This past Record Store Day saw the release of the highly anticipated final volume in the extraordinary compilation of Woody Guthrie songs recorded by English folk rock guitarist Billy Bragg and American alt-rockers Wilco, Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions. This July marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary American folk singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie, and Grammy nominated Mermaid Sessions are the most popular output from the namesake Foundation’s ongoing efforts to invite musicians into Guthrie’s exhaustive lyrical archive to set the words to music. This full box set re-releases Volumes I (1998) and II (2000), debuts Volume III, and also presents the documentary about the project Man in the Sand. Joining on backing vocals is Natalie Merchant, Corey Harris on guitar, lap steel, Peter Yanowitz (Morningwood) on drums, and Eliza Carthy on violin. Fans old and new are guaranteed to find much to love about the box set, introducing another generation to the poetry and passion of the protest singer and socio-political activist as interpreted through the lens of two of today’s most innovative musical talents. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Billy Bragg, Woody Guthrie, Natalie Merchant, Wilco