Gillian Welch Opens Up The Archive On 'Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs'

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David Rawlings & Gillian Welch Henry Diltz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Henry Diltz/Courtesy of the artist

David Rawlings & Gillian Welch

Henry Diltz/Courtesy of the artist

Boots #2: The Lost Songs is a collection of 48 tunes recorded by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings during a single weekend, then stashed away in the proverbial shoebox. The pair decided to revisit these recordings while in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic. The songs span old-time genres, like Appalachian folk, country blues, gospel, the earliest stirrings of rockabilly, and more.

For as long as Welch and Rawlings have produced music, they have striven for perfection. This collection, on the other hand, is about letting the original shine without polish or artifice. In this session, we explore the production, the home recording process, and the sheer joy of the music.