Shine a Light: Field Recordings from the Great American Railroad

Recorded at train stations between Chicago and L.A.—you can actually hear passengers bustling in the background—Shine a Light captures Billy Bragg and Joe Henry rambling through classic railroad tunes in fine folky form. They cover ramshackle blues with a ragged take on “The Midnight Special”, while their weathered voices mingle beautifully on the lonesome Americana of “In the Pines”, creating a sombre vibe. The nostalgic “Early Morning Rain” caps things off with a pensive melody that conjures sing-alongs on a porch in spring.