[Cover photo credit to Simone Cecchetti]
Guitarist and songwriter Tommy Emmanuel’s Accomplice Two is the follow-up to his 2018 album Accomplice One, following the same premise of song-by-song collaboration with a variety of artists. For Accomplice Two, Emmanuel engages with co-conspirator for a classic or original song across 16 tracks, including remarkable musicians in their own right, such as Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Michael McDonald, Jamey Johnson, Raul Malo, and many more.
Today, on Wildfire Music + News, we’re very pleased to debut Tommy Emmanuel’s video for the original song “Precious Time” featuring Grammy-nominated Americana artist and banjo player Sierra Hull, both the track and in the video.
The album version of this song was recorded at TuneSmith Studios in Goodlettsville, Tennessee right outside of Nashville, and it features Sierra Hull on mandolin and Tommy Emmanuel on guitar. The song was originally written by Emmanuel about his “family time which is precious time to a traveling musician.”
The video was recorded live at Emmanuel’s home outside of Nashville, and directed and edited by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard for Neighborhoods Apart.
This new video really takes us inside the vitality of the two artists’ interaction, suggesting room for spontaneity in their interpretations. It also illustrates the ways in which they find common musical ground to bring strength to the overall tone of “Precious Time”, which is both celebratory and soothing. It’s also interesting to see the particular moments in the performance that seem to bring them the greatest joy.
Regarding “Precious Time” as one of his many “stories without words”, Tommy Emmanuel shares:
Time at home with family became such an important part of my life when work, travel, success and all the crazy stuff began to take up all my time and energy. I write songs to soothe my soul. Somehow, this one was a channel of peace for me and got me through some tough times.
Speaking about collaborating with Sierra Hull for the track, Emmanuel adds:
Sierra Hull was the right musician for this song. Once I experienced her abilities and vision for songs, I played it for her, and she immediately interpreted it as only a real artist would. I asked her to take the lead in the bridge sections and double the melody in the verses. Her touch and her sensitivity allowed us to tell the story in music and sounds that were true to my original work, as the composer. Sierra is a “songs” person, like me, and so this melody was her blank canvas to paint on! We have a kindred spirit of love for a melody. We like songs that challenge our abilities, make us dig for what’s right, and how we serve the songs best! Oh, and…her timing, tone and feel are other-worldly! Apart from all that, she’s a fun person to hang with!
On Accomplice Two, Tommy Emmanuel pays homage to personal favorites like Jorma Kaukonen, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Little Feat, Sam Bush, the Del McCoury Band and Jerry Douglas and combines their traditions with energy of younger who share his own “true reverence for the power of song.”
Track listing for Accomplice Two:
1. Doc’s Guitar Black Mountain Rag Featuring Billy Strings
2. White Freight Liner Blues Featuring Molly Tuttle
3. Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man) Featuring Jamey Johnson
*4. Precious Time Featuring Sierra Hull
5. Cajun Girl Featuring Little Feat & Sam Bush
6. Another Man Done A Full Go Around Featuring Jorma Kaukonen
*7. Son Of A Gun Featuring Richard Smith
8. Someone Like You Featuring Michael McDonald
*9. Mombassa Featuring Yasmin Williams
10. Everybody Loves You Featuring Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams
*11. Mama Knows Featuring Jerry Douglas
12. Sweet Temptation Featuring The Del McCoury Band
13. Yeller Rose Of Texas Featuring Sam Bush
14. Tennessee Stud Featuring Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
15. Seven Come Eleven Featuring David Grisman
16. Far Away Places Featuring Raul Malo
*Songs written by Tommy Emmanuel
