Cover/Uncovered...

So for this post, which will hopefully become a recurring topic, i will compare and contrast a well-done cover song with the original.

and to get things started, i'll give you two installments.....

Too Long In The Wasteland (James McMurtry)
James McMurtry, the son of novelist Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove), is almost as good a storyteller as his dad. He's had a very successful musical career spanning almost 20 years. Somehow, though he has never broken into large popularity. He has, however been a song bank for a lot of artists, including: Robert Earl Keen, Shawn Mullins, Kasey Chambers, and even the oft-covered himself - Ray Wylie Hubbard. Here we have the gourgeous Aussie Kasey Chambers covering the title track from McMurtry's debut album on Columbia Records:

mp3: Kasey Chambers - Too Long In The Wasteland

From her EP, Am I Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers shows, once again, that she digs the American Alt-country scene (She's also covered some Fred Eaglesmith and Son Volt). Kasey adds a little electric flare and attitude to make this a somewhat scornful song. As always, her 'makes-me-weak-in-the-knees' voice cuts through every guitar riff and symbol crash.**

Check Her Out: [iTunes] [MySpace] [Official Page] and buy her stuff....

mp3: James McMurtry - Too Long In The Wasteland

[iTunes] [MySpace] [Official Page]

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Down Home Girl (The Rolling Stones)

Written by Jerry Leiber (Hound Dog, Yakety Yak, Jailhouse Rock, etc.) and first recorded by New Orleans bluesman Alvin Robinson, Down Home Girl is dirty, southern blues with a little levity: "every time i kiss you, girl, it tastes like pork-and-beans". Appearing on The Stones' Now! (1965), Mick showed us, early on, the versatility of their sound.


mp3: Old Crow Medicine Show - Down Home Girl

i actually heard Old Crow's version first on their latest effort, Big Iron World, and it wasn't until, watchin' the video, i noticed the writing credits. Looked it up, and...... The Stones?!? How did i miss that? Old Crow takes this electic blues song to another level with their acoustic groove (they aren't technically bluesgrass since they don't employ a mandolin. They call what they play 'Old Time Music', which pre-dates bluegrass). Ketch Secor bumps along on the harmonica, while Willie Watson's wails in his high tenor.

[iTunes] [MySpace] [Official Page]

mp3: The Rolling Stones - Down Home Girl

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**If you couldn't tell, i'm kinda sweet on Kasey Chambers (see below and decide for yourself...). And just like Slaid Cleaves, Mike McClure, and some more of my favorites, no one is blogging about her. So stay tuned for some more artist spotlights.......