Son Volt
Day of the Doug: The Songs of Doug Sahm
Transmit Sound/Thirty Tigers
There’s something absolutely timeless about the lyrics and music of Doug Sahm, and no matter which part of Texas or any other location he’s singing about, his roots and experiences come through loud and clear. In a new album releasing June 16, Son Volt pays tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter and friend to the band with Day of Doug: The Songs of Doug Sahm. Being a lifelong fan of both Doug Sahm and Son Volt, I knew that the potential for a stellar album was there, and after listening non-stop for the past few weeks, I can confidently say that I was not wrong.
The album opens and closes with answering machine messages to Jay Farrar from Doug, hearkening back to the 1995 period when Son Volt recorded their landmark album Trace. Doug, who also appeared on the final Uncle Tupelo album on the song “Give Back the Keys to My Heart,” sings a bit of “Tear Stained Eye” to Jay’s machine. “Sometimes You’ve Got To Stop Chasing Rainbows,” “What About Tomorrow,” “Yesterday Got In The Way,” and “Seguin” are just a few of the timeless songs featured on this 12-song album. Son Volt handles these tracks with enough reverence to honor the original songs while putting just enough Son Volt edge on them to make them their own unique versions.
The song selection is excellently culled from some of the lesser-known tracks, and as Jay states, “My mode of picking the songs was primarily to celebrate the ones that I thought were overlooked.” While deep-cut fans like myself will indeed celebrate the entire album, it’s a great snapshot across the Sahm catalog that anyone familiar with the hits can appreciate. The album is available everywhere, including the Son Volt website, on June 16, and keep an eye out for a Son Volt tour, where you can experience some of these incredible tributes live.
