In 1998, between Being There and Summerteeth, Wilco collaborated with English folk singer Billy Bragg to deliver Mermaid Avenue. The project, built on previously unused Woody Guthrie lyrics, produced the iconic “California Stars” and was followed by Mermaid Ave. Vol. II in 2000. The original record received renewed attention in June when Wilco and Bragg performed it in full at the Solid Sound Festival, and the Mermaid Avenue revival continues with a new box set.
The pair originally compiled Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions in 2012, pairing Vol. I, Vol. II and 17 unreleased tracks labeled Vol. III. Now an even more comprehensive edition is slated for release in December. The new set consists of seven LPs plus a 7‑inch record, adding 18 additional tracks: 17 alternate takes and demos plus a Woody Guthrie home‑tape recording of “Hesitating Beauty.” Wilco and Bragg debuted these new recordings together at Solid Sound.
Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions is out 12/11 on Craft Recordings.
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