The Civil Wars has, in addition to releasing two fine albums and break up in a very short time-span, done some very good cover versions. They did the songs quite different from the originals and they added something new to the songs, as cover versions should do. I have picked some of my favourites from their catalogue, they were really great, enjoy:
I want you back:
Here are two covers of Bob Dylan songs.
Hollis Brown
He lived on the outside of town
Hollis Brown
He lived on the outside of town
With his wife and five children
And his cabin fallin’ downYou looked for work and money
And you walked a rugged mile
You looked for work and money
And you walked a rugged mile
Your children are so hungry
That they don’t know how to smile
Then, in October 1987, playing Locarno. Switzerland, “and Tom Petty’s band and the female singers he now says he used to hide behind, Dylan had his breakthrough. It was an outdoor show – he remembers the fog and the wind – and as he stepped to the mike, a line came into his head. “It’s almost like I heard it as a voice. It wasn’t like it was even me thinking it. I’m determined to stand, whether God will deliver me or not. And all of a sudden everything just exploded. It exploded every which way. And I noticed that all the people out there – I was used to them looking at the girl singers, they were good-looking girls, you know? And like I say, I had them up there so I wouldn’t feel so bad. But when that happened, nobody was looking at the girls anymore. They were looking at the main mike. After that is when I sort of knew: I’ve got to go out and play these songs. That’s just what I must do … He’s been at it ever since.
~From “Dylan Lives” Newsweek 1997 cover story (David Gates)
Continue reading Bob Dylan: Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35, Locarno, Switzerland – 5 October 1987 (video)
July 22: Bruce Springsteen – We Shall Overcome (Memorial Concert 2012 – Oslo, Norway)
Bruce’s moving & soulful rendering of “We Shall Overcome” @ the 1 year memorial of the tragic events in Oslo 22.07.2011.
He didn’t want to “steal the thunder”.. but we always knew he would help us out at these “hard times”… It was done humbly & quietly… fitted perfectly into a fine memorial concert. Thank’s Bruce!
-Egil
For Elvis Presley & Arthur Crudup versions:
Such an important song needs special attention. So I decided to seek out versions of the song by some of my fav artists… here’s what I found:
Continue reading 10 Great versions of That’s All Right (Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, The Beatles & more)