Complete Billy Bragg interview about the making of "Mermaid Avenue" from the film "Where are you, Jay Bennett?"
This is one of the many bonus features on the bluray edition of the documentary Where are you, Jay Bennett? You can order the BluRay/DVD combo here: https://whatwerewethinkingfilmsonlinestore.bigcartel.com/product/where-are-you-jay-bennett-deluxe-bluray-dvd-combo
Use code: SUBSTACKJAY for 20% off your order.
And in case you missed it, the DVD of the film is also available as a bonus with the double LP Record Store Day 2022 release, featuring two albums by the late Jay Bennett, packaged in a gatefold jacket.
"Where are you, Jay Bennett?" is a feature-length documentary on Jay Bennett, a legendary musician who, as a member of Wilco, was a large part of the genius behind their three seminal albums (Being There, Summerteeth, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot -- he co-wrote most of Summerteeth and YHF with Jeff Tweedy) as well as the Mermaid Avenue/Woody Guthrie sessions with Billy Bragg, and who went on to a critically acclaimed solo career, before dying tragically at the age of 45. (NOTE: DVD contains the film ONLY, no bonus material.) The film was directed by Gorman Bechard & Fred Uhter.
"Whatever Happened I Apologize" is best described by Brian Robbins of JamBands.com: "a departure from much of his past work. Simply put, the master of what-this-track-needs-is-one-more-weird-noise-and-it'll-be-perfect (and staunch defender of vinyl) has offered up a digital-only acoustic album much of it just the man, his guitar, and some pretty open emotions.”
"Kicking at the Perfumed Air" is a beautiful collection of personal songs that Jay Bennett was working on when he died. Released posthumously, the album was praised for its subtle beauty. Pitchfork said: "But Perfumed works simply because Bennett was such a keen craftsman, his mournfulness so elegantly expressed, and as such, nevertheless serves as a fitting elegy for an under-appreciated and occasionally misunderstood songsmith and musician taken too soon."
You can order the LP here: Buy The LP
Use code: SUBSTACKJAY for 20% off your order.
Enjoy!