A new celebration of Tom Waits’ songwriting legacy is taking shape — and it reads like a who’s who of modern music legends.
On May 29, 2026, an expansive covers compilation titled Where the Willow and the Dogwood Grow will be released, bringing together 19 reinterpretations of songs written by Tom Waits and his long‑time creative partner Kathleen Brennan. The project was announced by Ace Records, with Waits and Brennan hand‑picking many of the artists and performances featured on the album.
Far from a standard tribute record, the compilation spans decades of music and stylistic approaches, placing classic Waits material in new contexts while honoring the unique qualities that have made his songs so influential.
At the top of the tracklist is a live performance of “Jersey Girl” by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, recorded at the Meadowlands Arena in 1981 — a rendition that reflects Springsteen’s deep emotional connection to the song.
The collection doesn’t stop there. It includes:
- “Down There by the Train” by Johnny Cash, a haunting take by one of country music’s most revered voices;
- “Picture in a Frame” by Willie Nelson, showcasing his signature vocal warmth;
- The punk‑inflected Ramones cover of “I Don’t Want to Grow Up”;
- Soulful interpretations from artists like Norah Jones, Bettye LaVette, Solomon Burke, and others;
- Roots and blues expressions from groups such as Los Lobos and The Blind Boys of Alabama;
- And a graceful closing with **Joan Baez’s version of “Day After Tomorrow.”
This breadth of performers underscores the remarkable versatility of Waits’ catalog — from heartland rock and country to jazz‑tinged vocalists, punk pioneers, and soul voices — each bringing their own artistic identity to songs originally shaped by Waits’ gravelly voice and Brennan’s lyrical depth.
The album’s sequencing was carefully considered by Waits and Brennan, arranging tracks chronologically to trace the evolution of this influential body of work; it opens with Springsteen’s 1981 “Jersey Girl” and progresses through versions that span decades of reinterpretation and stylistic diversity.
In addition to the music itself, Where the Willow and the Dogwood Grow will include extensive sleeve notes with track‑by‑track commentary, providing listeners with insight into the original songs and the particularities of each cover recording.
The project also highlights the often‑underappreciated role of Kathleen Brennan in Waits’ career. As collaborator, producer, and creative partner, Brennan has been credited by Waits — and reflected in the inclusion choices for this compilation — as a key influence on much of his experimental direction in songwriting and recording.
Where the Willow and the Dogwood Grow arrives amid a broader trend of celebrations and retrospectives honoring seminal songwriters, yet it stands out for its depth of artistic contribution and the direct involvement of Waits and Brennan in shaping the tribute.
Whether it’s Springsteen’s live warmth, Cash’s gravitas, Nelson’s country soul, or the punk edge of the Ramones, this compilation promises to offer both longtime fans and newcomers a rich, layered journey through the legacy of one of music’s most singular voices — interpreted through some of its most revered performers.
