I was out for a run on a fine soft morning just a few minutes ago. I was listening to my little iPod, when what comes on but 2007 Kansas City Irish Fest headliners The Young Dubliners. Specifically, it was the Dubs' version of The Waterboys classic Fisherman's Blues. Which got me thinking about covers.
Normally, I'm wary. There are obvious exceptions of course. Bob Dylan himself said that once Jimi Hendrix covered Dylan's All Along The Watchtower, that it was Jimi's song. Now I love love love the Waterboys doing Fisherman's Blues. But I gotta tell you, The Dubs really nail it. And not as an imitation of the original. They make it sound like a Dubs song.
So I wanted to ask you: what covers do you think work? Which don't? Do The Elders out-Galway Girl the great Steve Earle? Is Eddie Delahunt's version of Dirty Old Town superior to the Pogues, which is itself of course, a cover? And while we're opining about music, what about rock covers of trad tunes? The Young Dubs, of course, are masters of that particular art, with their versions of Rocky Road To Dublin, Follow Me up To Carlow and The Foggy Dew now industry standards. But seriously, is there anything better than Thin Lizzy's version of Whiskey In The Jar? On my run this morning I also heard from '07 Irish Festers The Prodigals doing a great, almost reggae version of The Town Of Ballybay. Great stuff altogether.
So let me know what you think. Click the little "comments" line down there and be heard. And if you're a runner, put these on your iPod: James Harmon's Icepick's Confession and Birdland by Weather Report. You'll run all day.
Your Guide to the 17th Annual Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center. www.KCIrishFest.com
About Me
- Danny Regan
- Danny is a founder, past president, and creative director of the Kansas City Irish Fest. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, the greatest city in America. He's authored Tir na Blog since 2006.
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9 comments:
Eddie's Dirty Old Town and Fields of Athenry are awesome
Randy from The Elders did a great Galway Girl
Young Dubs Fisherman's Blues not only works but might be better than Pogues
I don't think I have ever heard a Whiskey in the Jar I didn't like
However, the one I am really liking today is Field of Athenry with Maz from McCabes
You run?
That some kind of slam, Sunshine?
sunshine, how do you think he keeps his girlish figure?
I have the new Dubs cd "the irish sessions" I love the way they do all the covers except "tell me ma" I just plain don't like that song.
Thank you for noticing, Liz.
Planxty's version of that song from that movie with George Clooney something about oh brother let's go down down to the river to pray.
Christy Moore's version of Butterfly-originally done by the Handsome Family----I think. Which by the way I will be sitting in the front row of Christy's concert in Newbridge next Wednesday.....jealous much?
Luka Blooms version of 'I need Love.
And that's all I have because I just realized I will be in Ireland in 3 more days and I'm too giddy to type.
The Fuchsia Band's version of The Saw Doctor's Joyce Country Ceili Band is pretty cool.
I like The Lucky Charms version of the The Skye Boat Song. These women show great harmonies and instrumentation. I also love their own tune The New World. They do a great version of Fields of Athenry that if full of the harmonies that have made them a KC favorite.
Eddie's Dirty Old Town is great. The Kelihan's version of Wild Rover is awesome. Flanagan's right hook does a heck of cover of Drunken Lullabies, Black and Tans, and they're cover of the Boxer is the best I've heard.
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