Jake Xerxes Fussell Shares Tender Cover Of Arthur Russell’s ‘Close My Eyes’

Guitarist Jake Xerxes Fussell shared a recording of his cover of Arthur Russell’s “Close My Eyes.” The song has been part of Fussell’s recent live setlists.

“Close My Eyes” appeared on the posthumous Arthur Russell compilation album, Love Is Overtaking Me, which was released in 2008. Russell was an influential experimental musician active in New York City especially in the 1970s and 1980s. Russell, who died in 1992 at age 40, blended elements of classical, disco, folk, and avant-garde music in his eclectic compositions.

Fussell’s recording of “Close My Eyes” sees his acoustic guitar joined by Ben Whiteley on upright bass and James Elkington on harmonica and lap steel guitar. The track was recorded with engineer/mixer Caleb Wright at Sylvan Esso’s Betty’s recording facility near Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Fussell shared the statement below with his recording of “Close My Eyes”:

“I recently recorded a version of Arthur Russell’s ‘Close My Eyes’ – a song that I’ve been playing out and about at shows the past couple of years.

“Like many of us record listeners I became enchanted with Arthur Russell’s posthumously released home, demo and archival recordings a number of years ago. I love playing old country waltzes, so naturally this one stuck with me and kept finding its way into my live set over and over again. Somebody at a bar in Cleveland said ‘You should record that one’ so I did. I hope you enjoy it.”

Last year, Fussell released his fifth album, When I’m Called, via Fat Possum. Listen to Jake Xerxes Fussell’s cover of Arthur Russell’s “Close My Eyes” below: