We are told:
In celebration of the centennial year of Woody Guthrie’s Birth, Nonesuch Records releases Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions. When American folk legend Woody Guthrie died in 1967 at the age of 55, he left behind a trove of more than one thousand sets of complete lyrics with no music. In 1995, his daughter Nora approached English singer-songwriter and activist Billy Bragg and about the possibility of bringing these unheard songs to life by setting them to new music. Wilco came aboard soon after, and in 1998 Mermaid Avenue was released to critical acclaim, receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II followed in 2000, and together the two have sold close to a million copies to date.
For the first time, Nonesuch releases the complete recordings from the project in one box set. Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions includes: Mermaid Avenue. Mermaid Avenue Vol II (remastered). Mermaid Avenue Vol III; a third disc of 17 previously unreleased recordings made during the Mermaid Avenue sessions. 'Man In The Sand', the 1999 full-length documentary of the Mermaid Avenue sessions.48 page full-colour booklet with liner notes by Geoffrey Himes and Greil Marcus, full lyrics, archival photographs, and facsimiles of lyric sheets and sketches by Woody Guthrie
Musicians: Jeff Tweedy (guitars, harmonica, lead vocals), Billy Bragg (guitars, lead vocals), Jay Bennett (guitars, keyboards, percussion, background vocals), Ken Coomer (percussion), John Stirratt (bass, background vocals)Guest artists: Natalie Merchant (vocals), Corey Harris (guitar, lap steel, vocals), Eliza Carthy (violin), Ben Ivitsky (viola), Bob Egan (pedal steel),
Since forming in the mid 1990's around singer-songwriter and former Uncle Tupelo member Jeff Tweedy, Chicago-based Wilco have released more than 10 records (including the masterpiece Yankee Hotel Foxtrot), won two Grammy Awards, toured the world, had a movie made about them, written a book, and won near universal critical acclaim at every turn.
English singer-songwriter and activist Billy Bragg's career spans more than 30 years and a dozen records. He was a leading figure in the anti-folk movement of the 1980s, and become known for his biting lyrics and memorable melodies as well as his involvement in left-wing political causes.
