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Steve Earle is an avowed socialist and country musician. He once again underlines this exceptional position with his new album Ghosts Of West Virginiawhich will be released on May 22 by New West Records. It tells of the fate of the miners in West Virginia, starting from the “Upper Big Branch Disaster”, one of the largest mining accidents in US history, in which 29 miners were killed. Again he is supported on the long player by his “dukes”.
West Virginia, like Kentucky, is one of the United States’ coalfields. In the past, the industry was vital for the US economic system, but today it is an extinct industry. The result: Where once proud miners lived in relative social security after successful labor disputes, there is now unemployment and a lack of prospects. And although Trump is a representative of the ruling economic elite, the residents of the area are part of its voters and hope for its “America First” policy.
That’s where socialist Earle comes in. He does not demonize these Trump voters as racists or rights, but takes their concerns seriously: the dwindling pride of the miners, unemployment, the worry of “no longer being worth”, poverty and lack of prospects. But he also denounces the practices of the mining companies: poor safety standards in the mines and anti-union behavior when the miners try to defend their interests.
From these conditions one of the most promising Americana albums of this year was created. “I wanted to talk to people who don’t necessarily vote the way I do, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have anything in common. We have to learn to communicate with each other. My participation in this project is my small contribution to this effort. And the way to do this – and do it impeccably – is simply to honor the people who died in Upper Big Branch, “said Earle recently,” Rolling Stone “.
He wrote part of the songs for the play “Coal Country”, and there were also other pieces about the people and the region as well as the traditional John Henry. The first single release is “Devil Put The Coal In The Ground”, a piece that addresses the hard work of the miners.
You can look forward to this concept album, which in its way follows in the footsteps of a legendary country album. In 1947 Merle Travis released the album “Folk Songs of the Hills”, which dealt with the lives of railroad workers and miners in Kentucky. “Nine Pound Hammer” and especially “Sixteen Tons” became huge hits. It is desirable that Earle’s album receives similar attention.
Steve Earle – The Ghosts Of West Virginia: Das Album
title: The Ghosts Of West Virginia
Artist: Steve Earle
Release date: 22. May 2020
Label: New West Records
Formats: CD, Vinyl & Digital
running time: 29:46 Min.
Tracks: 10
Genre: Americana
Track list: (The Ghosts Of West Virginia)
01. Heaven Ain’t Goin‘ Nowhere
02. Union, God And Country
03. Devil Put The Coal In The Ground
04. John Henry Was A Steel Drivin‘ Man
05. Time Is Never On Our Side
06. It’s About Blood
07. If I Could See Your Face Again – feat. Eleanor Whitmore
08. Black Lung
09. Fastest Man Alive
10. The Mine
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