While covers and re-interpretations of this song abound, leave it to Dolly herself (well with the help of some basic technology) to be capable of perhaps the best rendition. Jack White, Ellie Goulding, Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons, Fiona Apple and even Miley Cyrus, you can all take a seat. Turns out, all you gotta do is slow the original down by 25% (33 rpm) and you get a soulful, amazingly organic sounding piece of music. I can't stop listening.
I do have a weak spot for A. this song. I was very nearly named Jolene. (I think we can agree it's probably best I wasn't.) B.) The country music and C. The Dolly. She is everything. If I could be a version of Dolly for the new millennium, I could die happy. She's blonde, has big boobs, gives herself permission to be sweet and even a little ditzy, but she's laughing all the way to bank as the most successful female songwriter of all time. No need to cover Dolly. Just let Dolly do it.
Beauty, boobs, and heart, Ladies & Gentleman. And SKILLZ.
On Natalie Maines' newest album, Mother, one of the highlights is her cover of "Lover, You Should Have Come Over." One of my favorite songs from youth, reinterpreted by another one of my favorite singers from youth. Natalie and Jeff's vocals share a similar flesh-searing quality. They've always cut through the meat, straight to the bone.
This album is a prime example of that. Ben Harper has a lot to do with what works about this album too. It's no wonder she got hooked up with Harper, who, despite his successes as a vocalist, etc etc will first and forever be known as an amazing pedal-steel player. (Like my dad! And Natalie Maines's dad, Lloyd-- one of the best EVER.)
I'm not sure I realized initially how many covers would be on her new album. But I'm loving it all so far. You too can stream the whole album as part of NPR's First Listen. The album goes on sale May 7th.
Happy Monday!
My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder...
Buckley was meant to be sung in a church in Texas by Natalie Maines.
Here's my other fave.
My birthday's not until Friday, but clearly, many of my favorites know me well and are joining me in celebrating my birthday all week. And I thank them for their musical gifts.
New live tracks from Milo Greene, there's a a few new tracks from CHVRCHES, and even Lennon and Maisy Stella kicked The Lumineers to the curb with their cover of "Ho Hey." You guys. Buy this.
Before I was a writer, or a New Yorker... Before I went to Scotland...Before I was anything at all, I was a country musician's kid. I think that's at the most fundamental bedrock of my DNA. In fact! Speaking of being a country musician's kid, even my dad sent along some new and old school tracks he's been working on lately.
Which is why I like bands like Milo Greene at the end of the day. And why Nashville is the show I most look forward to every week. Lennon and Maisy Stella make me cry. If I'd had a real sister, we would have been like them. Because I would have bullied us into being so. Also... they're Canadian. I cannot. I overflow with love.
Thanks for these bitchin' birthday gifts, guys. I share them now with my small but mighty readership.
After spending a lot of time thinking about and writing about SMASH yesterday, what a refreshing change to watch NASHVILLE at the end of the day. I sure wish the writers of SMASH are watching that show. I sure wish Kat McPhee would learn a thing or two from both Hayden Panetierre and Connie Britton. Nashville is my most looked-forward-to show happy watch each week. It's doing everything right that SMASH is doing wrong.
One such example is this song. Work the steel line OUT. Just a little something for your Thursday. Buy it.
