Bruce Cockburn – The Blood of Others
This is a beautiful album. Especially from a singer whose been around for years & is known for his own songwriting. Here, Bruce Cockburn honors the tunes that shaped the road toward his own success. 5-decades into that career he is Canada’s other epic singer-songwriter/guitarist (the other 3 are Joni, Neil & Gordon). It’s a brave attempt when a singer who has made his signature sound through his own work risks not always coming across when out of his comfort zone.
Artists like Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Johnny Mathis & Billie Holiday, among others, built their careers singing other people’s songs. They had the expertise of interpretation. Not easy. Mr. Cockburn (guitars/vocals) starts excellently with an acoustic guitar cruise through an old gospel tune “Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down” but the classic “Casablanca” tune “As Time Goes By” & the gospel song “Peace In the Valley” may be out of Bruce’s range. But the sincere effort is still commendable. Both remain touching ballads with all the nostalgia to keep it flavorful & not soupy.
Whereas the 3rd & 9th track sound like Bruce pulls some sips of gin from the Tom Waits catalog. Nice growly voiced “Buddy Bolden’s Blues” & again with the Bessie Smith oldie “Yellow Dog Blues” addresses them vividly, with grit & charm. There are 15 choice cuts on the appropriately titled The Blood of Others (Dropped Oct 16/Sunset Boulevard Records/59:10), a title lifted from a Simone de Beauvoir novel. The LP was produced with skill by Colin Linden (electric & acoustic guitars/dobro) & recorded in Nashville, TN.
The surprise? A cover of the early Elvis Presley rocker “That’s Alright Mama,” recorded also by its writer Big Boy Arthur Crudup. Bruce gives it an edge while many others who cover it just sing it. His version is closer to Crudup, & I hear that possibility. Elvis added the rockabilly style.
There isn’t a weak song here. Bruce simply does some better than others. Billie Holiday’s 1939 classic “God Bless the Child” works serenely as an acoustic guitar ballad with Bruce’s warm take. Yes, it’s an updated version that purists won’t embrace, but he doesn’t push it out of bounds. He keeps it middle-of-the-road-easy; it’s never a lounge-singer piece. That’s the trick.
This isn’t the Bruce of “Tokyo,” “Fascist Architecture” & “Lovers In a Dangerous Time.” This is the seasoned & marinated Cockburn. They don’t call singer/songwriter’s like Bruce Cockburn an artist for nothing. This is a brave undertaking. If music has color — Bruce covers the musical canvas with bold strokes.
Highlights – “Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down,” “Buddy Bolden’s Blues,” “That’s Alright Mama,” “God Bless the Child,” “Louis Collins” & “Fare Thee Well.”
Musicians – Viktor Krauss (upright bass) & Janice Powers (B3).
The CD package is a die-cut 8-panel fold-out. Both photos: courtesy of Daniel Keebler. CD @ Amazon & Apple + https://brucecockburn.com/2026/the-blood-of-others-the-new-album-from-bruce-cockburn-arrives-on-october-16th-via-sunset-blvd-records/
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: Interview: Bruce Cockburn on “Crowing Ignites,” Meeting Jerry Garcia, and ‘Little Ass’ Bells