Paradiddle Records will release Willie Nile Uncovered (Celebrating 40 Years of Music) on August 21, 2020. This two-CD collection features 26 songs from the New York rocker’s entire recording history performed by an array of both veteran and emerging artists, each putting their unique stamp on his songs.
The set celebrates the brilliant songwriting of one of rock ’n’ roll’s unsung heroes, an artist whose diehard fan base has included Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend, Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams, Jim Jarmusch, and Little Steven.
Paying tribute to Nile on Uncovered are Nils Lofgren, Graham Parker, Richard Barone, Richard Shindell, Elliott Murphy, John Gorka, Slaid Cleaves, James Maddock, Dan Bern, Kenny White, Rod Picott, Jen Chapin, Caroline Doctorow, Emily Duff, Pete Mancini and Iridesense among others, interpreting Willie’s songs in a range of styles -— rock, Americana, country, roots, folk and more.
Nile’s album New York at Night, released this past May 15. An earlier album, also a paean to New York, The Streets of New York, was hailed as “a platter for the ages” by Uncut magazine. Rolling Stone listed The Innocent Ones as one of the “Top Ten Best Under-the-Radar Albums of 2011,” and BBC Radio called it “THE rock ’n’ roll album of the year.”
“I’m humbled and deeply grateful to all the artists involved in this project for taking the time to record such beautiful versions of these songs,” says Nile. “When I first heard there was going to be a tribute album I was a little embarrassed as I don’t feel I’m any more deserving than anyone else for an album like this but after a few glasses of red wine and hearing the album I was elated. It was startling to hear such unique, different and poignant interpretations of my songs. Heartfelt thanks to all involved for making this songwriter’s journey through the back roads of a soul more than worth the effort.”
“Many artist tribute albums miss the mark and fall short in capturing the spirit of the artist they are honoring. This is definitely not the case with Willie Nile Uncovered … Paradiddle assembled a who’s who of contemporary singer-songwriters who are exceptional message makers and tunesmiths in their own right …It’s an extraordinary tribute that gives justice to the brilliant Willie Nile catalog." —Norm Prusslin, co-founder of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, President/Chair Emeritus Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, and founding GM, WUSB, Stony Brook, NY
