Today, the Neal Casal Music Foundation has shared a previously unreleased track, written and recorded by the late musician in 1998. The new song, dubbed “Cora Jones,” was scribed as a tribute to a rural-Wisconsin 12-year old, whose premature demise ached the singer and inspired the number.
According to a press release, in the early 1990s, Casal actively engaged in outdoor activities with his close friends Eric and Libby McDonald near their home in Wisconsin. Tragedy struck the local community when Jones, a pre-teen from the area, was kidnapped and murdered. Affected by the weight of the tragedy, Casal penned “Cora Jones" in the young girl's honor.
The song sees Casal adapt his vocal melody to imitate the styling of one of his favorite songs, The Byrds’ rendition of Woody Guthrie’s depression-era ballad, “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos.” "Cora Jones" was then recorded at Studio City in Van Nuys, Calif., produced by Jim Scott, and featured Greg Leisz on bass and pedal steel, Don Heffington on drums, and John Ginty on piano.
“Cora Jones” came to fruition during the Christmas season and features the tune of “Silent Night” on the outro. Moreover, the track also includes contributions from opera singer, Juliana Gondek, who sang over the melody and added her harmonization to the track.
Listen to “Cora Jones” now.
