Iggy and the Stooges, the Black Keys and Pete Yorn are among the artists who have contributed tracks to a forthcoming tribute to Junior Kimbrough. The independent Fat Possum label will release “Sunday Nights: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough” Jan. 17, the exact six year anniversary of the death of the blues guitar great.
“Sunday Nights” includes 14 songs, including two takes of “You Better Run” recorded in the spring by founding Stooges members Iggy Pop (vocals), Ron Asheton (guitar) and Scott Asheton (drums), with punk rock icon Mike Watt standing in for late bassist Dave Alexander. The set will mark the first release by this lineup of the band, which has toured the United States twice since early 2003.
“Iggy Pop got Junior Kimbrough,” Fat Possum founder Matthew Johnson says. “He invited him to go on the road and open his 1996 tour. Despite being in his 60s and having to walk with the aid of a cane, Junior Kimbrough had no problem holding his own with Iggy. Junior, in addition to fathering 36 kids, had way more fun than you or I ever will. When Iggy learned about the project he called us to say he had to have ‘You Better Run.'”
Akron, Ohio-based rock duo the Black Keys contributes a cover of “My Mind Is Rambling,” while Yorn adds his version of “I Feel Good Again,” which also opens his concert release from earlier this year, “Live From New Jersey” (Columbia). Blues Explosion adds a version of “Meet Me In the City” with late singer/songwriter Elliott Smith, and former Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan offers his run through “All Night Long.”
Others appearing on the set include Spiritualized, Firey Furnaces, Jim White and the Ponys.
Here is the “Sunday Nights: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough” track list:
“You Better Run” (first version), Iggy and the Stooges
“Sad Days Lonely Nights,” Spiritualized
“Meet Me In the City,” Blues Explosion with Elliott Smith
“Done Got Old,” Heartless Bastards
“My Mind Is Rambling,” the Black Keys
“I’m Leaving,” Fiery Furnaces
“I Feel Good Again,” Pete Yorn
“Do the Romp,” Cat Power & Entrance
“All Night Long,” Mark Lanegan
“Release Me,” Thee Shams
“Done Got Old,” Jim White
“Lord Have Mercy On Me,” Outrageous Cherry
“Pull Your Clothes Off,” Whitey Kirst
“Burn In Hell,” the Ponys
“You Better Run” (second version), Iggy and the Stooges
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