Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Having Ry Cooder produce this album by the gospel great is an inspired choice. Cooder brings a rootsy edge to civil rights anthems like “We Shall Not Be Moved,” featuring South African choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Staples, still vibrant and ever soulful, covers Cooder’s tender “I’ll Be Rested” and delivers a stunning rendition of “Jesus is on the Mainline,” a song Cooder once recorded. And she adlibs her way through bluesman J.B. Lenoir’s “Down in Mississippi” (also featuring Ladysmith) to brilliant effect. Apr. 24

Has it really been nearly 20 years since the Junkies released The Trinity Session? A commemorative DVD is in the works for release later this year. In the meantime, the Junkies have released one of their most potent albums to date. From the sublime ballad “Spiral Down,” featuring a fiddle floating over Margo Timmins’ chilling vocal, to the ravaged “Cutting Board Blues” and the almost trip-hoppy “It Doesn’t Really Matter Anyway,” it also stands as one of the band’s most varied releases. Happy anniversary. Apr. 24   

Like their siren sister Neko Case, The Sadies are masters at mining roots music and making it their own. But where Case turns everything she touches to gothic gold, The Sadies take a more cosmic approach, adding surf, rockabilly and psych flavors to their spaghetti western stew. The band’s fifth studio album mixes all of those elements on a dozen cinematic songs like “Anna Leigh” and “What’s Left Behind.” Dallas and Travis Good pick and harmonize their way through the material like only badass brothers can. Sept. 18