Day #15 of the 30 Day Music Meme

[shadowkat]

Day #15 of the 30 Day Music Meme - a song you love that is a cover by another artist.

Oh, I have several. But I'm going with this one, because well, I'm thinking some people don't know this is a song that is a cover by another artist.

Watch on YouTube

And here's the original song-writer/artist performing their song.

And here's the background on why another artist performed the award winning cover of this famous iconic song

Comments

[wendelah1]

What a great choice. Love Kris Kristofferson, too.

[cjlasky7]

An American classic. (I'd heard the "four songs" story before, on Ken Burns' "Country Music" series, but that interview had so much more detail.)

My selection: Bonnie Raitt, "Angel from Montgomery"

"Angel from Montgomery" is Bonnie Raitt's signature song--which sounds strange, since the album with this song ("Streetlights") sold nothing, much like almost all her albums for Warner Brothers.

Her debut for Capitol, Nick of Time, sold millions, gave her the hits she always deserved--and yet, people keep coming back to this song as the purest expression of her art.

I can explain it like this: her multiplatinum years had solid, commercial songs that she elevated with her performance. John Prine's "Angel from Montgomery" is a great song that she inhabits completely.

https://youtu.be/toJ3ZYWRh24

[shadowkat]

Good pick. I love Bonnie Raitt and that's a great song, also comforting.

The song of hers I know the best - is "I Can't Make You Love Me.." and "Something to Talk About". I had that on CD.

Listened to Angel of Montgomery via John Prine recently, but Raitt's version is moving.

[atpo_onm]

I believe later on in this meme there's a "song that breaks your heart" request, and this would surely work for that too, but for expertise in covering other's songs, I've already posted before about my deep affection for Linda Ronstadt, and this cover is... well... damn.

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

~sigh~ That one line in particular gets me every single time...

"She's so many women / He can't find the one who was his friend."

A number of versions online by the original artist, I like the spare, simple quality of this one (the series of photos are interesting, but a mite distracting. I just closed my eyes and listened).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6rEbcF_Ky0

[beer_good_foamy]

Thanks for posting that interview, great to hear Kristofferson talk about it. One of my favourite Kristofferson songs is the one he wrote about Janis on the same day he listened to her version of "Bobby McGee", "Epitaph".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKttwK7Ri7E

Another cover I love by a band who's done a lot of good covers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAvdC3KvS5k

[shadowkat]

I loved both of these songs. I've I'd know about Epitaph - I'd have used for songs that make you sad category. It's so painful, but a fitting tribute to his friend, Joplin. He actually knew her. What was interesting about the song Me and Bobby McGee - is Bobby is meant to be female. God, Kristofferson is a brilliant songwriter - I like his songs better than his voice. Cash and Joplin do the best covers of some of his songs.

Cowboy Junkies is a great band. I think I've heard them before? But definitely adding to the old playlist. I like that style of music.