Results 1 to 25 of 25

Thread: Songs that need BG covers.

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    471

    Default Songs that need BG covers.

    Here's a lovely 3/4 tune out of the Kate and Anna McGarrigle factory. This one concerns the whistful owners of a farm that economics has moved on from. Ignore the recited first verse from Rufus Wainwright; he's too young, and it shows.
    As a 'my farm done died' tune, it's perfect for bluegrass. As a Quebecois tune, it's great for any northern or Canadian BG bands.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrQwdvUMSrQ
    https://genius.com/Kate-and-anna-mcg...he-same-lyrics
    And now there was no doubt that the trees were really moving - moving in and out through one another as if in a complicated country dance. ('And I suppose,' thought Lucy, 'when trees dance, it must be a very, very country dance indeed.')

    C.S. Lewis

  2. The following members say thank you to s1m0n for this post:


  3. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,875

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    I've been a fan of Kate and Anna since their first album was released in 1976. On that same subject there are a few Stan Rogers songs that come to mind as well.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  4. The following members say thank you to MikeEdgerton for this post:

    s1m0n 

  5. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    471

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Thank you. The best Stan Rogers songs are well known. This is a song by a McGarrigle Associate; much less well known, but no less worthy. IMO.
    And now there was no doubt that the trees were really moving - moving in and out through one another as if in a complicated country dance. ('And I suppose,' thought Lucy, 'when trees dance, it must be a very, very country dance indeed.')

    C.S. Lewis

  6. #4
    Registered User Bren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, Scotland
    Posts
    1,036

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Re: Stan Rogers.
    I've heard bluegrass versions of Mary Ellen Carter in more than one bar in Canada.
    Bren

  7. #5
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Saint Augustine Beach FL
    Posts
    6,633

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Just go to youtube and watch some "The Cleverlys" videos if you want to see covers done Bluegrass style.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  8. The following members say thank you to Charles E. for this post:


  9. #6
    Registered User Marcus CA's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    No. California
    Posts
    1,259

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    The “Pickin’ on ...” series has lots of great covers, too.
    still trying to turn dreams into memories

  10. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Guildford + Falmouth England
    Posts
    916

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    ...and then there's UK based band Hayseed Dixie, who do (among other stuff) metal covers with a bluegrass band, eg:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYJUywl7CFw

  11. #8

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Quote Originally Posted by maxr View Post
    ...and then there's UK based band Hayseed Dixie, who do (among other stuff) metal covers with a bluegrass band, eg:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYJUywl7CFw
    Are they UK based now? Back when the Renos were in the band, I believe they were from Tennessee and they played the U.K. a lot (and also Scandanavia and Germany), but you could occasionally catch them stateside. I have been a fan but never seen them, last time I had a chance I had bought tickets but the venue went backrupt abruptly and cancelled the show about a week ahead of time or so. Haven't seen any opportunities since then.

  12. #9
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    My old bluegrass band, the Flower City Ramblers, did a bluegrass version of this song back in the 1970's. Worked pretty well; included the modulation and all.


    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  13. The following members say thank you to allenhopkins for this post:

    maxr 

  14. #10
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    13,103

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    I'd pay 99 cents to download a bluegrass cover of this.
    (If you dig deep into ATF's catalog you'll find a couple of jokey attempts at Celtic trad ... but the only record of theirs to get a U.S. release was a compilation of their better new wave songs.)
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  15. The following members say thank you to mrmando for this post:

    maxr 

  16. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Guildford + Falmouth England
    Posts
    916

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Quote Originally Posted by Southern Man View Post
    Are they UK based now?
    I believe so, might be wrong - if their Wikepedia entry is correct, John Wheeler lives in Cambridge, UK (although I though he said something that suggested London last time I saw them). They certainly played quite a lot in UK in normal times.

  17. The following members say thank you to maxr for this post:


  18. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    126

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    I can't get enough of this one...
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r01E2GFKOh0

  19. #13
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Quote Originally Posted by Southern Man View Post
    Are they UK based now?
    I have to say, sure looks that way. In fact, skimming through their tour date history, they've been playing mostly English venues plus locations around Europe going back to 2005. That's increased steadily until now they hardly ever play the US anymore. And when they have, they felt it necessary to put "USA" in the location. In other words, almost all the time I've known them, they've been a British band.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  20. #14
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    The first bluegrass band I ever saw was Monroe Doctrine, a New Grass outfit out of Colorado. They played a show at my little college in Wisconsin in 1974, I think. They did a snazzy version of The Beatles' "From Me To You."



    Looking at the track listing for that album, I see they also did Derek And The Dominos' "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad" too. Did either of them need to be done bluegrass-style? Debateable. But even by then, bluegrass-oriented jammers had turned "I've Just Seen A Face" into a bit of a cliché. So they found another Beatles song that worked just fine.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  21. #15
    Registered User Bren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, Scotland
    Posts
    1,036

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Even the Beatles original recording of I've Just Seen a Face sounded as if they'd been listening to bluegrass.
    Bren

  22. #16
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Yep. Sho' 'nuff! Bit of skiffle, too. But it really sounds like a lively Carl Perkins number. Even though it's a Paul song, and it was George who idolized Carl Perkins, there was a lot of mix-and-match in their influences. At any rate, it lends itself well to bluegrass.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  23. #17
    Registered User Marcus CA's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    No. California
    Posts
    1,259

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bren View Post
    Even the Beatles original recording of I've Just Seen a Face sounded as if they'd been listening to bluegrass.
    That's what Arlo thought, back in the day!

    still trying to turn dreams into memories

  24. The following members say thank you to Marcus CA for this post:


  25. #18
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Great find! Well, I guess as far as this thread is concerned, mission accomplished. For this song, anyway.
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  26. #19

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Here's one I did a couple of years ago...

    https://youtu.be/p6A2DrdhCVc

  27. The following members say thank you to Steve Cunningham for this post:


  28. #20
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Good going! I like it more than the original That is usually not the case - I tend to side with the original, probably 9 out of 10 times. But those 1's, they can be pretty special. Outdoing AC/DC isn't too hard, although I'm much more into rock than bluegrass, generally speaking. But their vocalist ... nails on a chalkboard personified, he is. The rock equivalent of Gilbert Gottfried. Really detracts from the rest of the deal. Just next time ... Could you wear a schoolboy uniform?
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  29. #21

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Thanks JB! My schoolboy uni is permanently retired though

  30. #22
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Whew! Dodged a bullet there, I reckon. Now if only Angus would do the same ... He's almost 66, already!
    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

  31. #23
    Registered User Dan Adams's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    664

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Tommy by the Hillbenders. The band Iron Horse.
    Play em like you know em!

  32. #24

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Here is my favorite bluegrass cover. The Grateful Dead's Cumberland Blues

  33. The following members say thank you to CarlM for this post:


  34. #25
    Professional Dreamer journeybear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Northeastern South Carolina, west of North Carolina
    Posts
    15,346
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Songs that need BG covers.

    Wow! That is really nice! Truly embodies the vision of the song as a hot bluegrass number. When The Dead did it, it was one of very few times Garcia played his first instrument, banjo, on one of their recordings. The only other time I can think of is on the single version of their magnum opus, "Dark Star." It makes a brief appearance right at the end, just in time for the fade. It was a bit of a surprise both times.

    I'm not suggesting this would make a good bluegrass cover - probably wouldn't - but I'd like tp hear someone try.

    But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller

    Furthering Mandolin Consciousness

    Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •