Hey folks--
These two covers were a long time in coming and, in all truth, they're a long way from sufficient. As with Neil Young on the last post, what can I say about the Band and the crater-sized impression they left on me? I've ripped SO MUCH off ALL of those guys that I barely know where to start. I guess the only exception maybe is Garth Hudson on the organ, because he inhabits such another universe that I can barely wrap my head around how good he is. But rarely a day passes when I'm not trying to pull off some Band harmonies, or lift something off Robbie Robertson's stinging guitar, Richard Manual's in-the-pocket piano, Rick Danko's thumping and off-kilter bass and, first and foremost, Levon Helm's drums.
Levon. Of them all he was/ is/ will be The Man, for his drumming, singing, occasional mandolin picking and mostly for his genuine Levon-ness. I was sad to hear about Richard's suicide back in my first year at JHU in '86 and Rick's slow-motion self-induced death over ten years ago, but learning of Levon's recurrent illness and then his death last spring was an absolute punch in the gut. I thought it would barely make a wider ripple, but was amazed to hear the outsized response that his loss engendered from all corners of the media, mainstream and other wise. It really renewed my faith in people, this expression of so much gratitude and respect and remembrance and sorrow and joy. So I set my mind on quickly posting a few covers and now, nine months on, here they are. And neither of them primarily sung by Levon. Go figure!
I hesitated to even try recording "It Makes No Difference" on account of just what the song means to me. It's late-era Band (1975), by which time the SoCal rock star life had splintered them and left them often musically scattershot, sterile and flabby. But they could still bring it, both live and in the studio--- in this case the stately progression and the broken narrator accompanied by the instantly recognizable harmonies and what are basically perfect guitar and soprano sax solos. It might be Rick's best vocal performance. I guess some would regard it as saccharine but it always seemed to me that there was really something at stake for the guy in the song. Stops me in my tracks every time. I've included both "full" and "bare bones" versions below.
"Katie's Been Gone" is lighter fare, dating (aside from maybe some overdubs) back to the 1967 Saugerties "Basement Tapes" days of Dylan and the Hawks/ the Band, with a fantastic, lovelorn vocal by Richard Manuel. It tells a great story. The very Band-y half-time/ minor and double-time/ major parts just about tell the tale on their own, with the fancy little bridge section adding a nice something.
jk
It Makes No Difference (full): https://www.box.com/s/wb5afi9hd9vc3fpgy7gq
Katie's Been Gone: https://www.box.com/s/xlsacqxr6e1m5dobny5a
Monday, January 21, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Neil Young via Stackpole-Keating: "Are You Ready for the County?" b/w "Cortez the Killer"
Here's the last of the Stackpole-Keating summer '11 sessions for you. Just how in the hell has it taken so long for me/ us to get some more Neil up on the site, since "Mr. Soul" last year? Absolutely unbelievable, I tell ya, for that man is IT! Always, always, always on our list, that ornery Neil!
Going way back, "Down by the River" and "Cowgirl in the Sand" were two of the first songs we used to jam out on back in '85 or so, Stack and Dillo and me down in the basement, while my parents presumably closed the door and turned up the volume on the TV, slipped on some ear protectors (as my dad was known to do) or maybe found something to do outside or in town. Anyway, by the time we had Maff and Andy O on board, Neil comprised basically half of our repertoire (and CCR the other): "Cortez...", "Powderfinger", "Hey Hey My My", "Ohio", "Comes a Time", "Like a Hurricane", "Burned", "Everybody Knows This is Nowhere", "Helpless", "Cinnamon Girl", "Southern Man", "The Needle and the Damage Done", "Sugar Mountain", and who knows what else. Jeans? Check. Boots? Check. Flannel? Checked. Ladies sure loved suburban NY classic rock high school cover bands!
Robbie Maff, I hope you're listening!
"Are You Ready for the Country?": https://www.box.com/s/rx1l501xfnf2rvyk9xb2
"Cortez the Killer": https://www.box.com/s/ppcel0e52d8mwahyscc5
Going way back, "Down by the River" and "Cowgirl in the Sand" were two of the first songs we used to jam out on back in '85 or so, Stack and Dillo and me down in the basement, while my parents presumably closed the door and turned up the volume on the TV, slipped on some ear protectors (as my dad was known to do) or maybe found something to do outside or in town. Anyway, by the time we had Maff and Andy O on board, Neil comprised basically half of our repertoire (and CCR the other): "Cortez...", "Powderfinger", "Hey Hey My My", "Ohio", "Comes a Time", "Like a Hurricane", "Burned", "Everybody Knows This is Nowhere", "Helpless", "Cinnamon Girl", "Southern Man", "The Needle and the Damage Done", "Sugar Mountain", and who knows what else. Jeans? Check. Boots? Check. Flannel? Checked. Ladies sure loved suburban NY classic rock high school cover bands!
Robbie Maff, I hope you're listening!
"Are You Ready for the Country?": https://www.box.com/s/rx1l501xfnf2rvyk9xb2
"Cortez the Killer": https://www.box.com/s/ppcel0e52d8mwahyscc5
Sunday, January 6, 2013
It's a Classic Rock Grab-Bag!!: "Spanish Moon"/ "PenthousePauper"/ "Sway"/ "Badge"
Yep. Not much rhyme nor reason here. Just cleaning out the archives and trying to catch up to "real time". The bones of this batch, as with last post's VU songs, were laid down by the Johns (Stackpole and Keating) at the Harpswell Estate in summer '11. The Great Lexington Fire that winter threw everything into utter confusion and these poor suckers have been in the birth canal since then. What you have here are two slightly funky numbers, and two rock classics.
- "Spanish Moon" by Little Feat makes me think of Charlie Sharpless and Jeff Darland, so that's a good start right there. I have trouble writing songs with any sort of real funk/ groove, so it's super fun to let loose on the drums and congas, bass and keys and all that, while letting an actual lead guitarist do his thing.
- "Penthouse Pauper" is a Creedence Clearwater Revival song that should be on their greatest hits package. Done about busted my pipes trying to sing this one, so listen forgivingly.
- "Sway" might be my favorite song off of the Stones' "Sticky Fingers" (On a good day, "Moonlight Mile" can give it a run for the money). The Stones' version is a great example of how they got by on great songs, great grooves, nice production and each player doing their thing, and didn't get bogged down by the details. If you listen closely to those old records, there are indeed some weird notes, flubs and clams, but
- "Badge" by (The) Cream, of course, is an FM staple. But man oh man, deservedly so. And I've discovered that it is one hard-ass song to sing. Sadly, this version's still not complete, even at this late date, on account of the lack of guitar solo, but the train was leaving the station....
Anyways, enjoy. Some Neil covers next time to wrap up this bunch of classic rockers.
JK
Spanish Moon: https://www.box.com/s/apnw21y8tvr5cax9i3z6
Penthouse Pauper: https://www.box.com/s/lqnv9kih92zpuh3a7xbt
Sway: https://www.box.com/s/g66m06dscm113nd7265y
Badge: https://www.box.com/s/3lbf1rvnesswvz6n7aic
- "Spanish Moon" by Little Feat makes me think of Charlie Sharpless and Jeff Darland, so that's a good start right there. I have trouble writing songs with any sort of real funk/ groove, so it's super fun to let loose on the drums and congas, bass and keys and all that, while letting an actual lead guitarist do his thing.
- "Penthouse Pauper" is a Creedence Clearwater Revival song that should be on their greatest hits package. Done about busted my pipes trying to sing this one, so listen forgivingly.
- "Sway" might be my favorite song off of the Stones' "Sticky Fingers" (On a good day, "Moonlight Mile" can give it a run for the money). The Stones' version is a great example of how they got by on great songs, great grooves, nice production and each player doing their thing, and didn't get bogged down by the details. If you listen closely to those old records, there are indeed some weird notes, flubs and clams, but
- "Badge" by (The) Cream, of course, is an FM staple. But man oh man, deservedly so. And I've discovered that it is one hard-ass song to sing. Sadly, this version's still not complete, even at this late date, on account of the lack of guitar solo, but the train was leaving the station....
Anyways, enjoy. Some Neil covers next time to wrap up this bunch of classic rockers.
JK
Spanish Moon: https://www.box.com/s/apnw21y8tvr5cax9i3z6
Penthouse Pauper: https://www.box.com/s/lqnv9kih92zpuh3a7xbt
Sway: https://www.box.com/s/g66m06dscm113nd7265y
Badge: https://www.box.com/s/3lbf1rvnesswvz6n7aic
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