I’m a big blues and folk fan, and I think “In The Pines” aka “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” is a great example and has been done by everyone. According to wiki, it dates back at least to 1870, but its real origin is unknown. It really got international fame as late as 1994 as Kurt Cobain’s swan song on “Unplugged In New York”. It’s a heart-wrenching rendition.
So I’ll post a blues (Leadbelly), country (Louvin Brothers) and a rock (Nirvana) version:
Including me! I used to sing and play play it on acoustic. My version was kind of a cross between Cobain Unplugged and Leadbelly. I’d do the simple “bass note-strum-strum” pattern Leadbelly does, but try to sing it with more of the existential angst and sense of creeping dread that Cobain infuses (Leadbelly sings it with more of a world-weary resignation). I couldn’t pull off Cobain’s octave-higher shouty thing he did with the chorus at the end though, so I’d leave that off.
Excellent choice! I’ll have to dust off the ol’ acoustic, look up the chords and play that one again this weekend.
Missed the edit window on my last post and I want to comment on a couple more:
Good one! I love those old sort of ‘Blues-Gospel’ crossovers. Not sure why, since I am not religious in any conventional sense. “In my Time of Dying” is another one I love, originally by Blind Willie Johnson and covered by Dylan on his debut album and of course, Led Zeppelin.
Incidentally, anyone else notice that on Bob Dylan’s eponymous debut album that he seems to have had a bit of an obsession with death? He has three Blues covers on that album about death and dying: “n my Time of Dyin’”, “Fixin’ to Die” and “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean”. Seems just a bit odd for a barely 21 year old.
Two more great choices. “Gallows Pole” is another one I used to sing and play on acoustic (not very well). As with almost anything Zep I attempted, I’d have to sing most of it an octave lower than Robert Plant to even slightly pull off the song. So my version was probably a lot closer to Lead Belly’s than Plant’s.
As some of you might know, I’m an almost obsessive Dylan fan, and yes, this has been noted many times right from the time of his debut album’s release. Also the fact that he sounds like a weathered old man at age 21.
John Barleycorn - Pentangle
John Barleycorn - Steeleye Span
John Barleycorn - Oysterband
John Barleycorn - Joe Walsh
All of these covers follow the Robert Burns version from 1782, as did Steve Winwood’s take with Traffic.
Those are fantastic. That’s exactly what I was talking about in my OP, enjoying the finding of various cover versions of old traditional songs to hear how they compare and contrast.
This was actually The John Renbourne Group (maybe they also go by the name Pentangle?) I really enjoyed this version, with the round-style harmonies. I actually had a couple Renbourne CDs back in the day I used to listen to a lot. Probably still have them, somewhere.
I’m not a great guitar player by any means, but years ago when I was still trying to get really good, the most complicated song I ever attempted was John Renbourne’s instrumental “Luke’s Little Summer” (the CD actually came with its own tablature). I got to the point where I could play about the first third of the song pretty well, before I eventually gave up.
Oops. I hear Jacqui’s voice, I think Pentangle.
Lulu’s Back in Town
Version by Fats Waller
Studio version by Thelonius Monk
Live version by Thelonius Monk
…Aaaand, here’s the Wikipedia entry, to show who else has recorded it. Hmmm, Leon Redbone?
Stagger Lee, interpreted dozens if not hundreds of times.
The Clash (technically not a direct reinterpretation, but a cover of a ska retelling of the original story by the Rulers)
And the mack daddy of them all, IMHO: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Speaking of Lead Belly, here he is on “Cotton Fields” – the song that Bob Dylan says got him interested in music.
I’m sure Mr. Ledbetter knew a thing or three about picking cotton in northwestern Louisiana.
I was not actually familiar with that song, so thanks!
Nice. This laid-back version is probably my sentimental favorite, since I think it was the first time I ever heard the song in my early 20s (a friend was a big Taj fan):
This later-period Dylan version from a criminally underrated 90s album called “World Gone Wrong” featuring just Dylan and his acoustic guitar covering old Blues and Folk tunes, is also a favorite:
… and my favorite version.
Haha, Sandford and Song, I love it. Redd Foxx can really rock the one-string washtub bass and kazoo.
Child Ballad 10 has a rather wide range of versions over the centuries.
Cruel Sister - Pentangle (For real this time!)
The Cruel Sister - Bedlam
Cruel Sister - Old Blind Dogs
The Bonny Swans - Loreena McKinnett
Dreadful Wind and Rain - Jerry Garcia/David Grisman
Two Sisters - Tom Waits
Then there’s Robert Johnson, who has had pretty much every song he recorded covered by many bands. Eric Clapton did an album of Johnson covers, called “Me and Mr. Johnson”.
For folk music, a favorite short piece is “La Eile” (“Another Day” in Gaelic) an old Irish folk ballad played by Paddy Maloney of the Chieftans on Don Henley’s “The End of Innocence”. Henley’s song “Lilah” is bookended by “La Eile” and “The Unclouded Day”, another old folk song re-arranged with a slight reggae feel and backing vocals by Bill Withers.
Once you’re familiar with it, Monk’s versions have a way of really getting under your skin. If you like that kind of thing, of course.
@Jaycat.again, many thanks for uploading that.
Absolutely will be giving it more of a listen when I have more time.
Probably my favorite instrumental cover of a song is Coltrane’s version of “My Favorite Things” in which they start out with the basic melody, then go into all sorts of amazing tangents while morphing back in and out of the basic melody. Great song to listen to on a rainy day…like today, in my part of the world! Playing it right now.
I couldn’t find Henley’s version of “The unclouded Day”, but here’s Willie Nelson:
Willie Nelson - The Unclouded Day
The song goes back to the 1800’s, and has been recorded by many, many acts. The Staple Sisters, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, B.J. Thomas, Henley, Willie, even Phish.
Looked up the Don Henley version on Amazon Music, and listened to the Willie Nelson version. Very different, but I like them both. I’m hearing a bit of Amazing Grace in the melody, not surprising since they are both Gospel songs.
I prefer Henley’s version, But Wliie’s is okay. I love La Eile - the first song I learned to play on an Irish whistle.