Not only has Will Oldham written a new Merle Haggard-inspired song, but Bonnie “Prince” Billy and friends have been covering a Haggard classic of late: “Because of Your Eyes,” a gorgeous love song from the outlaw country legend that was reworked for the inaugural release from Spiritual Pajamas — folkYEAH!’s new label — backed by Bonnie’s take on Roy Harper’s “I’ll See You Again.” You can pick up one of the limited 7-inch copies due next week here and preview Oldham’s take (which effortlessly captures the magic of his live rendition I personally witnessed/became obsessed with last year) above.
Meanwhile, another cut from his collaborative EP alongside Phantom Family Halo surfaced: the Everly Brothers’ “I Wonder If I Should Care,” performed as a relatively faithful duet before one of the longest guitar solos in recent memory takes grip thataway.