Shine a Light: Field Recordings From the Great American Railroad

Shine a Light is a collaborative field recording project by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, released in 2016. The duo recorded the 13 tracks over the course of a 65-hour journey on the Texas Eagle line, utilizing the natural acoustics of train stations in cities like St. Louis, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. This recording method places the album in the tradition of Alan Lomax's field recordings rather than standard contemporary folk production. The tracklist is a curated selection of railroad standards popularized by artists like Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, and Hank Williams. Critics generally praised the album for its authenticity and the chemistry between Bragg and Henry, noting that the ambient 'noise' of the locations added a layer of historical weight. It stands as a significant departure for Bragg, moving away from his usual political songwriting toward a role as a musical historian and curator.