Review: ‘Imaginational Anthem Vol. XIII: Songs of Bruce Cockburn’ Brings New Life to Time-Tested Tracks

Compiled by indie star James Toth, this collection is the unlikeliest of tribute albums, recasting Cockburn for a younger, hipper audience.

Compiled by indie star James Toth, this collection is the unlikeliest of tribute albums, recasting Cockburn for a younger, hipper audience.

We sat down with Bruce Cockburn to discuss songwriting, creativity, guitars, and his top guitar-playing tips.
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In Bruce Cockburn’s hands, the guitar becomes a true band in a box, delivering powerful grooves, riffs, melodies, harmonized lines, and improvised solos in real time.

Cockburn originally recorded the song in a rock-band setting, flush with electric guitars and synths, but when he stopped by our studio, he stripped the song down to just guitar and voice.

In the six years since Small Source of Comfort, his last album of new songs, Bruce Cockburn has gotten married, settled in San Francisco, become a father for the second time, and started going to church again. That’s a lot,…
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In this special half-hour edition of Acoustic Guitar Sessions, senior editor Marc Greilsamer talks at length with Cockburn about his love of acoustic guitars and the singer-songwriter performs three tunes: the instrumental “Bohemian 3-Step,” “Waiting for a Miracle” and his most famous song, the politically fierce “If I Had a Rocket Launcher.”

In this guitar lesson, Mimi Fox shows how a simple melody can open the door to myriad musical possibilities.

This special re-release of our first-ever episode includes additional stories and music.
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Lowering your first and sixth strings from E to D opens up enticing new possibilities on both the low and high ends of the guitar.

Renowned Canadian luthier Linda Manzer made the "Sunflower Guitar" to raise funds to aid the Ukrainian people.