Bruce Cockburn gets a musical salute from Bill Callahan, Doc Dunn & Wet Tuna

The 9-song tribute album Imaginational Anthem vol. XIII - Songs of Bruce Cockburn is out April 5th via Tompkins Square.

Here's the scoop from Tompkins Square...

Bruce Cockburn is one of the most celebrated Canadian artists of all time. Unlike fellow Canadians Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell or Neil Young, Cockburn has not been fully embraced by a younger generation of indie musicians and younger fans. Tompkins Square recruited well-respected indie artist James Toth, known for his work with Wooden Wand, to curate the 13th volume of its guitar series, Imaginational Anthem. Although there is a focus on Bruce as a guitarist, there are also vocal tracks on the album. 

Indie stalwarts Bill Callahan, Matt Valentine, Matthew "Doc" Dunn, Luke Schneider, Jerry David DeCicca and more pay tribute to this musical hero, proving that Cockburn is not only influential, but also the keeper of a deep catalog of songs ripe for discovery by a younger generation. For those who aren't really concerned about whether composers and musicians are properly remunerated for their creations, you can check out a Spotify playlist put together by Tompkins Square called Bruce Cockburn for Snobs: A playlist for people who think they're too cool for Bruce Cockburn right here.

Check out Bruce Cockburn performing "Forty Years In The Wilderness" along with  Jerry David DeCicca & Bill Callahan's update following the track listing below. Pre-order a copy of the tribute album Imaginational Anthem vol. XIII - Songs of Bruce Cockburn via Bandcamp right here. 

James Toth Presents... Imaginational Anthem vol. XIII - Songs of Bruce Cockburn

1. Eli Winter - Foxglove

2. Jerry David DeCicca (feat. Bill Callahan) - Forty Years in the Wilderness 

3. Matthew "Doc" Dunn - Up on the Hillside

4. Powers Rolin Duo - Fall

5. Lou Turner - Pacing the Cage

6. Wet Tuna - Waiting for a Miracle 

7. Armory Schafer - One Day I Walk

8. Jody Nelson - You Don't Have to Play the Horses

9. Kyle Hamlett Duo (feat. Luke Schneider) - All the Diamonds

Bill Callahan & Bonnie Prince Billy vs. Scout Niblett

Bill Callahan & Will Oldham's lethargic stab at "Kidnapped by Neptune" is off their new covers album Blind Date Party. 

Steve Wynn releases a solo acoustic album

The Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn has just released solo! acoustic (vol. 1) which he explains was partly inspired by Bill Callahan. 

Writes Steve...
"My first ever solo acoustic album is now up for sale on Bandcamp. I recorded selected songs from my back catalog in Austin last November with Brian Beattie (Bill Callahan, Daniel Johnston, Kathy McCarty) and the plan was to sell it at my solo gigs this year. I still have about 500 copies in storage ready to go when it's okay to go back on the road. But in the meantime, you can download the digital version right here along with track listing and a little story I wrote about making the record. By the way, Bandcamp is a very cool site and most of the money goes directly to the artists who really appreciate your support in these homebound, non-touring times."

Despite 40 years of solo tours all around the world, I had never released a record of just me and my acoustic guitar. I’d thought about it a lot and fans who came to these intimate, stripped down shows would often drift by the merch booth at the end and ask “Which of these records sounds like the show you just played?” I’d point to some older releases like “Fluorescent” or the “Live In Bremen” collection I made in 2003 with Jason Victor but none of the documented history could provide a literal translation of what they’d been watching.

In the last few years I’d been listening quite a bit to Bill Callahan. He’s a great songwriter, daring lyricist and his voice is distinctive and beautiful. But I also really loved the production on his records. They all sound so fantastic. I checked the credits and saw they were almost all recorded by Brian Beattie at a studio in Austin, Texas. I knew that was the sound I’d want to have on my first solo acoustic record.

As it turned out, the Dream Syndicate had a show in Austin on November 1 of last year and I didn’t have to be anywhere for a few days. I got in touch with Brian and he was free those days so I made plans to record a selection of songs from my back catalogue that I thought would suit his approach and sound. I always enjoy...  more

Produced by Steve Wynn and Randy Franklin
Recorded by Brian Beattie at World Chamber (Austin, TX) November 2019
Cover painting by Steve Wynn