Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Avenue Vol. II (2000)

“Mermaid Avenue Vol. II” is a 2000 album of previously unheard lyrics written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie, put to music written and performed by British singer Billy Bragg and American band Wilco. It continues the project originally conceived by Guthrie's daughter, Nora Guthrie which resulted in the release of Mermaid Avenue in 1998. Both volumes were collected in a 2012 box set along with volume three as “Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions”.
Like many sequels, “Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2” isn't the equal of its predecessor that felt fully realized, where this feels a little patchwork yet it is still satisfying on many levels. As on the first, the Billy Bragg-written and sung music is the most convincing since he captures the cadences and spirit of Guthrie's music. They sound like classic, weathered folk songs whereas Wilco's numbers are modern inventions, splicing music that is clearly theirs with Guthrie's words. The chasm between the two artists was apparent on the first, but it's more evident this time around, largely due to the fact that several of Wilco's songs were recorded without Bragg after the release of Mermaid Avenue. This gives the record a strangely disjointed feel that isn't helped by the guest appearances by Natalie Merchant on "I Was Born" and Corey Harris whose vocals overpower "Aginst th' Law." Since Bragg and Wilco are pursuing slightly different directions in the first place, the guest artists only add to the patchwork quality of the record. Still, even with its weaknesses, there are plenty of worthwhile things here from both sides of the spectrum. If Wilco occasionally is a little too somber or introspective, they do have moments where everything aligns perfectly. But, as on the first, it's the Bragg-led numbers that truly catch fire, feeling every bit as warm, funny, and vibrant as Guthrie's best work. His contributions go a long way to making “Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2” a pleasing sequel.


01. "Airline to Heaven"  (Woody Guthrie, Jay Bennett, Jeff Tweedy)  - 4:50
02. "My Flying Saucer"  (Guthrie, Billy Bragg)  - 1:45
03. "Feed of Man"  (Guthrie, Tweedy)  - 4:08
04. "Hot Rod Hotel"  (Guthrie, Bragg)  - 3:17
05. "I Was Born"  (Guthrie, Bragg)  - 1:50
06. "Secret of the Sea"  (Guthrie, Bennett, Tweedy)  - 2:42
07. "Stetson Kennedy"  (Guthrie, Bragg)  - 2:39
08. "Remember the Mountain Bed"  (Guthrie, Tweedy, Bennett)  - 6:26
09. "Blood of the Lamb"  (Guthrie, Tweedy, Bennett)  - 4:16
10. "Aginst th' Law"  (Guthrie, Bragg)  - 3:03
11. "All You Fascists"  (Guthrie, Bragg)  - 2:43
12. "Joe DiMaggio Done It Again"  (Guthrie, Bragg)  - 2:31
13. "Meanest Man"  (Guthrie, Bragg)  - 3:46
14. "Black Wind Blowing"  (Guthrie, Bragg)  - 3:00
15. "Someday Some Morning Sometime"  (Guthrie, Tweedy)  - 2:53

Credits
Jeff Tweedy - guitar, vocal, clapping, Mellotron, cabasa, 12 string guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, Wurlitzer
Jay Bennett - guitar, backing vocal, slide guitar, shaker, saw, 12 string guitar, B3 organ, Leslie pedals, Farfisa organ, mandolin, piano, tambourine, electric sitar, soloing, nylon string guitar, banjo, harmonica, drums, upright bass, Delayaphone, bells
John Stirat bass, backing vocal, claps, upright bass, baritone guitar
Billy Bragg - guitar, vocal, resonator guitar
Ken Coomer - drums, tape box, tambourine, percussion, backing vocal, hollering, kick drum, gas heater

Additional Musicians
Mike Henry - backing vocal on "My Flying Saucer"
Natalie Merchant - guest lead vocal on "I Was Born"
Leroy Bach - piano on "Remember The Mountain Bed"
Corey Harris - guest lead vocal and acoustic guitar on "Against Th' Law"
Eliza Carthy - violin on "Joe DiMaggio Has Done It Again

Recorded at Totally Wired Studio, Dublin; Windmill Lane, Dublin.
Engineered at King Size Sound Laboratories, Chicago; Fort Apache Studio, Boston; The Loft, Chicago.
Mixed at Totally Wired and Windmill Lane, Dublin; King Size, Chicago; Private Studios, Urbana, Illinois.
Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York, New York.
Engineer – Jerry Boys
Engineer [Additional At Fort Apache Studio] – Matt Ellard*, Scott Eisenberg
Engineer [Additional At King Size Sound Laboratories] – Dave Trumfio, Mike Hagler
Engineer [Additional At The Loft] – Jay Bennett, Jonathan Pines, Tim Harrington
Executive Producer – Nora Guthrie
Recorded By [Assistant At Windmill Lane] – Ciaràn Cahill*, Gordon Jensen
Recorded By [Assistant At Wired Studio] – Ivan O'Shea, Keith McDonnell, Tom Skerrit*
Technician [Techincal Assistant] – Jonathan "JP" Parker*
Producer: Billy Bragg, Wilco

Notes
Recorded at Boston, Chicago, and Dublin
Genre: Folk Rock, Alternative Rock
Length: 49:47

© 2000 Elektra Records