David OIney died from an apparent heart attack while onstage at the 30A Songwriter Festival in 2020 at the age of 71. Before that, he gained a reputation as a stellar songwriter. Lauded by the likes of Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, and Steve Earle, Olney’s songs were recorded by countless artists from various genres. Today, New West Records announced a tribute album titled Can’t Steal My Fire: The Songs of David Olney. The collection featuring Van Zandt, Earle, Lucinda Williams, and many others will drop in October. Hear the first two songs—“Illegal Cargo” recorded by Van Zandt before his death and a new recording of “If My Eyes Were Blind” by The Steeldrivers—below.
Olney is widely considered the founding father of Americana. Unfortunately, though, he never truly found fame. However, and maybe more importantly, he found the respect of his fellow songsmiths. For example, Van Zandt wrote the liner notes for Olney’s 1991 album Roses. In them, he stated, “Anytime anyone asks me who my favorite music writers are, I say, Mozart, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Bob Dylan, and Dave Olney. Dave Olney is one of the best songwriters I’ve ever heard – and that’s true. I mean that from the heart.”
[RELATED: David Olney: Literate, Rabble-Rousing Troubadour]
More About the David Olney Tribute Album
Can’t Steal My Fire features mostly new recordings of David Olney’s songs from a laundry list of artists. The two exceptions are a previously unreleased recording of Olney reciting his “Sonnet #40” and Townes Van Zandt’s live recording of “Illegal Cargo.” It also features the first new recording from singer/songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey since releasing his self-titled debut album in 1972.
Steve Earle and Olney’s daughter Lillian wrote the liner notes for Can’t Steal My Fire. Earle also recorded “Sister Angelina” for the collection. About the song, Earle wrote “I’ve played it literally hundreds of times and I’ll continue to play it whenever I need to be reminded of where I come from as an artist and why the bar for my contemporaries and myself is so high. Because David Olney was the best of us.”
Can’t Steal My Fire Tracklist and Info
- “Deeper Well”—Lucinda Williams
- “Sister Angelina”—Steve Earle
- “Voices on the Water”—The McCrary Sisters
- “Jerusalem Tomorrow”—Buddy Miller
- “If My Eyes Were Blind”—The Steeldrivers
- “Women Cross the River”—Willis Alan Ramsey
- “1917”—Mary Gauthier
- “Always the Stranger”—R.B. Morris
- “If It Wasn’t for the Wind”—Jimmy Dale Gilmore
- “Running From Love”—Anana Kaye
- “That’s My Story”—Greg Brown
- “Sonnet #40”—David Olney
- “Steal My Thunder”—Dave Alvin & the Rick Holmstrom Trio
- “Delta Blue”—Jim Lauderdale
- “She’s Alone Tonight”—Janis Ian
- “Illegal Cargo”—Townes Van Zandt
Can’t Steal My Fire will be available across streaming platforms, on CD, and a 2-LP vinyl housed in a gatefold cover on October 18. Pre-save or pre-order now via New West Records.
Featured Image by Scott Housley
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