T-Bone Burnett – Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend (Monroe cover)
They say those who can’t, teach – which in music translates to those who can’t, produce. Not so the ubiquitous T-Bone Burnett, who has shone as a producer, writer and player. Perhaps this unlikely cover will show the scope of his creativity.
Tincanman
Everly Brothers – Baby What You Want Me To Do
Looking back (a long, long way) I’ve realised that, coming from a music-indifferent family as I did, this must have been the introduction of my junior self to the blues. It’s a Jimmy Reed song and it featured on the Everlys’ 1961 album A Date With The Everly Brothers. Bit different from the rest of the album, though.
Treefrogdemon
The Cardigans – Iron Man
Swedish knitwear tackles Ted Hughes via Ozzy Osborne. It seems that the twee popsters had a penchant for Black Sabbath; on their first album they turned Sabbath Bloody Sabbath into a sugary confection. Here, they do a much better job, with just the right amount of chilled vocoderiness.
Zalamanda
Dizzee Rascal – That’s Not My Name
The original by the Ting Tings was given an almost feminist aggressive slant in the way it was performed. Dizzee, known for his own somewhat ”in your face” presentation, gives this track a more lighthearted (and ‘Laddish’) slant, as well as making a point about the use of the ‘N’ word. It was recorded in 2008 as part of the Radio 1 ‘Live Lounge’ sessions.
Bluepeter
Franky Perez & Los Guardianes Del Bosque – Times They Are A’Changin’ (Espanol)
I first heard this in an episode of “Sons Of Anarchy” (my current fave TV show). I know nothing about Frankie Perez or Los Guardianes Del Bosque, except that they throw a whole new light on “Times They Are A Changing” by singing it in Spanish. Lovely.
RockingMitch
Garcia & Grisman – So What
Even jazz haters know this Miles tune. After a 20-year gap, Garcia and Grisman started playing together again in 1990 and, as you can hear, they really enjoyed each other’s musical company. It may be noodling, but it’s damn fine noodling.
Chris.
As ever, please send your lovely tunes and write-ups to earworm@tincanland.com. Thank you!
Wow! Great set this week.
T-Bone Burnett is someone I’ve always liked. He got the music together for one of my favourite movies, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”. I have a 78 on MGM by Ms Monroe of this, and it’s an interesting take on the song. V. Good!
One of the areas where Tfd & I agree is with regard to the Everly Brothers. This came from their mid-60s period and has the added bonus of Don Peek on lead guitar. I have seen them live a few times and they never fail to please. This track is great – my pick of the week.
The Cardigans. I have to admit to not being a follower of theirs, however, this track is nice.
Dizzee Rascal. Living as we did in Peckham, I met a lot of Dizzee wannabes. Great fun, but not something I’d buy.
Garcia & Grimson. I spent a couple of days last week at The Bristol Hotel in, er, Bristol. This is the sort of stuff that was playing in the background in the lift, bar, resaurant. Very well played indeed, but for me, I’m afraid, forgettable.
That’s it! Everlies Rule, OK?
They do, they do
I really enjoyed this playlist so much ! ! ! I did not know any of the tracks by these artists (but of course I know the originals of That’s Not My Name and Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend) so it was really a great adventure this week ! ! !
T-Bone Burnett – Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend (Monroe cover)
I really liked this. I do like to listen to tracks with the genders the other way from the versions I usually know as you often get different perspective on the track. When I saw this I thought it would be somehow mocking or cynical and was ready to dislike it – but I thought it was sympathetic and sincere actually. I did like his voice and the arrangement very much. I really liked his voice in the speaking sections actually.
Everly Brothers – Baby What You Want Me To Do
I did like the blues style of this and the piano parts are really nice. It has that lovely “walking tempo and beat” that would make it a great track for driving your car on a nice road trip or something ! ! ! I only know the more famous Everly Brothers track so this was new to me and also different to what I expected. A really nice track ! ! !
The Cardigans – Iron Man
This was interesting a mix of all types of influences, I had a lot of fun trying to pick them up ! ! ! There si something that sonds like a psychedelic sitar, there is Jazz and the vocals are quite 1980 pop apart form the effects. It was really interesting. I like the arrangement and production very much indeed and the words are quite affectionate also ! ! ! I really enjoyed it very much indeed ! ! !
Dizzee Rascal – That’s Not My Name
I liked this very much and I like the space the arrangement gives to the percussion. When I heard the original by the Ting Tings I did like it a lot. Of course they have a lot of Japanese influence in their music. (They have been to Japan six times already their version is really like Shibuya Kei genre of J-Pop) But this is a really great version of the song and I like it very much more than the Ting Ting version. It has more power I think and I think that that suits the song more. I enjoyed this a lot and it definitely an earworm. I cannot stop sing “that’s not my name” in the chorus and I love the bit where one of the guy does the almost operatic vocals. Great ! ! ! I loved it ! ! !
Franky Perez & Los Guardianes Del Bosque – Times They Are A’Changin’
I think Dylan tracks sound much better in a language I do not understand and sung by someone else (That was a joke) I love this sound so much. I think it is Mexican mariachi style but I am not really sure. I looked for him on Wiki and it seems he released a 5 track EP called Sons Of Anarchy: North Country with tracks from the sound track of the TV series. But his main job seems to be playing and singing in Slash live band. I really liked this track very much indeed, he has a great voice and the Latin rhythm gives the track added sophistication which I prefere.
Garcia & Grisman – So What
I think this track sounds so sophisticated and I really admired the musicians skill and talent and I it is really nice piece. I did like it, but I think I need to listen to it in a more relaxed way so I can get into it. I am too stressed just now to be able to let myself drift with it which is what I feel it needs. But I will try and I am sure I will love it ! ! !
You are doing a fabulous job Zala. This week list was fantastic ! ! !
Thank you ! ! !
Yep, like the T Bone. Nice groove, if a bit dated (assuming it’s a recent recording, that is). Reminds me of something, but I can’t put my finger on what. Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane” maybe? The Everlys are a bit too ploddy for my liking, sorry. The Cardigans was more interesting sonically (to me) but again the tempo makes me a bit antsy: I just want things to pick up! But I realise that’s not the point of this track. Reminds me a bit of Garbage’s “Milk”. Yeah, I quite like it but not 100% sold.
Really like the Dizzee Rascal – definitely my favourite so far. It strikes me as having a ‘warmer’ sound than the original (which I like but is a bit shrill). It’s also funnier than the Ting Tings, which is a bonus! Ah, now did you post this Dylan cover on facebook a week or two back, Mitch? This is now my favourite so far this week! Gorgeous – in much the way that Sinead Lohan “To Ramona” earworm was.
I don’t know the Miles cover, being more of a jazz ignoramus than a jazz hater. Nice plinky-plonky sound, some definite quality noodling, but doesn’t really grab me (scarcely a surprise, I suspect). I listened right through to the end though!
Yes, Bish, I did put it on Facebook I had just “nicked” it from YouTube, so I thought I’d put the video up for people to see. Glad you liked it.
I’ve got these in correct running order to play on my MP3 player tomorrow. Sorry to have missed a few weeks recently. Is there a ‘covers’ theme reflected in the picture ?
I think you’re allowed to miss a week or two, DP, although it isn’t, naturally encouraged. And yes, you’ve got me rumbled on the illustration*.
* Hover over pic for bonus ‘Spill point potential…
Is that Dorian’s book of playlists?
Yup. First ‘Spill points to Bish!
Enjoyed the first listen. Love the Frankie Perez. Will return.
I very much enjoyed the Dizzee Rascal track but (am I alone in this?) I love the original and still prefer it. Garcia and Grisman I liked but I think it needs a few more listens to get really into it.
Always like a Jimmy Reed song. The Everlys in great voice of course but I thought the music was a bit lacklustre. T-Bone Burnett was good fun on a song I associate more with Nicole Kidman than M Monroe.
I have no great interest in The Cardigans or Black Sabbath but this combination of the two worked for me.
Franky Perez was still the week’s winner for me. It was, as Mitch said, lovely.
I like the Ting Tings one too, severin.
Everlies rule of course with T-bone & the Cardigans making me smile ear to ear. Great set Zala.
I am struggling with your puzzle. The book on the top is Just My Type: A Book Of Fonts by Simon Garfield. Is that the paperback you are referring to? Who the diva is who had the monster hit in 2007 is, I have no idea!
Well, you’re looking in the right place for the diva… her name appears (in a suitably distinctive font) on the dust cover blurb of Just My Type. You might need to look at the bigger version of the picture to read it.
The interloping paperback is Dorian’s book of Playlists, as Bish noted.
Well, I had thought of Amy Winehouse. I couldn’t think of a font though! Hit in 2007 was Valerie.
A cover of the Zutons’ original.
The points are yours, SR!
The appearance of Amy’s name on the fly leaf there was serendipitous – and made the idea of offering ‘Spill points irresistible! (There were a few lying around in a bag near the earworm chair when I took the helm. I think they accrue as the series progresses.)
Cool beans! I love Spill points.
T-Bone Burnett – fab. I loved it.
The Everly Brothers. Flippin’ awesome.
The Cardigans. Really liked it.
Dizzee Rascal. Another one I really liked a lot.
Garcia & Grimson. Nice but I wasn’t really in the mood for it this morning, but I would be in front of a log fire with a glass of vino.
So for me, it was a tie between T-Bone and The Everly’s.
Thanks, Zala.
Very impressed with Bish and SR for getting the ‘Spill points.
Lovely playlist, and I loved The Everlys the most. I’ve just started listening to my vinyl again on a new turntable, and I might just be indulging in post-purchase justification – but listening to this on MP3 today made me think that no remastering will ever quite make it sound as good. But then I can’t take my turntable to listen to it on the bus to work.
T-Bone is indeed a Legend and that song was a lot of fun – and it changes the way one understands the lyrics; The Cardigans I enjoyed a lot too; I thought at first Dizzee’s cover didn’t quite work, but then it picked up an unexpected head of steam towards the end. I like that Spanish translation of Bob Dylan and Sakura’s comment made me smile. I think Garcia and Grimson get across a sense of playfulness in their noodling, though didn’t quite sustain me for 7 mins +, perhaps just the lack of variation in tone / texture from the plucked string sound. Good though.
Hi Zala, and thanks for including Dizzie in this playlist. I think they all go perfectly well together. Particularly liked T-Bone and The Everlies (memories !). Although I’m not a big jazz fan Garcia and Grisman is an Earworm for sure and The Cardigans and Franky Perez are going onto a special “Smile” playlist.
Thanks again, Great job.
Diamonds I thought I would dislike, because I love the Marilyn Monroe version so much…but no, really cool!
I just listened to the Jimmy Reed version of Baby What You Want Me To Do and noticed that (as one of the YouTube commenters points out) he doesn’t actually sing those words – he sings Baby Why You Want To Let Go. Ha! So everyone else who’s sung it has got it wrong!
Iron Man: no, sorry, Zalamanda, I lost interest well before the end.
That’s Not My Name: yup. I liked the way he turns it into an anti-racist song.
Los Tiempos Van Cambiando: nice. Should be bitter though.
So What: you’ve overestimated again, Chris, because I’ve never heard of this. And I’m afraid that for me an instrumental improvisation tends to produce the response that it sounds like a lot of fun for the musicians but…nope, don’t get much out of it myself.
Thanks, Zalamanda, for a really interesting set once again – I shall look out some more to send.
Well, I certainly knew “So What” – I’m a sort of jazz-dabbler. I first heard it on Candy Dulfer’s album post-Lily Was Here, so you can blame Dave Stewart and (by backwards extension) the Eurythmics for that one. But I’ve got the Miles Davis album, too. “So What” is one of the more distinctive instrumental tracks; once you know the title, it’s irresistible to think those two little words into the music as you hear it. The Garcia-Grisman version was lovely, although i might venture to say a little long? It was interesting to hear the track on guitar, anyhow.
Frankie Perez‘s version of “The Times…” was beautiful. I couldn’t help but wonder how accurate the translation was, though – ever since I heard that Seu Jorge’s versions of Bowie songs were occasionally on different subjects to the originals (allegedly; my Portuguese is inadequate). Whatever, it really makes the music shine.
I really enjoyed Dizzee Rascal‘s track. I didn’t know the original, so came to it fresh; his lyrics are both playful and serious, a difficult trick to pull off.
The Everlys are indeed awesome – this was another song that I didn’t know from elsewhere – and I just loved T Bone Burnett‘s version of “Diamonds…”. In fact, I think it just edges in as my favourite.