In Appreciation of: Steve Earle and Del McCoury Band’s “Pilgrim”
I still have a bad taste in my mouth from this week’s Radio Daze piece, so I’ve been doing my best to reverse the damage with – ya know – real music. And it gets no more genuine than Steve Earle. I finally dug out this CD a couple of months ago after a few years of accidental hibernation. In 1998, Steve joined forces with bluegrass icons The Del McCoury Band to release The Mountain, a fantastic collection of bluegrass tunes that range from down & dirty songs about life in the mines, the Civil War and train ridin’, to the downright sublime.
The album wraps up with “Pilgrim”, which falls into the latter category: 5 minutes and 28 seconds of beauty, affirmation, and faith. The surrounding cast of characters in this tune ain’t too shabby either. Joining Steve on harmonies in this song: Emmylou Harris, Sam Bush, Kathy Chiavola, Tim O’Brien, Gillian Welch, and Dave Rawlings (who I just featured a couple weeks ago). On mandolin? Sam Bush. Dobro? Jerry Douglas.
Busy studio in Nashville that day. Anyhow, this is just a work of beauty. Not to mention the whole album is tremendous. So here…
Steve Earle & the Del McCoury Band – Pilgrim
Pick up The Mountain on Amazon.
Visit: Steve Earle on the web / Del McCoury Band on the web
Cover Art: Tony Fitzpatrick
5 Comments
Bruce Kaechele
Hey Pete,
Listened to Townes on my commute this AM. This was a nice welcome in to work – if there is such a thing. Is the whole album this great?
Bruce
Pete
The whole album is indeed great, Bruce. Highly recommended, along with Steve’s El Corazon – which was released a year earlier than The Mountain. A great 1-2 punch.
KathyB
I second the high recommendation. Fantastic commuting music as well. And this is the song I want played at my funeral.
Pete
Indeed Kathy…
LOVE this:
‘Cause I expect to touch His hand, boys.
I expect to touch His hand, boys.
I expect to touch His hand, boys.
I’ll put a word in for you if I can.
Bruce Kaechele
OK – I’m sold. I think I may learn this song for church.
Thanks for the conversation.