Shine a Light: Field Recordings from the Great American Railroad is a 2016 album of field recordings made by British singer Billy Bragg and American musician Joe Henry as they performed in waiting rooms and trackside at railway stations on a journey between Chicago and Los Angeles in March 2016. The project was conceived after Henry produced Bragg's thirteenth studio album Tooth & Nail at his home studio in South Pasadena. It was released on the Cooking Vinyl label on 23 September 2016. The project is named after a lyric in the traditional folk song "Midnight Special" (mistakenly credited to Lead Belly after a 1934 recording he made).[5]
| Shine a Light: Field Recordings from the Great American Railroad | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Live album by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry | ||||
| Released | 23 September 2016 | |||
| Recorded | Various railway stations between Chicago and Los Angeles March 2016 | |||
| Genre | Folk | |||
| Length | 42:58 | |||
| Label | Cooking Vinyl | |||
| Producer | Billy Bragg, Joe Henry | |||
| Billy Bragg chronology | ||||
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| Joe Henry chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| The Arts Desk | [2] |
| The Guardian | [3] |
| Popmatters |   [4] |
Recording
editIn March 2016, English singer-songwriter Billy Bragg and fellow troubadour and producer Joe Henry set off from Chicago's Union Station with the intention of "reconnect[ing] with the culture of American railroad travel and the music it inspired."[5] They undertook a 2,700-mile, 65-hour train ride recording songs that ""reflect the railroad’s impact on the nation’s social and cultural life."[6] Goebel Reeves's Hobo's Lullaby (well known from Woody Guthrie performances) was captured at an Amtrak station in Alpine, Texas; the folk ballad Railroad Bill at St Louis Gateway station, Lonesome Whistle by Hank Williams in a sleeping berth near Whistle Junction, Missouri.[7]
A short documentary Shine a Light by director Ray Foley was made of the trip and streamed for free on the official website.[5]
Track listing
editAll songs performed by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry; music composers are listed below.
- "Rock Island Line" (traditional, arranged by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry) – 2:55
- "The L&N Don't Stop Here Any More" (Jean Ritchie) – 4:29
- "Midnight Special" (Huddie Ledbetter) – 3:34
- "Railroad Bill" (traditional, arranged by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry) – 2:49
- "Lonesome Whistle" (Hank Williams; Jimmie Davis) – 2:53
- "KC Moan" (Tewee Blackman) – 2:40
- "Waiting for a Train" (Jimmie Rodgers) – 2:46
- "In the Pines" (traditional, arranged by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry) – 3:31
- "Gentle on My Mind" (John Hartford) – 3:39
- "Hobo's Lullaby" (Goebel Reeves) – 3:57
- "Railroading on the Great Divide" (Sara Carter) – 3:08
- "John Henry" (traditional, arranged by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry) – 2:42
- "Early Morning Rain" (Gordon Lightfoot) – 4:13
Personnel
edit- Billy Bragg – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
- Joe Henry – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica, vocals
- Ryan Freeland - engineer, mixing
References
edit- ^ Deming, Mark (22 September 2016). "Billy Bragg and Joe Henry: Shine A Light — review". Allmusic. Allmusic Group.
- ^ Green, Thomas H (21 September 2016). "Billy Bragg and Joe Henry: Shine A Light — review". The Arts Desk. Popmatters.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (22 September 2016). "Billy Bragg and Joe Henry: Shine A Light — review". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group.
- ^ Frahm, Jonathan (20 September 2016). "Billy Bragg and Joe Henry: Shine A Light — review". Popmatters. Popmatters Group.
- ^ a b c "Shine A Light". Official Shine A Light website. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- ^ "Billy Bragg and Joe Henry review – just the ticket". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
- ^ "Laying down tracks: Billy Bragg and Joe Henry take a railroad trip to the blues". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2017.