Sojourn’s Rebecca Elliott, featured on our Before the Throne and Advent Songs CDs, has contributed her warm vocals and piano skills to the brand new Before the Goldrush compilation project, which also includes artists like Carey Ott, The Swell Season (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova), Vandaveer, Neko Case, Tracy Bonham, Okkerville River and many more compelling artists.
Before the Goldrush includes 26 songs and is available as an Amazon download for just $18.99. You can hear free sound samples before purchasing.Â
Proceeds from this digital album benefit Teach For America, a nonprofit group known for its innovative work towards ending inequity in educational opportunities for children. The theme of Before The Goldrush itself goes hand-in-hand with Teach For America’s belief that good teachers and mentors guide the way for the next generation: each song that these current and budding artists perform here is a cover of a tune by top artists of the 60s and 70s like Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and many others.Â
You’re not going to hear covers of the same “mega hit” singles that you’ve heard countless times already: no “You’ve Got A Friend” or “Blowin’ In The Wind,” but rather, lesser-known gems. For instance, Rebecca covers “You’re My Home” by Billy Joel, which Joel wrote to his wife as a Valentine’s Day gift when he couldn’t afford flowers or chocolates. He originally released it as the B-side to the “Piano Man” single. As record company A Nest of Eggs explains the concept, this is:
“an album consisting of song styles that influenced this generation’s parents which, in turn, proved a retroactive influence on the current generation of singer-songwriters. The title - Before the Goldrush - is a take-off on Neil Young’s Baby Boomer classic ‘After the Goldrush’ ”
Teach for America recruits outstanding young teachers and professionals who commit to teaching two years in urban and rural public schools to ensure that students in America’s lowest income communities receive the education they deserve. These teachers then become part of the Teach for America alumni, using the knowledge and experience they’ve gained in the trenches to continue working, in education and various sectors, to bring equality of educational opportunities so that all children have a chance to learn and succeed.
According to the Teach For America website, “Currently, some 6,200 Teach For America corps members teach in 29 urban and rural areas profoundly affected by the achievement gap.” They have been awarded and lauded for their effectiveness by organizations such as Business Week, Amazon.com, and The Princeton Review.
Sojourn is proud of Rebecca’s involvement in Before the Goldrush, as well as her work in our CDs and as a part of our worship team. And I’m honored to have written songs with her like “All I Have is Yours,” “Let Justice Roll Like A River,” and a new one for our upcoming worship CD.Â
It’s also exciting to hear songs from other favorites in the Louisville music scene on Before the Goldrush. Teneia Sanders covers Tim Buckley’s “Once I Was,” and John Mann performs Dylan’s “Just Like A Woman.” Both do a great job, which I’m sure will come as no surprise to music lovers in Louisville who hear them on 91.9 FM (WFPK) and have seen them perform in venues throughout the region.
Read Kristen Miller’s interview with Rebecca Elliott for sojournmusic.com
