Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 151 - Billy Bragg & Wilco

I don't have time today to write a lot about the wonders of this album so I apologise off the bat for that.

It's the second in the Mermaid Avenue series featuring the songs of Woody Guthrie performed by Billy Bragg & Wilco.

It was released on this very day back in 2000.

Mermaid Avenue Vol. II

Billy Bragg & Wilco

Elektra

Produced by Billy Bragg, Wilco and Grant Showbiz

Released 30th May 2000

 Personnel
    Jeff Tweedy - guitar, vocal, clapping, Mellotron, cabasa, 12 string guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, Wurlitzer
    Jay Bennett - guitar, backing vocal, slide guitar, shaker, saw, 12 string guitar, B3 organ, Leslie pedals, Farfisa organ, mandolin, piano, tambourine, electric sitar, soloing, nylon string guitar, banjo, harmonica, drums, upright bass, Delayaphone, bells
    John Stirat bass, backing vocal, claps, upright bass, baritone guitar
    Billy Bragg - guitar, vocal, resonator guitar
    Ken Coomer - drums, tape box, tambourine, percussion, backing vocal, hollering, kick drum, gas heater

Additional Musicians
    Mike Henry - backing vocal on "My Flying Saucer"
    Natalie Merchant - guest lead vocal on "I Was Born"
    Leroy Bach - piano on "Remember The Mountain Bed"
    Corey Harris - guest lead vocal and acoustic guitar on "Against Th' Law"
    Eliza Carthy - violin on "Joe DiMaggio Has Done It Again"

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

Rewind: 2009 - Wilco Release Wilco (The Album)

Released 30th June 2009

Nonesuch Records

US Chart #4

UK Chart #49

The seventh studio album from Alternative Rock Group Wilco. Prior to its release tha album was streamed on the band's official website due to it being leaked on the internet.

The Self-Titled album (otherwise known as 'The Album') was recorded in New Zealand at Roundhead Studios owned by Tim Finn of Crowded House fame.

It was the first Wilco album to contain a duet on it as the band came together with Canadian Indie Folk Artist Feist on the song 'You and I'.

My great confession is that I kind of bypassed Wilco for quite a few years and it was only when they did The Mermaid Avenue albums with Billy Bragg that I began to sit up and take notice of them. 

Jeff Tweedy is the kind of bloke that I really like because he has a love for music that goes beyond his own band and his work with Mavis Staples for instance, is something I am really appreciative of.

Wilco - (The Album) Live

1. "Wilco (The Song)"
2. "Deeper Down" 
3. "One Wing"
4. "Bull Black Nova"
5. "You and I"
6. "You Never Know"
7. "Country Disappeared"
8. "Solitaire"
9. "I'll Fight"
10. "Sonny Feeling"
11. "Everlasting Everything" .

Rewind: 1998 - Billy Bragg and Wilco Unleash Woody!

Released 23rd June 1998

Elektra Records

Nora Guthrie's liner notes in Mermaid Avenue indicate that 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. Nora Guthrie contacted Bragg, who in turn approached Wilco and asked them to participate in the project as well. Wilco agreed, and in addition to recording with Bragg in Ireland, they were given their own share of songs to finish.

The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album, and went on to place fourth on the Pazz and Jop Critics Poll for 1998 (right behind Bob Dylan's Live 1966).

For Further Listening:

Mermaid Avenue Volume 2.

Mermaid Avenue Volume 3.