Track Review: Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones, “Long Time Gone”

billiejoe and norah
Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones
“Long Time Gone”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Videos by American Songwriter

At first glance, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones don’t make the most logical pairing. But then again, Jones has recorded with the likes of Faith No More/Mr. Bungle frontman Mike Patton, so it wouldn’t be the first time the singer-songwriter has found an unconventional musical partner. That being said, Armstrong and Jones are simply marvelous together. On “Long Time Gone,” the first track to be released from Foreverly, an album inspired by The Everly Brothers’ Songs Our Daddy Taught Us, the duo adopts the fraternal performers’ close harmony style and ‘50s-era country arrangements. The production is crisper and benefits from modern technology, but aside from that, Jones and Armstrong keep to a simple, classic sound, which they pull off without a hitch. Armstrong in particular is the standout here, showing off his range with a glorious vocal performance that his work with Green Day rarely even hinted at. A song as good as “Long Time Gone” is hard to ruin, but the right take — like this one — can certainly revive it.

14 responses to “Track Review: Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones, “Long Time Gone””

  1. auramac

    Great recording. He really surprised me!

  2. Bill Knell

    That’s fantastic.

  3. Carla J Taylor

    ***** I give this 5 out of 5 Stars!

  4. So sweet. Norah can do no wrong.

  5. Rick Oberuc

    They are both excellent! Hope to hear more collaborations from these 2. They could take it anywhere and it would sound great.

  6. david carlson

    the Civil Wars anyone? brooding cover art, great harmonies?

  7. Joe Bill Loudermilk

    It’s about time that sound came back.

  8. Ken Jameson

    Reminiscent of Don & Phil …

  9. Sonny Bayes

    Very cool duet, their voices blend and compliment nicely. Nice recording.

  10. Jodi Stettenbenz

    surprisingly beautiful

  11. Thom Wolke

    Nice to see Norah and Billie Joe getting their ‘inspiration’ from the more fabulous album by NYC based “The Chapin Sisters” (Harry’s nieces) and their album released early this year – “A Date With the Everly Brothers”. Here’s an NPR piece on that stellar project: http://www.npr.org/2013/04/27/179285538/singing-sisters-reconsider-the-everly-brothers

  12. Nametag Scott

    wow this kicks ass. who knew a punker could sound so country!

  13. Jimmy James Page

    Tres cool.

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