Wilco first shared their take on this Depression-era protest tune to raise funds for the Guthrie archives back in 2009, appropriately following up last fall in light of recent events with a free stream of the satirical jab. Now “The Jolly Banker” is set to arrive in an official format alongside 16 other previously unreleased recordings culled from the band’s Mermaid Avenue sessions with Billy Bragg. In honor of Woody’s ongoing centennial celebration and this April’s box set, revisit one of the most cutting waltz-time folk tunes still kicking above.
Woody Guthrie
Lou Reed, Jay Farrar, Jim James Pen Music for Woody Guthrie Writings
A collaborative follow-up to Wilco and Billy Bragg’s 1998/2000 Mermaid Avenue double-volume, in which previously unpublished Woody Guthrie lyrics were adapted to new original music, will finally see the light of day next January via Rounder Records. As originally reported back in ’09, former Uncle Tupelo co-leader Jay Farrar joined My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, … Read more
Jay Farrar to Release Woody Guthrie Album, Feat. Jim James
I mentioned this last week, before TwentyFourBit took off on our road trip, but a story that involves Woody Guthrie, Wilco, and Jay Farrar certainly deserves its own post. In an interview with the Austin Chronicle (via The Daily Swarm), Centro-matic’s Will Johnson revealed some huge news about his involvement in the next installment of … Read more