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

Current state of twang surveyed on Chrome Universal pedal steel cassette comp

For some reason, Tompkins Square released Luke Schneider's collection of modern pedal steel music on cassette instead of 8-track.  

Here's the scoop...

Curated by in-demand Nashville pedal steel maverick and Third Man recording artist Luke Schneider, the eleventh volume of Tompkins Square’s venerable acoustic guitar series ‘Imaginational Anthem’ features exclusive tracks by legend BJ Cole, as well as leading exponents on the instrument including Susan Alcorn, Luke himself, and British expat /Nashville hotshot Spencer Cullum among others. Somewhat surprisingly, neither Heather Leigh nor Arizona ace Jon Rauhouse made the cut. Nashville native and Merge recording artist William Tyler has written a beautiful detailed history of the pedal steel for the package but unfortunately, it will accompany the CD & LP  versions only. 

According to Tomkins Square, those who have long since gotten rid of their cassette players will just have to bide their time, writing "We will release on other formats later. This is our first-ever cassette, and this is the only way folks can hear it, for now." Get a copy of Chrome Universal on cassette via Bandcamp right here. Watch a performance by BJ Cole accompanied by his wife Anna on acoustic guitar below. 

Luke Schneider presents Imaginational Anthem Vol. XI Chrome Universal

1) BJ Cole - Ely Revisited 

2) Jonny Lam - Rainbow Across the Valley 

3) Rocco Deluca - Many Singing Softly 

4) Luke Schneider - Yosemite 

5) Spencer Cullum - An Ode to Dungeness 

6) Barry Walker Jr. - I Will Tread Upon the Lion and the Cobra 

7) Susan Alcorn - Gilmor Blue 

8) Maggie Bjorkland - Lysgliimt 

9) Will Van Horn - Attwater