Moneyland

A timely multi-artist collection that offers a hard-hitting look at economic injustice through songs old and new. Framed by excerpts from two of Franklin Roosevelt's Depression-era "fireside chats," Moneyland revitalizes country and bluegrass music's connections to the lives of hardworking people in ways that honor the past, look to the future, and challenge the listeners to act in the present. Moneyland's musical bookends are found in Bernard "Slim" Smith's Depression era classic, "Breadline Blues," as the original 1932 recording at the start of the album is matched by a new "Breadline Blues 2008," featuring McCoury, the legendary Mac Wiseman, Grammy winner Tim O'Brien and the harmonies of Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. Between the two, the collection explores the hardships of rural and urban working people and their families through a thoughtful selection of new songs, neglected gems, and classic favorites performed by The Del McCoury Band, Merle Haggard, Marty Stuart, Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless, Bruce Hornsby, and Chris Knight, among others.