Audio: Bill Fay – This World (f. Jeff Tweedy)

If you’re a Wilco fan, the name Bill Fay will likely sound familiar, as the both Jeff Tweedy and the band have covered the UK-based singer-songwriter’s tune Be Not So Fearful in concert a number of times dating all the way back to 2001. In fact, Tweedy’s solo acoustic take on the song was included their must-see documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. As for Fay, his story could be filed alongside the likes of Rodriguez, Gary Higgins and Juddee Sill as another artist whose work gained a fervent cult following among musicians and music collectors, but whose two studio albums were largely ignored when they were originally released.

Thanks to folks like Tweedy, Nick Cave and Jim O’Rourke, who sang his praises, Fay is now getting a well deserved second shot at a recording career, as next Tuesday, Fay will release Life Is People via venerable indie-label Dead Oceans. The 12-track record, his first in over 40 years, includes not only a a plaintive and moving cover of Wilco’s Jesus, Etc., but also features Jeff Tweedy contributing vocals for the track This World. Let’s give it a listen…

Bill Fay – This World (featuring Jeff Tweedy)