Category Archives: Covers

Jazz Greats Play for All the Lonely People

We also like jazz at Music Now & Then – hope you do too.

In 2012 Chick Corea and Gary Burton released “Hot House”, marking 40 years of collaborations by the two jazz legends. Two tracks on the album won 2013 Grammys, “Mozart Goes Dancing” for Best Instrumental Composition and the title track for Best Improvised Jazz Solo.

The album also includes a cover of the Beatles classic “Eleanor Rigby”.  The song has been covered (and more recently sampled) by countless artists since its release in 1966, but it’s been a special favorite of jazz artists through the years.  In addition to Chick and Gary’s version, check out Stanley Jordan’s interpretation from his 1985 album “Magic Touch”.  Jordan’s unusual two-hand tapping technique makes his performance sound like the work of more than one musician.

If you like your jazz more in the classic vein, listen to Wes Montgomery’s cover released in 1967.  It’s from his album “A Day in the Life” – yes, another Beatles cover – that reached #1 on the Billboard Jazz Album chart that year.

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Counting Crows and Big Star – The Ballad of El Goodo

In 2012 Counting Crows released “Underwater Sunshine”, a CD of covers. Among the tracks is “The Ballad of El Goodo”, a beautiful song that originally appeared on Big Star’s “#1 Record” in 1972.   While never achieving great commercial success, Big Star is remembered for the songwriting of Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, for Alex’s vocals, and for its influence on many artists in the years that followed.

You may have noticed the reference to the Box Tops in the Big Star video. Alex Chilton sang on the Box Tops’ chart-topping hit “The Letter” in 1967 at age 16.  Notice how his raspy style mellowed over the next 5 years.  And enjoy those American Bandstand dancers!

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Shakin’ with Jack White and Little Willie John

Jack White’s first solo effort “Blunderbuss” is on most everyone’s list of the best albums of 2012 – it’s certainly tops on ours.   And no track is more fun than his cover of “I’m Shakin'”.  The song was a hit for Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Little Willie John, and was written by Rudy Toombs, an R&B songwriter from the 50s.  Enjoy Jack’s video (the only thing better than Jack White is two Jack Whites) and check out the pure vocals and simple sax line of Little Willie John’s version circa 1960.

You can catch all of “Blunderbuss” on YouTube.  The title track isn’t a bad place to start.

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