Georgie Girl

The Seekers


How about with a uke and a banjo? Nice!


Where's the squeezebox you ask? Don't worry, I know you were waiting.

Shave and a haircut - two bits

I received an email from my brother, Salvelinas Fontinalis (yes, I know, he was named after a trout and I was named after a salty...rub it in, already). He noted I mentioned the "shave and a haircut - two bits riff and suggested I post a link to Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks. Now there's some ancient Toronto history! Here's a reunion of sorts, The Band (formerly The Hawks) with their old boss, Ronnie Hawkins from the brilliant 1976 film The Last Waltz.

We associate the rhythm with the late Bo Diddley because he popularized it. It would be intersting to try to trace it back through African American music. In this post, I'm just going to present a glimpse at some of the people who made a good living off it since the coming of Mr. Diddley. Here's a clip which actually features Bo Diddley AND Ronnie Hawkins together. Then listen to the master performing, You can't judge a book by looking at the cover. If I ever put together a little accordion combo, I'd like to have dancers like the ones in this video! I mean, wouldn't you?

Let's look at some of the other performers who have had hits with the same riff. Here's Johnny Otis performing Willie and the Hand Jive. The Who got in the act with Magic Bus. Remember Bow Wow Wow with their cover of the Strangeloves tune, I want Candy??

The Dead jumped on the train with Women are Smarter Jerry and the boys did a nice job on this one. In fact, the Bo Diddley riff is so ingrained in pop music, this post could go on for a long time. I'll spare you that though and end with Steppenwolf, on the Smothers Brothers television show, playing Magic Carpet Ride. Wow, these guys had groovy outfits and hair-dos, didn't they?

Got you Covered: 16 Tons

16 Tons was written by Merle Travis and first recorded in 1946, but it was Tennessee Ernie Ford who recorded the version most of us are familiar with. What an amazing picture this song paints about the coal mining life. I suppose we can all identify with it in our own day-to-day jobs from time-to-time, even if we aren't lifting 16 tons and don't have to postpone that trip to heaven because we owe our souls to the company store.

Let's listen to Eric Burdon's respectful take on this tune. Frankie Laine recorded a more urbane version, only released in the UK. Nicely done. The Nighthawks recorded a version which featured that shave-and-a-haircut-two-bits Bo Diddley rhythm. Hey, weren't these guys playing in the bar where all the stevadores hung out on season two of The Wire? Nice groove.

Let's go out with a Russian version, just because we can. Here's Vladimir Shlyakov.

Got you Covered: I put a spell on you....

There are a few musicians around who have not recorded this song, and loads and loads who have. Why? Because this Screamin' Jay Hawkins R&B Classic is just that good. I put a Spell on You was written in 1957. Here's an excerpt from the Wikipedia entry:
Hawkins had originally intended to record "I Put a Spell on You" as a refined love song, a blues ballad. He reported, however, that the producer "brought in ribs and chicken and got everybody drunk, and we came out with this weird version. I don't even remember making the record. Before, I was just a normal blues singer. I was just Jay Hawkins. It all sort of just fell in place. I found out I could do more destroying a song and screaming it to death.

Mr. Hawkins took to adding props to his shows. He would emerge from a coffin wearing a long cape, wore tusks in his nose, added snakes and fireworks, and a cigarette-smoking skull named Henry. Yes, Screamin' Jay Hawkins may well have been the first shock rocker.

Here is the master at work. Let's now put Hawkin's performance back-to-back with Marilyn Manson. Not bad, but underlying Screamin Jay's antics was an amazing R&B voice. Manson does have a good time with the theatrics though and I think the version is credible.

I really like this next version by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Very respectful, harder, but still with plenty of theatre. Let's pair Nick Cave's version up with Nina Simone. What do you think?

I'm going to change it up on you a little bit now, with a version by Natacha Atlas. This one leaves me at a loss for words, so I'm going to move right into one last take on this classic. Here's Creedence Clearwater Revival.

I had one other version in mind. Perhaps you know it....if not, your homework is to listen to Van Morrison's early band Them perform the tune.

Got you Covered - Vigilante Man

A while back, I did a post on the Woody Guthrie song Pretty Boy Floyd, and I made a reference to Nazareth. Somewhere in the depths of my memory I remembered them covering one of Mr. Guthrie's tunes and I thought it was Pretty Boy Floyd. It came to me today that no, it was in fact Vigilante man. Well, I couldn't find a Nazareth version on the ol' inner-nets, but I did find many excellent takes on this excellent old tune. For instance, there's Ry Cooder. Hans Theesink's version gave me the shivers. I stumbled across a lecture by Richard Polenburg discussing the background to the song.

I've never heard the Burns Sisters Band before. Nice.

This is a song that grabs you from the first line and whacks you upside the head. Have you seen that Vigilante Man? Have you? Did he have a gun and a club in his hand?

Got you Covered: Ode to Billie Joe

Ode to Billie Joe was written by Bobbie Gentry and recorded by her in 1967. It's a Southern Gothic mystery tale surrounding the death of one Billy Joe McAllister, who jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge. Ms. Gentry's original version, sung with an understated smokey voice, was a huge hit in North America and abroad. This tune has been widely recorded and performed. We heard Lucinda Williams sing it at the Ryman in Nashville a couple years back. Some of you may be familiar with what must be a parody of this tune, by Bob Dylan - Clothesline Saga from The Basement Tapes.

Here's Lady Reiko and the Sin City Prophets. Or, if you prefer sitar to uke, how about Gigi Dover and the Big Love Trio? Groovy baby.

Now let's get just a little bit funky, with Spudnig. Yeah!

Ok, let's go out with Cornell Dupree. Sweet guitar sounds.

I hope you have as much fun with this one as I had!

Got you Covered: Cisco Kid

I stumbled across the version of Cisco Kid by Los Lonely Boys with Willie Nelson last night. I hadn't heard it before and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. There's also a fine version of this song recorded by Beau Jocques and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, but there's no sign of that one floating around the net. Of course the tune was first recorded by War.

By the way, there have been a couple comments about not being able to view videos posted here. I'm going to try linking to the page rather than embedding the videos to see if that helps. Please let me know if you are unable to view. Thanks.

Got you covered: Heros and Villains

This song was written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, back in the 60s. Geraint Watkins recorded it and features it in his live show. I saw Mr. Watkins open and accompany Nick Lowe a few years back. It was a great show. He's a fine piano and organ player, who has accompanied a lot of people over the years, including Van Morrison.


It happens that Watkins also plays the accordion


Here's The Fendertones: Our Prayer/Gee/Heroes and Villains

Got you Covered - Pretty Boy Floyd

Here's Weird Bob doing Woody Guthrie. I was thinking about this tune in the context of all the banking problems in America. The government bailed out the bankers, but what about the folks who couldn't pay their mortgage?. Mr. Guthrie wrote about the outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd, saying "you'll never see an outlaw drive a family from their homes".

Here's Mr. Bob:


There are also some excellent recordings of Ramblin Jack singing this one. Look for them at your local purveyor of obscure folk music.

Got you Covered: Your Cheatin' Heart

Your Cheatin' Heart

I've posted more than I normally would about federal politics lately, mostly because Mr. Harper ticked me off with his nasty comments about artists a short while back. So enough politics, lets hear a little country and western music. Mind you, this song does remind me of politicians....

Here's The Killer from 1964


The Greenhorns


Pepsi commercial from 1996


Lydia and the Melody Strings


Hank Sr's songs seem to me like they've always been out there, and when I hear them I don't want them to ever end. There are humans on earth who have not recorded Your Cheatin Heart, just not many. They're all good, really, because the song is so damn well crafted. I left out great versions by Ray Charles and by Patsy Cline, and more. For those lobbying for singers from the 90s and this decade, maybe next time.

Got you Covered - Froggie Went a Courtin

I guess you can't really call any version of a folk tune a cover. I don't think we know who composed Froggie Went a Courtin, but it's been around for a long time. The song tells the story of Froggie, who asks Miss Mousie for her hand in marriage. Miss Mousie says she can't marry anyone without her Uncle Rat's permission. He agrees and they plan the wedding, to be held in the hollow tree. The wedding takes place, and violence ensues, involving Old Grey Cat eating Mousie and Uncle Rat and a duck eating poor Froggie. What a strange and fantastic song! Here are some choice versions of the tune...
I love Weird Bob's 1992 version from Good as I Been to You


Here's the late "skiffle" player Lonnie Donnegan


And finally, here's Lew Dite, accompanying himself on Uke...

Got you Covered - songs by Tom Waits

Tom Waits has been a remarkably consistent and imaginative songwriter during a rich and varied career. His songs have been recorded by a lot of performers. A few covers, such as Downtown Train and Jersey Girl, have done well in the pop market, but there are many Tom Waits covers you aren't likely to hear on mainstream radio.

John Hammond recorded an album of Waits' tunes, called Wicked Grin, which Mr. Waits produced, and as well played and sang on. Hammond, son of legendary record producer John Hammond Sr, has been creating a passionate and personal brand of blues since the mid-60s. He's still touring, and in fact we had the pleasure of attending one of his shows last year at Hugh's Room in Toronto.

Here's Mr. Hammond playing a lovely Tom Waits tune called Fannin St.


...and Mr. Hammond again, performing Jockey Full of Bourbon


Holly Cole is another performer who created an entire album of Tom Waits covered. Here she is singing Train Song


There are so many Waits' covers to choose from. Here's a really nice version of Cold Cold Ground performed by Les Claypool with Gogol Bordello. This one is worth it for the bass player's hair-do alone + it features a nice accordion solo and plenty of groovy outfits. Lots of fun all around.


I'm going to close this post with a rockin version of one of my personal favourite Waits' songs, Telephone Call From Istanbul. Here's Red Elvises...


Does anyone else out there have a favourite Tom Waits cover? Make a comment and add a link if you can....

Got you Covered

Today I'd like to feature an old favourite, Early Morning Rain, written by Gordon Lightfoot.

In the early morning rain
With a dollar in my hand
With an achin in my heart
And my pockets full of sand
Im a long way from home
And I miss my loved ones so
In the early morning rain
With no place to go
Out on runway number nine
Big seven-o-seven set to go
But Im stuck here in the grass
Where the cold wind blows
Now the liquor tasted good
And the women all were fast
Well there she goes my friend
Well shes rollin down at last

Hear the mighty engines roar
See the silver bird on high
Shes away and westward bound
Far above the clouds shell fly
Where the mornin rain dont fall
And the sun always shines
Shell be flyin oer my home
In about three hours time

This old airports got me down
Its no earthly good to me
cause Im stuck here on the ground
As cold and drunk as I can be
You cant jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So Id best be on my way
In the early morning rain
You cant jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So Id best be on my way
In the early morning rain

Here's Ian And Sylvia, from their 1986 reunion concert, joined partway through by the song's composer, Mr. Lightfoot.


How about Billy Bragg, singing this tune at a record store re-opening in Toronto?


Yes, Elvis covered it too


And finally, here's Paul Weller

Got you Covered

Townes Van Zandt was a songwriter whose songs have been recorded successfully by many musicians. The first record I bought by Mr. Van Zandt (on vinyl by the way) is a great live recording called Live and Obscure, which I highly recommend without reservations. It was on this record I first heard White Freightliner Blues. A White Freightliner, of course, is a truck. This song is very well recorded, and is often played by Bluegrass bands.

Here's a nice performance by Lyle Lovett, with Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Faith Hill and Jools Holland.


Here's the New Grass Revival, with some fancy picking.


And one more, a band called Redbird


Interestingly enough, on YouTube there are numerous versions of this tune, but none by the late Mr. Van Zandt.

Got you Covered

I said this was an occasional feature, but I'm having a lot of fun with it, so I hope you can adjust. Manfred Mann is a band which had a number of hits over the years. We all know Do Wa Diddy Diddy. What a great melody, so catchy! I enjoy their cover of Bob Dylan's The Mighty Quinn, released in 1968. The song was written a year earlier and recorded but not officially released by Dylan and The Band as part of the Basement Tapes. Here's Manfred Mann's 68 version.

Here's a later arrangement after Mann reincarnated his band as Manfred Mann's Earth Band. This one is from 83.


Much funkier, eh? The Earth Band was fueled by a 1977 hit, another cover. Most people my age who listened to any AM radio at all in the late 70s will remember their cover of Bruce Springsteen's Blinded by the Light.

The Mighty Quinn was not the only Dylan tune Mann covered. Fans of Dylan's mid-60s work will be familiar with his electric version of If You Gotta Go. Here's Dylan at Newport doing an acoustic version in 1965.


Dylan released the song in Europe in 65 and Mann covered it in the same year. This song was also covered in French by Fairport Convention as Si Tu Dois Partir (excellent version!), Ricky Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band, and The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1970, The Pontiac Brothers in 1985 and later by Cowboy Junkies on Rarities, B-Sides and Slow Sad Waltzes in 1999.

Here's Manfred Mann's version of If you Gotta Go (sorry I couldn't find a live version with video)


And here's the Fairport Convention version. I love the percussion on this one.


Dylan tunes proved to be quite a ticket for Mann. In 66, the group also covered Just Like a Woman, released the same year on Dylan's outstanding Blonde on Blonde.

Got you Covered

I didn't even realize Gentle on my Mind was a hobo ballad until I heard Johnny Cash sing it.


The tune was written by the late John Hartford but is probably most closely associated with Glen Campbell, who used the tune as the theme for his late 60s TV variety show. I always felt that Mr. Campbell played the song too fast. When I heard the Johnny Cash version on Unearthed, with Glen Campbell subtly singing backup, I thought my God what a beautiful melancholy song.

Here's the song's author with Glen Campbell

Got you Covered!

Here's a new occasional fun feature here at Mister Anchovy's. I'll be scouring the inner-nets looking for interesting and unusual cover versions of tunes we all know. Expect this feature to be all over the place. I hope you enjoy it.

Let's start with Folsom Prison Blues. This features two guys named Gus and Fin playing guitar and uke.


Here's Frank Sinatra's 1966 hit Stranger's in the Night played on a 1919 Pearl Queen (Triple Reed) Beauty Diamond Deluxe (Abalone and Mother of Pearl inlay) Chemnitzer Concertina


and finally, here's Johnny Winter covering Weird Bob's fantastic Highway 61 Revisited.