They are Maggie and Terre and Suzzy

It's such a shame that the Roches had such a low-key career, as talented as they are. Terre Roche wrote an article in yesterday's NYTimes about her un-lucrative career as a songwriter, and it's interesting if depressing. Although as Roche kind of says, you could argue that it was miraculous that they had as big a career as they did, considering they are a trio of folky sing-songwriters who, I read somewhere, were considered not ready for prime time by the producers of Saturday Night Live because they weren't attractive enough. Although eventually they did make it onto the show, at Paul Simon's insistence.

Fun fact - Maggie and Terre Roche were backup singers on Simon's "Was a Sunny Day."

Their first album was justifiably praised to the heavens. Quite a bit of its charm is the subject matter, the mundane lives of women as in "The Married Man" and "Mr. Sellack" and "Runs in the Family." The Hammond Song has that going for it too, but also contains one of the best melodies/harmonies ever recorded. Just beautiful.

The Roches have a web site.

Hammond Song

(Words & Music by Margaret A Roche)

If you go down to Hammond
you'll never come back
In my opinion you're
on the wrong track
We'll always love you but
that's not the point

If you go with that fella
forget about us
As far as I'm concerned
that would be just
throwing yourself away
not even trying
Come on you're lying to me

Well I went down to Hammond
I did as I pleased
I ain't the only one
who's got this disease

Why don't you face the fact
you old upstart
We fall apart

You'd be okay if you'd
just stay in school
Don't be a fool

Do your eyes have an answer
to this song of mine
They say we meet again
on down the line
Where is on down the line
how far away?
Tell me I'm okay

If you go down to Hammond
you'll never come back

Copyright 1979 DeShufflin Inc.