Tom Russell is a master story-teller, his songs have been recorded by such icons as Johnny Cash and Dave Van Ronk among others. On Mesabi, his new album (number 26!) corrals some of the most acclaimed singersongwriters most compelling tales to date and it ranks amongst his best work ever. For Mesabi, Russell invited along several prominent friends to assist him, among them Lucinda Williams, Van Dyke Parks, Sir Douglas Quintent keyboardist Augie Meyers and Calexico who previously collaborated with Russell on 2009's Blood and Candle Smoke.