NASHVILLE |
DATE: JUNE 18, 2007
FROM: MARCEE RONDAN/MITCH SCHNEIDER/TODD BRODGINSKI
‘SONG OF AMERICA’
50-SONG, THREE-DISC COLLECTION
TELLS STORY OF AMERICA THROUGH SONG;
JOHN MELLENCAMP, BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA,
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT, THE BLACK CROWES, ANDREW BIRD
AND OTHERS CONTRIBUTE TRACKS
“The historical detail of the songs fascinated me and I suggested that Ed [Pettersen] record a whole album of songs focusing on key periods in American history, in order to tell our story to young people who might find joy in learning history through music.”
–Janet Reno, former U.S. Attorney General
Artists as diverse as John Mellencamp, Blind Boys of Alabama, Martha Wainwright, The Black Crowes and Andrew Bird contribute tracks to SONG OF AMERICA, a unique 50-song, three-CD set envisioned by former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and artist/producer Ed Pettersen, and co-produced by Pettersen, Bob Olhsson and Grammy-winning producer David Macias.
Due out September 18 as a joint venture between Split Rock Records and 31 Tigers (via RED Distribution), the collection tells the history of our country through song, from 1492 through modern times. These new versions of beloved songs interpreted by contemporary artists who span the folk, blues, rock, R&B, country, classical and hip-hop genres offer listeners a way to connect or reconnect with America’s vast musical and cultural heritage.
Janet Reno explains, “I thought that music would be a great way to engage listeners, especially young listeners, and spark their interest so they could gain a greater understanding and appreciation for our history. I am very proud to be associated with this collection of inspired performances.”
Reno originally conceived of SONG OF AMERICA with Pettersen, who is also her niece’s husband. After Pettersen further developed the idea, they met with David Macias–who earned a Grammy in the Best Traditional Folk Album category for his co-production work on the critically acclaimed 2004 release Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster–and things began to move forward.
“The seed for the SONG OF AMERICA was planted,” explains Reno, “when Ed entertained me with some of his beautiful folk songs, ‘Nowhere to Roam’ describing the fencing in of the ranges and ‘La Tragedia de Heraclio Bernal’ which recast an old Mexican folk tale.”
Key tracks include John Mellencamp’s version of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” Blind Boys of Alabama’s “Let Us Break Bread Together,” Bettye LaVette’s transcendent take on Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets Of Philadelphia,” the first recording of The Black Crowes’ Robinson brothers singing with their father Stan (“Reuben James”), Martha Wainwright’s updated rendition of “I Am Woman,” Andrew Bird’s wistful account of “How You Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm,” Harper Simon’s “Yankee Doodle,” and The Del McCoury Band’s soon-to-be-classic take on Bob Dylan’s “The Times, They Are A Changin’.”
The complete track listing for SONG OF AMERICA is as follows:
| Lakota Dream Song | Earl Bullhead | ||||||
| Once More Our God Vouchsafe To Shine | Julie Lee | ||||||
| Let Us Break Bread Together | Blind Boys of Alabama | ||||||
| God Save The King | John Wesley Harding | ||||||
| Young Ladies In Town | Elizabeth Foster | ||||||
| The Old Woman Taught Wisdom | Malcom Holcombe | ||||||
| The Liberty Song | Ed Pettersen | ||||||
| Yankee Doodle | Harper Simon | ||||||
| Jefferson & Liberty | The Wilders | ||||||
| Hail Columbia | Steven Kowalczyk-Santoro | ||||||
| Star Spangled Banner | Take 6 | ||||||
| Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child | Beth Nielsen Chapman | ||||||
| Peg and Awl | Freedy Johnston | ||||||
| Sweet Betsy From Pike | BR549 | ||||||
| Trail of Tears | Will Hill and Jehnean Day Washington | ||||||
| Declaration Of Sentiments | Minton Sparks and Pat Flynn | ||||||
| Go Down Moses | Fisk Jubilee Singers | ||||||
| Dixie's Land | Mavericks featuring Thad Cockrell | ||||||
| John Brown's Body | Marah | ||||||
| Battle Hymn of the Republic | Joanna Smith | ||||||
| Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye | Janis Ian | ||||||
| Thousands Are Sailing To Amerikay | Tim O'Brien | ||||||
| The Farmer Is The Man | Otis Gibbs | ||||||
| Home On The Range | Joni Harms | ||||||
| Stars & Stripes Forever | Jake Shimabukuro | ||||||
| Over There | Jen Chapin | ||||||
| How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down On The Farm | Andrew Bird | ||||||
| Lift Every Voice And Sing | Karen Parks | ||||||
| Happy Days Are Here Again | Danielson | ||||||
| Brother Can Spare A Dime? | Andy Bey | ||||||
| Seven Cent Cotton and Forty Cent Meat | Jim Lauderdale | ||||||
| Deportee | Old Crow Medicine Show | ||||||
| Rosie The Riveter | Suzy Bogguss | ||||||
| Reuben James | Folk Family Robinson | ||||||
| Apache Tears | Scott Kempner | ||||||
| The Great Atomic Power | Elizabeth Cook and The Grascals | ||||||
| Little Boxes | Devendra Banhart | ||||||
| The Times They Are A Changin' | The Del McCoury Band | ||||||
| Get Together | Kim Richey | ||||||
| Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud | The Dynamites/Charles Walker | ||||||
| Ohio | Ben Taylor | ||||||
| What's Going On | Anthony David | ||||||
| I Am Woman | Martha Wainwright | ||||||
| Youngstown | Matthew Ryan | ||||||
| Streets Of Philadelphia | Bettye LaVette | ||||||
| Wave | Gary Heffern/Chris Eckman | ||||||
| The Message | Shortee | ||||||
| Sleep, My Child (Schlof Mayn Kind) | Judith Edelman/Neilson Hubbard | ||||||
| Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning | The Wrights | ||||||
| This Land Is Your Land | John Mellencamp | ||||||
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‘SONG OF AMERICA’ 50-SONG, THREE-DISC COLLECTION TELLS STORY OF AMERICA THROUGH SONG; JOHN MELLENCAMP, BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, MARTHA WAINWRIGHT, THE BLACK CROWES, ANDREW BIRD AND OTHERS CONTRIBUTE TRACKS
