The legacy of Doc Watson, the North Carolina guitarist, singer and songwriter who would have turned 100 on March 3 of this year, will be celebrated in a new compilation titled I Am a Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100. Set for release on April 28 on FLi Records/Budde Music, the 15-track collection features new renditions of some of the most beloved recordings from Watson’s expansive catalog.
The first single from the project is Dolly Parton’s rendition of “The Last Thing On My Mind.” Written by Tom Paxton in the early 1960s, the song was a staple of Watson’s catalog. Parton released a recording of it in 1967 with Porter Wagoner; in 2001, she and Watson performed it together at MerleFest. Parton says, “Doc Watson is everyone’s hero and a great guitar player. Some say he is the absolute best, and I was honored to get to work with him a few times in my career.”
I Am a Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 was produced by Matthew Stevens and executive produced by Mitch Greenhill, Matthew Greenhill and Peer Steinwald. Get the full track listing for the album below the video player.
1. “Shady Grove” – Jerry Douglas
2. “The Last Thing On My Mind” – Dolly Parton
3. “Am I Born to Die” – Nora Brown
4. “Alberta” – Jeff Parker & Matthew Stevens
5. “Make Me a Pallet” – Steve Earle
6. “I Am a Pilgrim” – Rosanne Cash
7. “Florida Blues” – Jack Lawrence
8. “How Long Blues” – Corey Harris
9. “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” – Ariesen
10. “Handsome Molly” – Valerie June & Bill Frisell
11. “Doc’s Guitar” – Yasmin Williams
12. “Little Sadie” – Chris Eldridge
13. “Reuben’s Train” – Lionel Loueke
14. “The Lost Soul” – Marc Ribot
15. “Your Lone Journey” – Bill Frisell
Photo of Doc Watson: Jim Gavenus