For more than 20 years, celebrated archival label Light in the Attic (LITA) has shined a spotlight on some of music’s most unique – and often forgotten – voices. But reviving these long-out-of-print recordings is only half of the process. “We believe that an essential component of archival work, aside from simply honoring the music, is to seek ways in which to bring fresh perspectives, context, and reverence to the original artists and their work,” says LITA Founder and Co-Owner, Matt Sullivan. Thus, LITA’s acclaimed 7” vinyl and digital singles Cover Series was born, in which contemporary acts pay homage to their favorite LITA artists and songs. Spanning more than a decade, a handful of these sought-after recordings have previously been issued as limited-edition 45s, while nearly a dozen tracks are brand-new recordings. Now, all twenty of these inspired tributes will be available together for the very first time as a special limited-edition 2-LP set, titled Light in the Attic & Friends ‒ being released exclusively for Record Store Day’s annual Black Friday event, taking place on November 24th at participating independent retailers.
From Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band covering Detroit singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez and Mac DeMarco performing a song by Japanese icon Haruomi Hosono, to Iggy Pop & Zig Zags honoring funk queen Betty Davis, and Ethan & Maya Hawke covering country great Willie Nelson, these performances bridge the gap between generations, languages, and musical traditions. “Many musicians whom we’ve reissued had to make huge sacrifices in their day, yet most never saw fame nor were they appreciated on a larger scale until much later in life,” adds Sullivan. “Each offering is so much more than just a cover; it is a tribute to the unwavering human spirit of the personal sacrifice each artist forged through song.”
Mastered by GRAMMY®-nominated engineer John Baldwin, Light in the Attic & Friends is pressed on special smash-colored wax and features stunning cover artwork by renowned British artist Sophy Hollington. Rounding out the package is a deluxe eight-page booklet, featuring in-depth track notes by North Carolina-based filmmaker and writer Lydia Hyslop, as well as artist photos.
Coinciding with today’s (10/2) announcement, LITA has released the first digital single off the compilation ‒ Ethan & Maya Hawke’s cover of Willie Nelson’s “We Don’t Run” (available now to stream/download). Ethan shares, “This song is off Willie's brilliant album Spirit, which has been a mainstay in our home since it was released in 1996. Everybody needs a good anthem song. This is one of the best."
More info below on each track and for a full list of participating Record Store Day retailers, visit RecordStoreDay.com.
