Music Review: “Mr. President Have Pity on the Working Man” by Hard Working Americans

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TRACK 8

“Mr. President Have Pity on the Working Man”

From Hard Working Americans (self-titled)

MELVIN/THIRTY TIGERS

Liner notes: “We just can’t make it by ourselves,” wheezes Todd Snider, as searing slide guitar recasts Randy Newman’s populist lament as scruffy country blues.

Behind the music: Snider, who does his own iconoclastic alt-country solo act, joined members of Widespread Panic and Chris Robinson’s band for this earthy covers set, which includes songs associated with the likes of BR549 and Lucinda Williams.

Check it out if you like: Forward-thinking roots artists, including Bottle Rockets, the Drive-By Truckers, and Iris DeMent.

This review originally appeared in our January/February issue of Mother Jones.