Nancy Apple to Release a Tribute Album for the Late Audrey Auld

By Timothy Yap Aug 16, 2016 04:26 AM EDT

Just Love is just that ... a labor of love from Folk artist, Nancy Apple.

With this latest CD, Apple pays tribute to fellow artist, Audrey Auld, who lost her battle with cancer in 2015. Auld, a native of Tasmania, left behind a musical legacy of songs ranging from poignant to empowering to downright cheeky. To honor Audrey, Apple brought together other artists and friends to breathe new life into select songs from Auld's prolific catalog.

"Audrey was a regular at Woodyfest and a well-loved one," says Nancy, who chose to premier the tribute album at the 2016 Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, OK. The CD was the highest selling project of the festival. The album will be available to the public Friday, October 21st.

Audrey Auld (Audrey Auld-Mezera) was an Australian-American touring singer/songwriter who resided at times in both Nashville, Tennessee and the coast of California. She released 11 albums and 3 EPs on her own Reckless Records label, and recorded with many other musicians including Bill Chambers, Kieran Kane, Fred Eaglesmith, Mary Gauthier, Dale Watson, Kasey Chambers, and Carrie Rodriguez. Her songs were recorded by various artists and had songs placed on the FX TV shows "90210," "Justified," "Longmire," "NCIS: New Orleans," and "The Good Guys". She hosted songwriting workshops with inmates in San Quentin Prison in California from 2007 till 2013. Auld-Mezera died on August 9, 2015 at the age of 51 after a battle with cancer.

Every track on the two-disc collection features a friend or musical admirer of Audrey Auld. The track, "Missin' Mez," is sung by the late Auld herself. Friends Gabe Rhodes, Bill Chambers, Carrie Rodriguez, and Wally Dogged joined her on the track, which was originally recorded in Rhodes' Texas home studio.

"Audrey and Mez wrote this song ["Missin' Mez"] together," Apple says. "Basically, Audrey used some lines she got from her beloved husband, Mez. I wanted to include a song with Audrey's voice. This one not only reminds Mez how much he was loved, but it's also a shout-out to all of her friends, family and fans; a message that Audrey loved them. "

Guitarist and composer Terry "Buffalo" Ware, the Woodyfest band leader who also worked with Auld, kicks off the opening track, "One Eye Open." Other Woodyfest artists and friends of Auld pepper the tracks, including Lauren Lee, Grant Peebles, Rob McNurlin, Monica Taylor and Don Morris. Australian superstar Bill Chambers appears on "Denied" and is later joined by daughter Kasey Chambers and others for "If I Woke Up Dead." Annie McCue and Eamon McLoughlin are among the special guests and friends on the project.

Songs "Hey Warden" (Tom Mason & the Buccaneers) and "Bread and Roses" (Andrew Hardin) originally appeared on Auld's final album, Hey Warden, a collaboration of songs written with San Quentin State Prison inmates as part of songwriter workshops she hosted through the nonprofit Bread and Roses.

The album delivers some traditional roots from artist Dale Jett (and his band Hello Stranger), who perform "Down in a Hole." Jett is a third generation member of the Carter family and has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, the Marty Stuart Show, and Mountain Stage.

Ronny Elliot brings decades of musicianship to the album, having shared bills with artists including Van Morrison, the Allman Brothers, and Pete Seeger. The vocalist on "Shine" is Joel Rafael, who has played alongside Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

"There's simply never been anyone like Audrey, and there never will again, "Apple says. "I considered her a friendly competitor, an inspiring artist, and a brilliant writer. It's tragic that we've lost her, but I'm so grateful for the wonderful songs she left behind."

Just Love (Ringo Records and Reckless Records)
is available October 21, 2016!

On the album liner, Nancy penned, "The greatest star Nashville never heard...It hit a lot of us real hard, so we made this record to show our love. Audrey knew a lot about love. She lived it. She shared it. Just Love."
JUST LOVE - Special Guest ArtistsBill Chambers (with daughter Casey Chambers) || Andrew Hardin || Rob McNurlin || Ronny Elliot || Dale Jett || Trev Warner || Terry Buffalo Ware || Lauren Lee || Tom Mason || Candace Maché || Grant Peebles || Monica Taylor || Don Morris || Susan Herndon || Joel Rafael || The Foggy Mountain Jam Band || Camille and Stuie French || Katie Brianna || Keith Harden || Julie Pennell || Ninni and Mika || Doug Jayne || The Pam and Jeri || Gina Timms || Annie McCue || Eamon McLoughlin || Sky Shook (aka Austin Atwood)