Maurice Hope – September 21, 2016 at 11:58AM
Tags:_AMERICANA
England’s own, singer-songwriter Billy Bragg has teamed up with American act, three-time Grammy winning producer, Charlotte, NC-born Joe Henry not only to record a bunch of train related songs, but do so while travelling across America. The duo recorded on location, railway stations, waiting rooms and sleeping cars. All in all the journey in March 2016 lasted 65 hours, starting at Union Station in Chicago it took them on through St Louis, Fort Worth, San Antonio and up through New Mexico into the Golden State. Henry and Bragg put to use the foundation established between them on Bragg’s last album “Tooth & Nail”; one that Henry produced to good effect.
One or two of the railroad stations I passed through earlier this year, Alpine, Tx, El Paso, Tx and Union Station, LA and the year previous, Union Station, Chicago Illinois, like Bragg and Henry I too love America’s train system. Armed with only their two acoustic guitars and harmonica (as heard on a rousing version of “KC Moan”) the boys ignite the magical energy present of train travel on Amtrak.
As for Bragg and Henry they have selected a bunch of songs from the repertoire of Ledbelly and singing brakeman himself, Jimmie Rodgers supplemented by the likes of “KC Moan”, Glen Campbell’s “Gentle On My Mind” and Gordon Lightfoot’s “Early Morning Rain”.
Both vocalists add something to one another as they embrace songs that have been covered by American mountain folk singer Jean Ritchie (“The L & N Don’t Stop Here Anymore”; a song I first heard performed by June Carter Cash) and “Railroad Bill” plus “Waiting For A Train” (Jimmie Rogers) all of which figure among the best on the occasion Bragg sings the majority of lead. For a man who isn’t the best singer on the planet he does a fine job; his finest effort being the Jimmie Rodgers’ classic.
As for Henry he nails Hank Williams’ “Lonesome Whistle”, despite Braggs’ less than tuneful harmony vocals, he also comes up trumps on the John Hartford penned “Gentle On My Mind” and the mellow, almost dreamy “Hobo’s Lullaby”. “John Henry” is performed, bullish fashion by Bragg, as he blows through like a Texas tornado. I love the hollow sound of the station and passengers’ voices to be heard in the distance.
Henry’s greater flexibility of tone has in Bragg the ideal foil, a man who drips sweat such his passion and honesty from start to finish. It doesn’t to take a genius to figure out why Henry he likes working with Billy. I can’t wait to hear more from the boys, they must do this again!
Maurice Hope
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