Don Heffington, a cherished drummer and singer-songwriter known for his work with Lone Justice and other music legends, passed away at 70 from leukemia in 2021. To honor his memory, a new tribute album, Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’: A Tribute To Don Heffington, will be released featuring covers of his original songs. The project is a collaboration between his former colleagues Sheldon Gomberg and Sebastian Steinberg.
The album showcases renditions of Heffington’s compositions, including works co-written with Tom Waits and Allen Ginsburg. Notably, it features tracks he recorded himself, such as a cover of Porter Wagoner’s “Tonight’s I’ll Go Down Swingin’” and a poignant duet of Van Morrison’s “Irish Heartbeat” with his daughter Laura.
Contributors to Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’ include prominent artists like Fiona Apple, Victoria Williams, Dave Alvin, John C. Reilly, the Watkins Family Hour, Inara George, and Buddy Miller, among others. The album serves as a fundraiser for the Sweet Relief Musicians’ Fund. Noteworthy is the leading single, Jackson Browne’s interpretation of “Everywhere I Look,” a song based on a demo gifted by Heffington to Browne.
Jackson Browne fondly recalls his interactions with Don Heffington, noting his musical prowess and unique songwriting style. Browne reflects on their collaborations and the profound impact Heffington had on him and the music community.
Explore Jackson Browne’s rendition of “Everywhere I Look” and the full tracklist of Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’ below.
TRACKLIST:
01 Watkins Family Hour – “Kiss The Moon Goodbye”
02 Buddy Miller – “Fired Again”
03 Dave Albin – “Avenue C”
04 The Boltcutters – “Crablice & Quaaludes”
05 Eleni Mandell – “Generator”
06 Tony Gilkyson – “Seeds On Hard Ground”
07 Jackson Browne – “Everywhere I Look”
08 MOMO – “The Heffington Appreciation Society” (Feat. Jim Keltner)
09 Sarah Kramer with Jorge Calderón & Van Dyke Parks – “Heffington Abstract”
10 John C. Reilly – “Live Slow Die Old”
11 Fiona Apple – “Lately”
12 Don Heffington – “Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’”
13 Victoria Williams – “Although The Lord”
14 Marvin Etzioni – “Flying Over Flagstaff”
15 Tom Brousseau – “Sorry About The Matter”
16 Willie Watson – “Time To Drink Whiskey”
17 Peter Case – “New Rising Sun”
18 Ramsay Midwood – “That’s Hollywood”
19 Inara George – “Put A Kiss And A Tear In Yr. Lette”
20 Laura & Don Heffington – “Irish Heartbeat”
Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’: A Tribute To Don Heffington releases on 10/18 via Nine Mile Records/Clover Music Group.
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