I Own That CD! - Billy Bragg & Wilco

During the spring of 1995, Woody Guthrie's daughter Nora contacted English singer-songwriter Billy Bragg about writing music for a selection of completed Guthrie lyrics after Bragg played a Guthrie tribute concert in New York City's Central Park. It was her intention that the songs be given to a new generation of musicians who would be able to make the songs relevant to a younger generation.

Bragg approached Wilco and asked them to participate in the project as well. Rather than recreating tunes in Guthrie's style, Bragg and Wilco created new, contemporary music for the lyrics. The first result is Mermaid Avenue, released in 1998 and it’s today’s feature on I Own That CD!

The combination of Billy Bragg’s forceful guitar and Wilco’s versatile, Americana sound created a wonderful tribute to one of America’s most influential musicians.

The beautiful mess of the opening track, “Walt Whitman’s Niece” sets up the second song, “California Stars”, which is the album’s signature song. A wistful West Coast reminiscence. It’s also one of Wilco’s best songs ever.

The fantastic Natalie Merchant shows up on a number of songs including “Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key” a lilting, folky lullaby. She later takes the lead on the gorgeous “Birds and Ships” a favorite song I used for many a bedtime playlist for my kids. It’s tender and perfect.

Bragg and Tweedy don’t cross their vocals up too much, but when they do, like on “The Unwelcome Guest”, they work perfectly together.

Favorites are numerous on this release: Aside from what I’ve already wrote about, we’ll start with “Ingrid Bergman” a charming, love song that’s simply Bragg on vocals with his guitar. “At My Window Sad and Lonely” sounds like it belongs on my favorite Wilco release, “Summer Teeth”. Then there’s “Hoodoo Voodoo” a playful, punk rock kids song.

Mermaid Avenue introduced Woody Guthrie to a bigger audience than he ever could have expected in his time on this earth. You feel as though Guthrie’s songs are as relevant in the time that Bragg and Wilco performed them as they were when he wrote them.