Last June Chris Knox, 57 years old, suffered a severe stroke that has affected speech, memory and mobility of the right side and from which he is still recovering.
In honor of Knox, which apart from music is also a cartoonist and film critic, has been prepared a tribute album with the fitting title 'Stroke' and with the participation of important names of the indie scene, both from New Zealand and beyond, like Will Oldham, Yo La Tengo, Mountain Goats, AC Newman, Lambchop, Stephin Merritt, Jay Reatard, Lou Barlow, Chills and Bats covering his songs.
The double CD is released in New Zealand on the 16th of November and the U.S. in February 2010 by Merge.
From the official site of Knox - which includes a blog so friends of his music can monitor the progress of the recovery - was announced the tracklist of 'Stroke' where anyone who wants can hear excerpts from the songs.
CD1 (Yellow Disc):
01 Jay Reatard: "Pull Down the Shades"
02 The Checks: "Rebel"
03 The Bleeding Allstars : "Ain't It Nice"
04 Peter Gutteridge: "Don't Catch Fire"
05 The Chills: "Luck or Loveliness"
06 David Kilgour: "Nothing's Going to Happen"
07 The Crying Wolfs: "All My Hollowness to You"
08 Stephin Merritt: "Beauty"
09 Portastatic: "Nostalgia's No Excuse"
10 The Mint Chicks: "Crush"
11 Jay & ; Sam Clarkson: "I've Left Memories Behind"
12 Sky Green Leopards: "Burning Blue"
13 Shayne Carter: "The Slide"
14 Pumice: "Grand Mal"
15 Hamish Kilgour: "Knoxed Out" - bonus track
CD2 (Black Disc):
01 Boh Runga: "Not Given Lightly"
02 Red & Zeke ft. Bill Doss and Neil Cleary: "Bodies"
03 Bill Callahan: "Lapse"
04 Genghis Smith: "Growth Spurt"
05 Yo La Tengo: "Coloured"
06 AC Newman: "Dunno Much About Life But I Know How to Breathe"
07 Alec Bathgate: "Glide"
08 Don McGlashan: "Inside Story
10 Lambchop:" What Goes Up "
11 The Mountain Goats: "Brave"
12 The Tokey Tones (and Friends): "Round These Walls"
13 The Bats: "Just Do It"
14 Will Oldham: "My Only Friend"
15 The Finn Family: "It's Love"
16 Jordan Luck: "Becoming Something Other"
17 The Verlaines: "Driftwood"
18 Lou Barlow: "Song of the Tall Poppy"
19 The Nothing: "Napping in Lapland" - bonus track
20 Tall Dwarfs: "Sunday Song" - bonus track
Listen to the songs of 'Stroke' and read about the progress of Chris Knox here. We wish him a speedy and full recovery.
Chris Knox - Not Given Lightly