit Released in 1996 to radio programmers in the United States to promote the song and the album Ben Folds Five Features the album cut of the song 6 Uncle Walter 3 49European commercial CD single Edit Released in 1996 in Europe by Intercord Records for Passenger Caroline Features the album cut of the song The other tracks were recorded live on August 12 1995 at Ziggy s in Winston Salem North Carolina by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry The tracks were mixed at Rutabaga Studios in May 1996 Tom amp Mary also appears on the Japanese release of Ben Folds Five 7 Uncle Walter 3 49 Tom amp Mary Live 2 51 Emaline Live 3 40Australian commercial CD single Edit Released on 21 October 1996 in Australia by Virgin Records for Passenger Caroline Features the album cut of the song The other tracks were recorded live on August 12 1995 at Ziggy s in Winston Salem North Carolina by John Alagia and Doug Derryberry The tracks were mixed at Rutabaga Studios in May 1996 Tom amp Mary also appears on the Japanese release of Ben Folds Five 8 Uncle Walter 3 49 Tom amp Mary Live 2 51 Emaline Live 3 40Compilations and soundtracks EditThe song appears on the 1996 Caroline Records compilation album How Low Can A Punk Get Personnel EditBen Folds piano vocals Darren Jessee drums vocals Robert Sledge bass vocalsProduction Edit Producer Caleb Southern Mixing Marc BeckerReferences Edit Amazon Ben Folds Five BMI Repertoire Listing Galgano Rob 1996 Ben Folds Five Dropping Pianos and Swatting Flies You Could Do Worse Magazine reprinted online at SmartAss org Archived from the original on November 21 2008 Retrieved 2009 01 26 a Ben Folds Five Who s Who michaelbluejay com Retrieved 2020 10 23 Ben Folds Five First Official Live Album To Be Released June 4 Retrieved 19 April 2013 Promotional Singles The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five Singles The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five Singles The Unauthorized Discography of Ben Folds Five Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Uncle Walter song amp oldid 1110664140, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
