Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Definitive Versions
"Did you ever hear The McCoys version of Stagger Lee? I think it's the definitive version of that song."
My friend, the late great Chris K. said this to me one afternoon at the shop. I hadn't heard it at the time but once I did, I couldn't disagree with him. That baby rocks. I offered a similar thought back to him by proclaming Sam Cooke's "Frankie & Johnnie" the absolute best version of that oft-covered classic.
Here are both.
Have you got a definitive version?
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16 comments:
OK so check out this one by Formerly of the Harlettes
off their Columbia debut from 1977 (vinyl only, folks) It's Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage. It's a killer....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA7Q1C9gxRY
Two definitive versions:
Marlena Shaw's version of Roberta Flack's "Feel like making love"
(1974):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK326HjaNTA
James Brown & Marva Whitney with Dee Felice Trio performing Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" (1968):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MneqmarFLQU
"Once, Twice, Three Times" is the clincher for me.
The McCoys Stagger Lee is as good as any. It's a very durable song. I wonder how the worst version sounds?
I like Shiina Ringo's version of "Yer Blues".
http://alanwalkerart.com/audio/yer_blues.mp3
Johnny Allen - Promised Land
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOxGCxoNTMw
Pacific Gas & Electric's version called "Staggolee" in 1970 was played in my house constantly--my friends and I used to act the story out! (I always wanted to play the devil at the end) It's the only version I know, and I still have the 45, which I found just the other day while cleaning out my entertainment center. (Coincidence, again????)
http://www.amazon.com/Stagger-Lee-Derek-McCulloch/dp/1582406073
This is the Amazon link to a great resource . . . really pokes around the whole mythos.
Also a website: staggerleebook.com
It is a graphic 'novel' with great notes and sources.
Here are a couple:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagger_Lee_Shelton
http://staggerlee.com (most of the links are dead)
I will go with Dylan's version and/or the Grateful Dead's retelling.
This may be a stretch to say a Sam Cooke cover is better than original ,but i've always had a thing for Wilson Pickett version of Bring It On Home To Me !!! Check you tube rendition and wonder if anyone agrees!!!
I don't know. I'd take Otis Redding's performance of "Shake" over Sam Cooke's every day.
I like Wilson Pickett's Stagger Lee better than the McCoys, but neither version better than Mississippi John Hurt's.
The definitive version of Daddy Rolling Stone? I nominate the Forty-Fives. http://www.thefortyfivesband.com/home.html
Mancini's "House of the Rising Sun"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8onAOUzCnE
Nick Cave did an amazing - and rather homoerotic - version of Stagger Lee that is pretty amazing.
Buddy Holly - Words of Love
How can you top Champion Jack Dupree:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m98nS2ylJSg
David Bromberg's Mr Bojangles (especially live). And, another vote for Nick Cave's Stagger Lee. So out there all other versions (however good) seem rather anemic afterwards.
forget about wikipedia (god, how i hate that site) and amazon . . . here is an interesting link to Stackalee (Stagger Lee, Stagolee, etc.) and some covers
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