Almanac Music: Random Thoughts on Covers

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed the recent articles by Almanackers Ian Wilson and Karl Dubravs (Moondance) on the subject of cover versions. Insightful, informative and entertaining. Some I knew of. Many, particularly some of the Dylan covers I learned of for the first time.

 

There are so many covers.

 

Many, many have been white rock and pop artists covering originals of black artists from the blues, soul or rhythm and blues scene. Different from the original but in tune with the sounds of the time.

 

The Beatles covers took me to Barrett Strong (‘Money’) and the music of Arthur Alexander (‘Anna’, and to ‘You Better Move On’, ‘Go Home Girl’)
Apparently Bobby Womack wasn’t happy when he heard that an English group wanted to record a version of his song, ‘It’s All Over Now’. Then the royalties arrived.

 

American artist Bessie Banks recorded ‘Go Now’ in 1964. A year later it became the first hit record for the English group The Moody Blues. Bessie who?

 

Elvis performed a version of the Chuck Willis original ‘Feel So Bad’ that was a dead set copy rather than a cover.
And so on.

 

Somewhere I have a cassette tape, recorded many moons ago, with twenty plus different versions of ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ – Big Joe Williams to Lightning Hopkins to Muddy Waters to Them to AC/DC and beyond. The original a compelling blues plea, the version by Them a driving rocker with a great mix of Van’s high energy vocals, guitar riffs, thumping bass and wailing harmonica.

 

Cover versions are of interest from several points of view. Is it any good? What is the history of the original song? How does the musical style of the cover compare with the style of the original?

 

The brilliant Jimi Hendrix version of ‘All Along The Watchtower’, mentioned by Ian, is probably the ultimate cover. It is so different from the original and redefines the song.

 

As well as the cover of Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold The World’, also mentioned by Ian, Nirvana Unplugged in New York contains a cover of Leadbelly’s ‘Black Girl (Where Did You Sleep Last Night)’. Kurt Cobain talks about Leadbelly’s guitar indicating that he is well in touch with where the song came from. Unlike the original, however, his 1993 version declines the use the words, ‘Black Girl’ and he sings ‘My Girl’ instead. No such qualms for Long John Baldry in his terrific 1971 version where his singing is supplemented by the powerful voice of Maggie Bell.

 

The Ken Burns Jazz documentary features the original ‘Death Letter Blues’ by Son House alongside an up-to-date version from Cassandra Wilson done on a jazz style – both riveting.

 

Writing an appreciation of Dylan’s ‘When I Paint My Masterpiece’ on his Lexicon of Song website, Herb Bowie quotes Dylan from his book Chronicles:

Creativity has much to do with experience, observation and imagination, and if any one of those key elements is missing, it doesn’t work.

 

This statement can apply as much to the cover artist as it does to the original. Three versions of ‘When I Paint My Masterpiece’ support this. The original with Dylan on piano places total focus on the lyrics and Dylan’s voice. The version from The Band added their swirling country instrumentation with that wonderful accordian while the Chris Whitley/Jeff Lang rendition is a brilliant blues with dissonant guitar and Whitley’s at times breathless vocals.

 

And so it goes.

 

On the ABC RN Music Show last week, Andrew Ford hosted a discussion comparing Neil Young’s ‘Heart of Gold’ with seven cover versions from artists as diverse as Johnny Cash, Boney M and Ondara. The latter is a relative newcomer originally from Kenya, now resident in the United States. His ethereal version works brilliantly because it is so different.

 

And to slightly digress.

 

From early times, many artists on the Australian music scene have performed covers. Many have gained the confidence and used their creativity to compose and perform their own material. Some have achieved fame. Many have gained notoriety no wider than their own backyard.

 

The Canberra music scene was similar to that of any other capital. Local music from the 50s to the 70s is well documented in a magnificent book Rock ‘N’ Roll Comes To Canberra Next Thursday Night by local identity and Hank B Marvin guitar exponent Val Starr.
The local group Saga do not appear in Val’s book as their moment in the sun occurred a little later in 1978 when they produced the hit single, ‘Cover Of The Canberra Times’, a parody cover of Dr Hook’s ‘Cover Of The Rolling Stone’.

 

A cover of a song about a cover.

 

In the interests of rock and roll history you can listen to the song here.

 

 

 

 

To read more by Peter Crossing click here.

 

 

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