New Robyn Hitchcock Album and Interview

Look out for a new Robyn Hitchcock compilation album The Man Upstairs via Yep Roc August 26. Here's a taste of what's to come as Hitchcock covers "The Ghost In You" (originally recorded by The Psychedelic Furs). The album art was done by fellow musician Gillian Welch. The Man Upstairs brings Hitchcock together with producer Joe Boyd (Nick Drake, Fairport Convention) and was mixed and recorded in six days. It includes a Roxy Music cover, new material, and older rarities. Boyd suggested what he called "a Judy Collins album such as Elektra would have released in 1967," meaning "part well-known favorites, personal discoveries, and part originals." In addition to The Psychedelic Furs, Hitchcock provides his take on Roxy Music's "To Turn You On," and The Doors' "The Crystal Ship." Also included are lesser known tracks from contemporaries such as "Ferries" by I Was a King (featuring the Norwegian combos Anne Lise Frøkedal contributing guitar and vocal harmonies), and Grant-Lee Phillips "Don't Look Down." For his part Hitchcock seems amply pleased with the Boyd collaboration commenting, "I've always wanted to make a folk record produced by Joe Boyd and now I have. Thank you, universe!" Two intimate gigs have been scheduled: June 20th at Santa Monica's famous McCabe's Guitar Shop and Seattle's Columbia City Theater on June 23rd. North American Tour dates should be announced shortly. A 4th grade music class from Hillsborough, NC, interviewed Hitchcock for their weekly WOCS podcast. Here's an excerpt: