Dave Alvin Brings Out the Beat Up Guitars for New Album

Singer-songwriter Dave Alvin will release From An Old Guitar: Rare and Unreleased Recordings on Nov. 20 on Yep Roc Records. The 16-song collection features songs recorded over the years for his own records and tribute albums, but he wrote most of them “for no other reason at all than the sheer kicks of going into a recording studio to make some joyous noise with musicians and singers that I love and admire,” he says in a press release about the album. 

Produced by Alvin, From An Old Guitar: Rare and Unreleased Recordings offers a mix of acoustic blues and ballads, electric bar room blues, folk and country/rock. The album features songs written by Alvin as well as ones written be friends such as Peter Case, Bill Morrissey and Chris Smither, as well as heroes like Willie Dixon, Bob Dylan, Earl Hooker, Doug Sahm, Lil’ Hardin Armstrong, Marty Robbins and Bo Carter. Chris Gaffney, Amy Farris and Bobby Lloyd Hicks as well as from old Blasters pals like Gene Taylor along with various members of the Guilty Men/Women/Ones. 

“If I had a few extra bucks in my pocket, I’d book a day in the studio, call some old (or new) friends, comrades and co-conspirators to join me and see what would happen,” notes Alvin, “no pressure, no expectations, just making music for the transcendental thrill of, well, making music. I consider myself extremely lucky to have had such a stellar collection of musicians to make some noise with and to say that I’m proud of the performances on this release would be a gigantic understatement”

He says he literally plays old beat-up guitars on the songs.

“I sincerely hope you enjoy these songs (and the musicians/singers bringing them to life),” he says. “These recordings may be rare, unreleased or little heard but I’m very proud of them and they hold a very special, warm place in my heart. Just like my old guitars.”