Today, Nine Mile Records and Clover Music Group have released Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’: A Tribute to Don Heffington, a musical salute to the late prolific drummer and singer-songwriter.

The new tribute album features performances of Heffington originals from collaborators and friends including Fiona Apple, Jackson Browne, John C. Reilly, Watkins Family Hour, Dave Alvin, Buddy Miller and more.

Proceeds from Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’ will benefit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a charity that helps musicians and industry members in need of all-around aid.

To date, Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’ has garnered praise from Variety, Stereogum, BrooklynVegan and more. Produced by Sheldon Gomberg (Ben Harper, Rickie Lee Jones) and Sebastian Steinberg (Fiona Apple, Iron & Wine), highlights from the album include Jackson Browne’s melancholic take on “Everywhere I Look” and Buddy Miller’s “honky-tonk weeper” (Magnet Magazine) “Fired Again.”

Elsewhere on the record, there are also co-writes with Tom Waits (“Seeds On Hard Ground”) and Allen Ginsberg (“Put a Kiss and a Tear in Yr. Letter”), as well as a triumphant rendition of Porter Wagoner’s “Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’” by Heffington himself.

The album closes with a poignant cover of Van Morrison’s “Irish Heartbeat” by Heffington and his daughter Laura.

First up on this most wondrous collection is the low slung yearn of “Kiss The Moon Goodbye” (by the Watkins Family Hour), the impassioned “Fired Again” (by Buddy Miller), the engaged storytelling that drives “Avenue C” (by Dave Alvin), and then comes the drum-led, psych-folk-rocker “Crablice & Quaaludes” (from The Boltcutters), the organically-hued balladry of “Generator” (by Eleni Mandell), the gentle Americana roll of “Seeds On Hard Ground” (by Tony Gilkyson), before we are brought forth the strident “Everywhere I Look” (by Jackson Browne), the rhythmical jauntiness of “The Heffington Appreciation Society” (from MOMO featuring Jim Keltner), the ragtime-imbibed, bass guitar-fed “Heffington Abstract” (by Sarah Kramer with Jorge Calderón and Van Dyke Parks), and the informative ballad “Live Slow Die Old” (by actor John C. Reilly).

Along next is the gentle-hued, veritably-hushed toned ballad “Lately” (by the brilliant Fiona Apple), the quietly rambunctious title track “Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’” (by Don Heffington), the piano and tambourine-driven “Although the Lord” (by Victoria Williams), and the funky bass, gritty electronic sounds of “Flying Over Flagstaff” (from Marvin Etzioni), and they are in turn followed by the melodically spoken word voice mail (left by a neighbor) “Sorry About the Matter” (by Tom Brousseau), the lonesome ode “Time to Drink Whiskey” (by Willie Watson), the harmonica-edged, solitary piano ballad “New Rising Sun” (from Peter Case), the set rounding out on a rhythmic bounce that flows through the fun “That’s Hollywood” (by Ramsay Midwood), the dutifully harmonized “Put a Kiss and a Tear in Yr. Letter” (by Inara George), closing on the beautiful acoustic ballad “Irish Heartbeat” (from Laura and Don Heffington).

Packing several music lifetimes into a lauded career that spanned decades, Don Heffington was a renowned drummer and versatile musician who first rose to prominence as a co-founding member of the beloved country-rock band Lone Justice, which toured with U2.

In addition to a revered solo career and time as a member of the Watkins Family Hour, Heffington’s production skills made him a sought-after musician over the years. He collaborated with some of the biggest names in music including Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam and many others.

In 2021, Heffington tragically passed at the age of 70 due to complications from leukemia. His death was a significant loss to the music community, with many peers and collaborators expressing their admiration for his talent and mourning his passing. He is remembered not only for his musical contributions but also for his deep knowledge of music history and his generous spirit.

1. “Kiss The Moon Goodbye” – Watkins Family Hour 2. “Fired Again” – Buddy Miller 3. “Avenue C” – Dave Alvin 4. “Crablice & Quaaludes” – The Boltcutters 5. “Generator” – Eleni Mandell 6. “Seeds On Hard Ground” – Tony Gilkyson 7. “Everywhere I Look” – Jackson Browne 8. “The Heffington Appreciation Society” – MOMO feat. Jim Keltner 9. “Heffington Abstract” – Sarah Kramer with Jorge Calderón and Van Dyke Parks 10. “Live Slow Die Old” – John C. Reilly 11. “Lately” – Fiona Apple 12. “Tonight I’ll Go Down Swingin’” – Don Heffington 13. “Although the Lord” – Victoria Williams 14. “Flying Over Flagstaff” – Marvin Etzioni 15. “Sorry About the Matter” – Tom Brousseau 16. “Time to Drink Whiskey” – Willie Watson 17. “New Rising Sun” – Peter Case 18. “That’s Hollywood” – Ramsay Midwood 19. “Put a Kiss and a Tear in Yr. Letter” – Inara George 20. “Irish Heartbeat” – Laura and Don Heffington

Official Purchase Link

www.sweetrelief.org