Back to music for the latest blog. ‘Rona has restricted travelling and any form of social life. Pat and I went for a few beers in the Crown last Saturday for the first time since February, the first time we’ve been anywhere locally since ‘Rona breezed into town. It was great to get back in there and it felt safe and well organised. I had a few beers in Ulverston a couple of weeks ago which was really good but otherwise life outside of work has been spent listening to music and drinking at home. Sounds sad but it’s been great to indulge myself in my lifelong love affair with music (and alcohol!)
I have been watching political developments in the USA with great interest. Biden has a comfortable lead over the Don in polls and seems to me to have picked a great running mate in Kamala Harris. Don will fight dirty though. Biden’s age will be relentlessly riffed upon coupled with his ‘socialist’ agenda. More worryingly, if the rate of Covid infections and related deaths start to plateau and reduce then Don will claim credit. He will argue that doing fuck all was the right strategy all along. The US economy will start to recover and the high levels of unemployment will fall.
The American people will choose who they want as President. Quite rightly, they will ignore the opinions of non-Americans. For the sake of world peace and stability I hope they choose wisely………………….Go Joe!!!
Back to music. This blog celebrates Cover versions. Dictionary.com defines Cover version as: noun. a recording or performance of a song by a singer, instrumentalist, or group other than the original performer or composer.
I have picked some of my favourite cover versions. I have chosen covers that are more than plain copies, rather I think they all add something fresh to the originals. Please check them out, you won’t regret it, believe me.
Man who sold the world – Nirvana. Original by David Bowie
Nirvana covered this David Bowie song on their MTV Unplugged set. History shows that the emotional fragility in Kurt Cobain’s voice was uncomfortably real. Six months after recording this show Kurt Cobain took his own life. Another member of music’s ’27 club’.
Lulu (yes, Lulu) did a great version of this song but the acoustic treatment by Nirvana really works.
Mack the knife – Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin – original by Kurt Weil
Mack the knife is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 music drama The Threepenny Opera (German: Die Dreigroschenoper). The song has become a popular standard recorded by many artists, including a US and UK number one hit for Bobby Darin in 1959. Robbie Williams covered this great song on his Swing when you’re winning album in 2001. I know someone who thinks Mr Williams’ is the definitive version. Oh how wrong that is. Frank Sinatra absolutely nails it!!! Even though this is a duet with the great Dean Martin it’s all about Frank. You appreciate what a fantastic singer Frank was. The big band swings like a mother and I can’t help but sing along (badly). My Grandma loved Sinatra singing My Way; My Mam loved Frank singing Winchester Cathedral. I share their love of Frank Sinatra but it’s his version of Mack the knife that does it for me.
Are you experienced – Patti Smith – Original by Jimi Hendrix
I’m sure you’ll agree that few people can carry off a Jimi Hendrix cover that comes anywhere near to the original. After all, Hendrix is universally regarded as the best Rock guitarist who ever lived so it is almost impossible to beat the original. Patti Smith succeeds because her cover is about the song NOT the guitar playing. This is a refreshing approach which she pulls off with considerable aplomb. Patti Smith started her artistic life as a poet and her version of Are you experienced celebrates one of Jimi Hendrix’s best lyrics. This track comes from Twelve, an album of covers by Patti Smith. The album was universally panned by critics but this track should convince you to give it a go. Every song does something different to the original and a good few of them succeed.
Gin ’n’ juice – The Gourds – Original by Snoop Doggy Dogg
Now we really get going. The Gourds are an American alternative country band that formed in Austin, Texas. The thought of a Country music band covering a Hip Hop classic is totally ridiculous yet by god this works! Hayseed Dixie have made a career out of wacky, offbeat covers but, good as they are, nothing they have recorded comes close to this masterpiece. The Gourds are not even known for cover versions; their own material is great in its own right.
I love Snoop Doggy Dogg, his laid back, laconic drawl hits the spot for me. I can’t condone the decidedly un-PC lyrics but I’m sure Snoop would agree the Gourds nailed it with their version.
Killing me softly – The Fugees – Original by Roberta Flack
Time to go in the opposite direction with a Hip Hop version of a classic song. This was the Fugees breakthrough hit and it showcased the vocal talents of Lauryn Hill. Lauryn Hill seems to be a somewhat troubled hombre. After the Fugees split she recorded the magnificent Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album but since then there has been little output. Renowned for tardiness that shames Axl Rose, La Hill has developed a reputation as a diva to rival Mariah Carey. I prefer to focus on this brilliant version of a beautiful song, completely different to but totally complimentary to Roberta Flack’s original.
Tempted – Richard Thompson – Original by Squeeze
Chris Difford and Glen Tilbrook of Squeeze are one of England’s finest song writing duos. Lennon and McCartney and Jagger/Richards roll off the tongue, both duos’s rightfully revered worldwide. Difford and Tilbrook are not far behind in all but renown. Tempted is one of their finest songs. A bittersweet tale of an extra-marital affair that recalls the brilliance of Ray Davies at his best. Richard Thompson recorded his version on his 1000 years of popular music album. The album was originally conceived after Richard Thompson, along with many other artists, was asked by Playboy magazine to nominate his choice of the best songs of the last 1000 years. He took them exactly at their word and served up a list that included the oldest-known English-language songs, a medieval Italian dance tune and various other folk songs alongside slightly more contemporary fare. Tempted was a great choice and Thompson’s version is different but perfectly complimentary. He manages to beautifully capture the aching emotion of the song suggesting he has been there himself??
Life is Life – Laibach – Original by Opus
Back to the quirky! From Wikipedia:
Laibach (German pronunciation: [ˈlaɪbax]) is a Slovenian avant-garde music group associated with the industrial, martial and neo-classical genres. Formed in the mining town of Trbovlje (at the time in Yugoslavia) in 1980, Laibach represents the musical wing of the Neue Slowenische Kunst (NSK) collective, a group which Laibach helped found in 1984. “Laibach” is the German historical name for the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, itself an oblique reference to the Nazi occupation of Slovenia in World War II.
From the early days, the band was subject to controversies and bans due to their elaborate use of iconography with ambiguously repugnant parodies and pastiches of elements from totalitarianism, nationalism and militarism, a concept they have preserved throughout their career.
Hopefully you got through that! This track is awesome. After the military style trumpet intro the song starts, conjuring dystopian visions of oppressive marching, jackbooted soldiers. The deep, growled vocals are in complete contrast to the original.
Some of you won’t like this at all, some will find it disturbing, even scary. Keep an open mind, it’s only music after all. After Slovenia became independent in 1991, Laibach’s status in the country has turned from rejection to promotion into a national cultural icon, which included performances with the Slovenian symphony orchestra.
I can pay no finer compliment than vowing that this is much, much better than the original.
Working in a coal mine – Devo – Original by Lee Dorsey
Another quirky cover version. Devo hail from Akron, Ohio, a city that spawned a number of excellent bands in the seventies (Chrissie Hynde hails from Akron). The name Devo comes from the concept of “de-evolution” and the band’s related idea that instead of continuing to evolve, mankind has actually begun to regress, as evidenced by the dysfunction and herd mentality of American society.
Devo are probably better known for their offbeat cover of the Stones’ Satisfaction however I prefer their version of this Lee Dorsey classic.
Dead Flowers – Townes Van Zandt – Original by the Rolling Stones
Speaking of Stones’ covers this is the daddy!
I love Townes Van Zandt. A troubled genius who never received the mainstream success he so richly deserved. Townes was revered by critics and fellow musicians alike but this recognition never translated into sales. This cover of a Rolling Stones song first appeared on the soundtrack of the Coen brothers magnificent film ‘The Big Lebowski’. Enough praise has been deservedly lavished on the film but I want to celebrate the brilliance of Townes’ version of this song from the Stones Sticky Fingers album. The Stones original is a country music styled rockabilly song. Townes’ acoustic version showcases the depraved, junkie chic lyrics. It’s easy to think that Townes Van Zandt wrote this song himself, surely the marque of a good cover version.
Marie – Willie Nelson – Original by Townes Van Zandt
Townes wrote many sad songs but none more tragic or relevant than this truly heart-breaking story of a doomed love affair between two homeless people. You only need to watch or read the news to appreciate that the devastation wreaked by Covid-19 extends beyond health. World economies are ill-prepared for the impact of widely predicted pandemics. High levels of unemployment will cause a huge increase in homelessness. If you look at England and America, Right wing survival of the fittest thinking is sadly prevalent. How I hate people turning their noses up at and looking the other way from homeless people. How I hate hearing people say that they are actually just scammers who are actually well off and begging to supplement their already comfortable lifestyle. HORSESHIT!!! If you think this is true then shame on you. How many people did you go to school with whose ambition was to be homeless?
Sermon over (for now). Willie Nelson’s version is not as good as Townes’s own but you can tell he shares the sentiment. They actually do a great duet of this song. Please listen to these truly tragic lyrics and appreciate that this is the new normal.
This flight tonight – Nazareth – Original by Joni Mitchell
This is a cover version that shouldn’t work. A Glaswegian hard rock band fronted by a gravel voiced singer covering a song from Joni Mitchell’s classic album Blue. Blue is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Exploring the various facets of relationships from infatuation on “A Case of You” to insecurity on “This Flight Tonight“, the songs feature simple accompaniments on piano, guitar and Appalachian dulcimer. Blue is generally regarded by music critics as one of the greatest albums of all time; the way Mitchell’s songwriting, compositions and voice all work together are frequent areas of praise.
Amazingly Nazareth’s version really works. The chugging riff from Manny Charlton allows Dan McAfferty to give one of his finest vocal performances. Nazareth also do a great cover of Leon Russell’s Alcatraz.
Joan of Arc – Jennifer Warnes – Original by Leonard Cohen
Jennifer Warnes was a backing singer, vocal arranger and guest vocalist on Leonard Cohen albums and tours from the early seventies through the nineties and up to his Old Ways album in 2012. In 1987 she recorded an album of Leonard Cohen covers, Famous Blue Raincoat. This version of Joan of Arc comes from that album and is a duet with Cohen himself. Jennifer Warnes is best known for her duet with Joe Cocker on Up where we belong from the soundtrack of Officer and a Gentleman but, for me, this duet is much better. A sad song that somehow manages to uplift the soul.
All along the watchtower – Jimi Hendrix – Original by Bob Dylan
This is the most faithful to the original cover version I have chosen. Hendrix and Dylan both possess voices that can be described as acquired tastes. What sets this version apart is unsurprisingly Hendrix’s guitar playing. There is no point in me trying to describe Jimi’s brilliance; it speaks for itself n’est-ce pas?
Slave driver – Songs of our native daughters – Original by Bob Marley and the Wailers
Bob Marley is surely one of the most difficult artists to cover. His distinctive voice and the Wailers sympathetic backing are surely one of the world’s most distinctive combinations. Songs of our native daughters are kindred banjo players Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell. Together they confront sanitized views about America’s history of slavery, racism, and misogyny from a powerful, black female perspective. The Banjo’s they play are of the traditional African American design which sound much less trebly than the type heard on the Deliverance soundtrack
This cover injects Marley’s original with equal emotion from a different perspective. Very powerful.
Pocahontas – Gillian Welch – Original by Neil Young
Another song that paints American history in an unfavourable light. This could apply equally to many so called developed nations including Great Britain. The story of Pocahontas has been somewhat sanitised by the Disney cartoon of the same name. The truth is inevitably darker as is described on this great song by Neil Young. Gillian Welch does a fantastic version of this classic song. Please preserve with this video clip as Gillian and her partner David Rawlins arse about for two minutes before getting started. Believe me it’s worth the wait. Gillian’s version is better than the original.
After the gold rush – Prelude –Original by Neil Young
Another Neil Young cover, this version by Prelude was the first version I heard of this brilliant song. The song appears to have a strong environmentalist theme on first listen but the song takes listeners from mediaeval times through to a vision of the future in three verses.Many artists have covered this great song including Thom Yorke, Allison Krauss, Patti Smith and Dolly Parton. The USP of the Prelude version is that it is sung acapella. The video clip below shows the band performing After the Gold rush in 2017. They first released their cover in 1973.
The Singer – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Original by Johnny Cash
This track is taken from Nick Cave’s covers album Kicking against the pricks. One measure of a good cover version is when the performer truly makes the song their own. Nick Cave manages this with aplomb on the Singer. This song is perfectly suited to Caves’s deep sonorous voice. It was only fairly recently that I heard Johnny Cash’ original version and great though it is I think Nick Cave nailed it with his.
I started with a cover of a David Bowie song and finish with one by his old friend Lou Reed. Sweet Jane first appeared on the Velvet Underground’s Loaded album. It has since featured on several Velvet Underground live albums and also on Reed’s own Rock’n’Roll Animal album. Mott the Hoople recorded a great cover version on their All the young dudes album (another Bowie connection). The song remained a staple of Lou Reed live sets throughout his career.
My chosen cover version is by Canadian band Cowboy Junkies (great name n’est-ce pas?). This version hails from The Trinity Session by Cowboy Junkies, released in 1988. The music was recorded inside Toronto’s Church of the Holy Trinity on November 27, 1987, with the band circled around a single microphone. This a truly great album that is well worth checking out. Margo Timmins vocals on this chilled out version are spine tingling. A great way to finish.
I hope my choices inspire you to give them a listen and to compile a list of your own favourite cover versions. As I finish typing I’m conscious that there are no Beatles or Chuck Berry covers and there are many brilliant ones to choose from. I’m already slightly regretting not including Johnny Winters incendiary version of Mick and Keef’s Jumping Jack Flash. I’m sure as I hit the publish button I’ll be horrified by the classics I have forgotten to include. I really enjoyed writing this blog although I’m conscious that I am avoiding writing about my favourite albums of all time. The mere thought of compiling a list fills me with dread and I know that it will only be valid for the time it takes to type it. Since about a month after ‘Rona kicked in I have logged every album I have listened to. I hit the 200 mark last night (Ice cream for Crow by Captain Beefheart). Not all of them can make my top 20 so boiling it down will be torture!
September sees another visit to my beloved Liverpool and a week in West Yorkshire when I plan to visit Hebden Bridge at long last. Hopefully I will amass enough stories and experiences for another travel blog thus putting off writing that ‘my favourite albums’ blog a little longer.
I wrote this blog drinking Jubilee Stout from Kirkby Lonsdale brewery. Great beer at a commendable 5.5%abv.