“Land’s End” is an original tune by Tim O’Brien, the singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who first drew wide notice as a founding member of the band Hot Rize. He recorded it on his solo debut album, “Hard Year Blues,” in the early-to-mid 1980s.
The tune is an upbeat, modal piece in 3/4 time, though O’Brien plays it faster than a true waltz. Its lilt and modal color give it an Irish flavor, in keeping with O’Brien’s longstanding interest in the meeting of Celtic and bluegrass music, and it has since circulated as a session tune.
This recording features O’Brien himself, performing his own tune on “Hard Year Blues.”