The Kitchen Tapes is the third album by singer-songwriter Lori McKenna. The album title refers to its recording at McKenna's kitchen table in Stoughton, Massachusetts. McKenna recorded the album in one take in about an hour using a MiniDisc recorder and inexpensive microphone.
Prior to signing a recording contract, Lori McKenna released multiple albums independently on her own Gyrox label. Following the successful independent release of Paper Wings and Halo, which sold nearly 10,000 copies, McKenna released Pieces of Me and The Kitchen Tapes. She recorded the second title on her own, as described in the booklet distributed with the CD:
Writing in liner notes for the album, McKenna describes the realization of it as a "happy accident". The recordings were meant to be purely archival, McKenna did not intend to release them publicly: "I got out my minidisc recorder, a cheap little microphone, and my notebook, filled with a writing binge I went on just after finishing my last album, and then I started to play," and "At the time, I was sure these recordings would stay in this house with me." McKenna goes on to say that she quickly recorded the songs in rough form to avoid forgetting chords and melodies, that she decided to distribute the songs so listeners would learn to appreciate the creative process, and that she likes to think there is beauty in the imperfections captured.
All songs written by Lori McKenna except 9 "Fake Plastic Trees" by Colin Greenwood / Jonny Greenwood / Ed O'Brien / Phil Selway / Thom Yorke
as listed in the CD booklet
Musicians
Production