Billy Bragg has never hid his passion for the great American
roots songbook. His work on advancing the legacy of Woody Guthrie is well noted
and the latest studio album from the Bard of Barking adopted a very Americana
feel. For this new project Billy has once again teamed up with the producer of
TOOTH AND NAIL, but this time the credits are shared with Joe Henry as the pair
embarks on a journey celebrating the history of the American railroad and its influence
at the onset of rock ‘n’ roll. The result is a collection of field recordings
with a difference and an intriguing take on a bunch of songs framed by their
familiarity and iconic status.
Basically SHINE A LIGHT: FIELD RECORDINGS FROM THE GREAT
AMERICAN RAILROAD is an explicitly simple title introducing thirteen railroad
themed songs recorded live on a train journey from Chicago to Los Angeles. The
bare outtakes complete with the backing track of a real life station presents
each song in its most desired and appropriate form. As you would expect
musically, the acoustic guitar reigns supreme with a little harmonica help,
while vocally there is a stark contrast between Joe’s bluesy rasp and Billy’s
deadpan delivery; a case of southern England meets southern USA. The light
touch and sparse production is what each of these songs warrants as they
breathe the life of a thousand stories, crowning the impact that the railroad had
on song writing, mainly in an expansive age.
Perhaps the surprise inclusion is a version of the John
Hartford penned Grammy winning standard classic ‘Gentle on My Mind’. Although its free spirited feel is akin to the
effect the railroad had when it was the dominating means of travelling the vast
distances of a wide continent. This version dominated vocally by Joe, surfaces
as a credible addition to the vaults of its recordings and nestles neatly on an
album dedicated to celebrating the longevity of the travelling song.
The good news is that the duo are teaming up for some UK
shows to share the songs, quite an achievement relating to Billy’s never ending
commitment to touring his own material and Joe’s forever in demand status as
one of America’s leading producers. The planned evenings should be quite
special and the perfect accompaniment to the recordings that adorn this valued
CD.
Many folks will be familiar with a bulk of the tracks as the
work of Lead Belly, Hank Williams, Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers amongst others
is heralded. The question may be asked ‘do we need another version of ‘The Midnight Special’, ‘Waiting for a Train’, ‘The
L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore’, ‘Lonesome Whistle’ and ‘In the Pines’? Without any doubt, the answer in this
collectable format is yes and there is always a new audience to be gathered,
with Joe and Billy just being temporary custodians and disciples.
Maybe the most interesting inclusion on the record is a cut
of Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘Early Morning Rain’,
perfectly aligning the feeling of settling for the railroad when the excitement
of air travel is tantalisingly out of reach. This track brings the album to a
suitable close, around forty minutes after Billy had led off with his shared
passion for the legacy of Lonnie Donegan and a celebratory version of his 1956
hit ‘Rock Island Line’.
This project has been an unequivocal labour of love and each
discerning attentive listener is willingly displaced to a time in history
heavily frequented by musical romanticists. SHINE A LIGHT: FIELD RECORDINGS
FROM THE GREAT AMERICAN RAILROAD works with undoubted ease whilst showcasing
the ultra-commitment of its two protagonists. Billy Bragg and Joe Henry have
made great music in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Indulging
in their present is worthy of your valued time.