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Billy Bragg and Joe Henry: The Great American Railroad

Ricky Ross talks to Billy Bragg and Joe Henry about their new railroad-themed project - an album of songs recorded while travelling across America by train.

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry talk to Ricky about their new project. 'Shine A Light: Field Recordings From The Great American Railroad' is an album of songs they recorded while travelling across America by train. It includes tracks made famous by Hank Williams, Lead Belly, The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Glen Campbell, Gordon Lightfoot and Woody Guthrie.

Billy Bragg is a singer songwriter, political activist and musical historian who has made no secret of his obsession with the songs and the mythology of the Americas, especially the lyrics of Woody Guthrie. Joe Henry is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He's worked on records by Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Rodney Crowell, Loudon Wainwright III and Allen Toussaint. Joe also produced Billy's last studio record Tooth & Nail.

Billy and Joe started work on Shine A Light after boarding a Los Angeles-bound train at Chicago's Union Station, guitars in hand. Along 2,728 miles of track, the pair recorded these songs in waiting rooms, track side and at railway stations. They share their stories and describe that journey to Ricky Ross.

1 hour, 55 minutes

Last on

Tue 20 Sep 2016 21:00

Music Played

  • Brandy Clark

    Broke

    • Big Day In A Small Town.
    • Warner Bros.
    • 004.
  • Travis Tritt

    T-R-O-U-B-L-E

    • T.R.O.U.B.L.E.
  • Okkervil River

    The Industry

    • Away.
  • Chatham County Line

    Bon Ton Roulet

    • Autumn.
    • Yep Roc Records.
    • 002.
  • Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires

    The Color Of A Cloudy Day

    • The Color Of A Cloudy Day.
  • Merle Haggard

    I Wonder If They Ever Think Of Me

  • Ilaria Graziano & Francesco Forni

    Come

    • Come 2 Me.
    • Goodfellas.
    • 002.
  • Lewis & Leigh

    The 4:19

    • Ghost.
    • Celticana Records.
    • 5.
  • Drake White

    Live Some

    • Spark.
    • Dot Records.
    • 009.
  • Audrey Spillman

    Pull Me Into Your Harbour

    • Thornbird.
    • 006.
  • Shovels & Rope

    San Andreas Fault Line Blues

    • Little Seeds.
    • New West Records.
    • 010.
  • Frankie Lee

    American Dreamer

    • American Dreamer.
    • Loose Music.
    • 010.
  • Lead Belly

    Rock Island Line

    • Where did you sleep last night?.
    • Smithsonian Folkways.
    • 13.
  • Chaim Tannenbaum

    Ain't No More Cane On The Brazos

    • Chaim Tannenbaum.
    • 2.
  • Hayes Carll

    Drive

    • Lovers and Leavers.
    • Highway 87 Music.
    • 001.
  • Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

    Lonesome Whistle

    • Shine A Light.
    • Cooking Vinyl.
    • 005.
  • Johnny Cash

    Folsom Prison Blues

    • Johnny Cash - Man In Black.
    • Columbia.
  • Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

    Railroading On The Great Divide

    • Shine a Light.
    • Cooking Vinyl.
    • 011.
  • Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

    Hobo's Lullaby

    • Shine a Light.
    • Cooking Vinyl.
    • 010.
  • Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

    In The Pines

    • Shine a Light.
    • Cooking Vinyl.
    • 8.
  • Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

    The Midnight Special

    • Shine a Light.
    • Cooking Vinyl.
    • 003.
  • Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

    Gentle On My Mind

    • Shine A Light.
    • Cooking Vinyl.
    • 9.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 20 Sep 2016 21:00
  • Tue 20 Sep 2016 22:00

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