Kevin Bronson on November 15th, 2013

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The notion that the Everly Brothers – going on six decades they pioneered the use of vocal harmonies in rock ’n’ roll – would be getting an explicit salute from A-list pop stars is about as outlandish as the idea of Billie Joe Armstrong singing country songs. But heavens to Singing Cowboys, here’s the Green Day bad boy, teaming up with fellow Grammy winner Norah Jones on the tribute album “Foreverly.” The Armstrong/Jones collaboration is inspired by the Everlys’ 1958 album “Songs Our Daddy Taught Us,” which at the time was something of a groundbreaking release. Acknowledged influencers of later rock pioneers such as the Beach Boys, the Beatles and Byrds, Don and Phil Everly had busted onto the pop charts  in 1957 and ’58 with hits such as “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie” and “All I Have to Do Is Dream.” Then, in late ’58, the Everlys had the seeming audacity to tip their caps to their own roots by releasing “Songs,” a collection of traditionals and tunes penned by a host of country greats. The remake seems pretty faithful, except, of course, for the vocals being of the boy/girl variety rather than boy/boy. “Foreverly” was recorded in NYC with bassist Tim Luntzel, drummer Dan Rieser, fidler Charlie Burnham and pedal steel player Johnny Lam, with Armstrong on guitar and Jones on piano. The album comes out digitally Nov. 25 (a vinyl/lithograph edition comes Jan. 21, a cassette on Dec. 10) – you’re going to want to buy yourself a copy, and maybe burn one for grandpa.

||| Stream: “Silver Haired Daddy of Mine”

Photo by Marina Chavez