A song inspired by a bank teller, another by an album cover, and a third came from a sound sleep and turned out to be one of rocks’ greatest hooks. Rumor has it Dolly Parton wrote Jolene as a result of an employee’s infatuation with her husband. Although the story told sounds pretty serious, the couple enjoyed a good laugh all the way to the bank. I found a White Stripe’s version…
Sometimes the cover version of a song sounds like it should be the original, especially if the first release didn’t gain much traction in the U.S. or U.K. Such is the case with David Bowie’s Man Who Sold The World, a song about a man who no longer recognizes himself and feels bad about it. Twenty some-odd years later MTV’s Unplugged comes along and Kurt Cobain, a noted Bowie fan, is running through songs Nirvana could perform. The groups newest member, Pat Smear along with Dave Grohl, were going though albums (remember those) at Cobain’s apartment when they came across Bowie…Here is their interpretation…
Imagine being sound asleep and suddenly waking up to record what would become one of rocks’ greatest hooks. Keith Richards did exactly that in 1965 with a cassette machine and his guitar. The end result became the Rolling Stones first number 1 song in the U.S. Of all the groups who could have covered this classic, the guys in yellow jumpsuits and 3-D glasses performed their version on Saturday Night Light in 1978. Allegedly when Mic Jagger first heard the track he sat in silence for a few seconds, then hopped up and danced, as only he can, proclaiming to like the rearrangement. Here is Devo….
Be sure to listen to my podcast bassbeats’ Every Now & Then to hear the original versions. Look me up on buzzsprount.com or wherever you find your shows and drop me a note music@bassbeat.net. Thanks!
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