The Track Star Podcast Testing Lucinda Williams’ Music Knowledge
Feb 4, 2026
Lucinda Williams, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter known for blending country, rock, blues and folk, chats about the music that shaped her. She recounts discovering Dylan and Delta blues, reacts to a cover of Greenville, and explores Muscle Shoals soul, Brill Building pop, and the instincts behind her songwriting.
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Reaction To Angel Olsen Cover
- Lucinda Williams hears Angel Olsen's cover of her song "Greenville" for the first time and is deeply moved.
- She says it's an honor and compares Angel's voice to Emmylou Harris while praising the rendition as gorgeous.
First Encounter With Bob Dylan
- Lucinda discovered Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited at age 12 when her father's student brought the album over.
- She played it immediately and says it spoke to her even though she didn't understand all the words.
Learning Songs From Songbooks
- Lucinda began guitar lessons at 12 and learned songs from songbooks to master melodies and chords.
- She practiced obsessively in her room, building repertoire by learning from albums and their songbooks.
