October in the Railroad Earth

Tom Russell’s latest recording of original compositions, October in the Railroad Earth, is set for CD and vinyl release March 15, 2019, on Frontera Records in North America and Proper Records for the rest of the world. He describes the songs and sound as “Jack Kerouac meets Johnny Cash in Bakersfield.”
Bill Kirchen is featured on lead electric guitar, Eliza Gilkyson adds vocals, and the Grammy® Award-winning Texmaniacs appear on “Isadore Gonzalez,” about a Mexican cowboy who died in England during a performance of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The record contains nine other originals, including the title song from the Irish film Small Engine Repair, and a cover of the traditional “Wreck of the Old 97.”
October in the Railroad Earth follows the acclaimed 2017 Frontera/Proper album Folk Hotel and Russell’s tribute to Ian & Sylvia on True North Records, Play One More, both receiving worldwide acclaim. Between major releases in 2018, Russell recorded the Bruce Springsteen track “Across The Border” for the three-disc Appleseed Records anniversary sampler, Roots and Branches, and issued a re-recording of early classics on Frontera, Old Songs Yet To Sing.

Russell’s previous album of new original material was the 2015 “folk opera” that Thom Jurek of allmusic.com hailed as Tom’s masterpiece, The Rose of Roscrae. Named “The top folk album of 2015” by Mojo magazine, Roscrae was also lauded as “maybe the most important Americana record of all time” by UK Folk. The album was included in top ten lists of dozens of publications, including the Los Angeles Times.

In 2007, on one of Russell’s five appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, he debuted the controversial “Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall?” which has since gone viral.

Tom Russell’s songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Doug Sahm, Nanci Griffith, k.d. lang, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dave Alvin, Iris DeMent, Dave Van Ronk, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Joe Ely, Tom Paxton, Ian Tyson, and Joe Ely, among many others.
Tom Russell graduated from the University of California with a Master’s degree in Criminology and taught Sociology in Nigeria during the Biafran War.
 Spring News
Feb 27, 2008 Tom Russell NEWS...
We'll have some new record and art news below -
but first the coming dates...please keep reading.......

MARCH TOUR ACROSS CANADA - Vancouver Island to Montreal!

March 6, Vancouver, BC, Canada, St. James Hall, www.stjamescommunitysquare.org, 604-736-3022

March 8, Victoria, BC, Canada, Hermann`s Jazz Club, www.hermannsjazz.com, 250-388-9166

March 9, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada, Salt Spring Folk Club, www.saltspringfolkclub.ca

March 11 Calgary, AB, Canada, The Iroonwood Stage and Grill, 403-269-5581

March 12, Calgary, AB,Canada, The Iroonwood Stage and Grill, 403-269-5581

March 13, Toronto, Canada, Hugh`s Room, www.hughsroom.com, 416-531-6604

March 14, Wakefield, QB, Canada, Blacksheep Inn, www.theblacksheepinn.com, 819-459-3228

March 15, Montreal, QB, Canada, Petit Campus, www.hellodarlinproductions.com

Please listen to CKUA interview with Tom @ 3.30 on Wednesday, March 11th

ONE TO THE HEART, ONE TO THE HEAD....
(Gretchen Peters with Tom Russell) has been getting rave reviews and much airplay. It's sailing up the Americana charts. If you loved the Allison Krauss-Robert Plant record you'll love this one. Dylan, Townes Van Zandt at other great songs....Two voices define the edge of the west....available from
www.villagerecords.com and www.tomrussell.com

THE Tom Russell COVER ART for one to the heart (the blue horse)... is available from Rainbow Man in Santa Fe along with paintings "Snowin on Raton," and "Red Indio #1." Check them on the site below. Rainbow Man is a wonderful store which features a magnificent collection of Southwest folk art and fine crafts: from Indian trade blankets to the world's finest collection of Edward Curtis photographs. Bob, the owner, "wrote the book" on trade blankets and knows the Native American West like no other. Contact him - especially you folks in Europe with an Interest in the Native West. Bob is the Man. Tom is planning an art opening and concert at Rainbow Man (with Paul Zarzyski on the show) August 20. A good reason to visit Santa Fe.
Check out http://www.rainbowman.com/ under the cover photos or write BOB at rainbowman@aol.com or call 505-982-8706

Tom Russell's Bob Dylan print: "My Love She's Like Some Raven, At My Window with a Broken Wing" (Love Minus Zero/No Limit) is now available in limited quantities from www.yarddog.com under Tom Russell in the artist section. Also, the new paintings: "Hamburger" and "Milk Shakes." Undiluted Americana in it's most colorful form. Raw vision. Yard Dog now has galleries in Austin and Marfa. Original art is almost as safe an investment than the Swiss franc. You heard it first here.

Tom has been recording a new record at Wave Lab studios in Tucson with players from "Calexico" and also Bob Dylan's drummer from Unplugged. Gretchen Peters and Barry Walsh also play a strong part in backing vocal and keyboards.
The album will include 12 new Russell originals; the scheduled release date in the U.S. on Shout Factory! Records is September 22.
www.shoutfactory.com. Tom`s 37 track Anthology, „Veteran`s Day“, is available from www.tomrussell.com. This Anthology features the first part of Russell`s songwriting career. The second part is on the way…

The Scandanavian-Benelux-Swiss Tour is coming together for late April and early May in Norway (with an NRK TV show), Sweden, Finland,
Holland, Belgium, and Switzerland. Check out the dates on www.myspace.com/russelltom or www.tomrussell.com

You can also link to Tom's BLOG "Notes from the Borderland" on the main web site. Watch out. It's akin to "Howl." "Hold up your skirts, ladies....we're walking through hell." Wiliam Carlos Williams

The Narrow Gauge Southwestern Train with Tom Russell, Gretchen Peters, Barry Walsh, Paul Zarzyski, Sourdough Slim and Wyle Gustafson is still booking seats for the September 18-24 2008 run which includes Albuquerque, Durango, Pagaosa Springs, and Chama -this is your chance to dip into the wild southwest with the finest singers and poets of this Western generation. It's the most spectacular train ride in America and affordable. Call toll free 866-484-3669 or write trains@sover.net or check out www.rootsontherails.com

Rumor has it there might be a short Gretchen Peters -Tom Russell tour coming later in the summer for Europe...but for now it's a rumor.

That's all the news that's fit to sing....except for:


We've all been to hell and come back
Where love cut us right down to the bone....
But walking beside us....
Was Nina Simone.
Nina Simone, Tom Russell