10/06/2021
File this story under something my high school soccer coach was fond of saying "Anything can happen!" I would bet $10 that the frontman of Wilco, Jeff Tweedy, would never have expected to be asked to put the lyrics of one of the great folk singers of all time, if not the greatest, to music. But that's exactly what Billy Bragg approached him and asked if the band wanted to do. Billy had been asked by Marjorie (Woody's third wife) and Nora Guthrie (Woody's daughter) to take some lyrics that were from unfinished songs at Woody's house on Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island, NY to do put these lyrics to music. Billy and Wilco made one helluva album, resulting in one of my personal favorite songs, and one of Wilco's biggest hits, "California Stars". Also from the album is "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" which is sung by Billy Bragg, with backing vocals by the amazing Natalie Merchant. I don't know this for sure, but I am guessing that Marjorie and Nora approached Billy because Billy, like Woody, has always been a champion of unions and working people. I'm guessing Billy enlisted Wilco for their roots Americana sound, as well as their up-to-date rock songwriting sensibilities. It worked, to my ears. Just an example of do your thing, and be ready to be asked to work on something with or from one of your idols. Swipe right to see photos of first Billy Bragg, and then Wilco.
