Entertainment For Lively Minds
R.T. by A. N. Other
Posted by Vernier Caliper on 13 May 2009 - 4:33pm.
I've heard very little by The Bearded One but, for the many of you who worship at the altar, you'll find a dozen Richard Thompson covers at http://coverlaydown.com/.
One which is not there is Maria McKee's 'Has She Got a Friend For Me' which I've always loved without knowing, until quite recently, that it's a gender-transferred version of an RT song.
Any others worth tracking down?
(Even if the man in question leaves you cold, Cover Lay Down is a site well worth spending some time with.)
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That blog...
...won't (and hasn't for a while now) open for me in either FF or IE - anyone any ideas?
Opens fine
for me using Safari, Paolo.
Works for me
FF & Safari & Flock & Shiira on a Mac.
Hmmm...
...it times out in Opera, also (opens through G Bypass, though).
My setup isn't particularly exotic, but it seems something isn't letting the site through.
David Gilmour does
"Dimming of the Day" on his live at the Barbican video, the exact title of which escapes me at the moment.
The Great Valerio
by the Fatima Mansions on the Bertie's Brochures mini album.
Wall of Death
I got a compilation of RT covers called Beat The Retreat 15 or so years ago. REM's cover of Wall of Death on that is absolutely superb - must have been recorded round about the same time as Automatic for the People and has all the pedal steel and Mike Mills harmonies you could possibly want. It's a beaut.
Absolutely...
it's a fabulous version, from back in the days when R.E.M. were the best band on the planet.
I loved...
The Martin Carthy and Maddy Prior version of The Great Valerio on the same album is pretty darned spiffing as well. But REM definitely took the laurels - the song could have been written for them I thought.
Sorry folks
I think REM's version of Wall of Death is lousy - at best functional, but to me it sounds perfunctory. Michael Stipe once described REM as the world's worst covers band, and I wouldn't demur from that assessment, having heard a similarly humdrum version of First We Take Manhattan on a Leonard Cohen tribute album, and a lamentable [stress on first syllable, obviously] stab at Wichita Lineman on a B-side. And I say this as an REM fan.
I agree with the above...
...perfunctory just about covers it - it sounds heavy-lidded, and I'm not sure Peter Buck even plays on it. The whole "Beat the Retreat" album was a bit disappointing to be honest. "The World is a Wonderful Place" is a better collection of covers.
Los Lobos' version of 'Shoot Out The Lights'...
is excellent.
Shoot out the lights
..as is Bob Mould's version...
There is an earlier RT compilation
also heartily commended, "The World is a Wonderful Place". has quite the most chilling version of "How will I ever be simple again" by Christine Collister, as well as a marvellous "Wheely Down" featuring Ivor Cutler.
There are umpteen versions done of, I think, his best song, "Dimming of the Day" from many and varied, including the whole gamut of lady singers, from Emmylou to Mary Black, but also versions by the Blind boys of Alabama and by the Neville Brothers for contrast, none beating Any Troubles early version on their 2nd Lp.
BTW, Vernier, Boyhowdy, whose blog Coverlaydown is, has been a reader and contributor to this very site.
And don't forget the very lovely and worthwhile...
His Master's Choice, an album of covers by Dave Burland which, bizarrely has RT himself contributing guitar work. Very fine so it is.
R. T.'s music in movies
Years ago went to see "Limbo" by John Sayles.Surprised by a decent rendition of "Dimming of the Day"(if I remeber correctly)from Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio who played a bar room chanteusse.
Don't suppose it's available as a recording but she has a pretty good set of pipes.
Sings nicely too
(Sorry. Haven't heard or seen it. Is there a soundtrack LP? Apart from the shocking Mad Agnes and the dreadfilling Michael Ball, I try to have all the versions.)
Quandary
Some excellent-sounding suggestions. Thank you. But if you were an RT newbie like me, would you start with the covers - or begin with Beardy and then branch out?
Start with the Organ Grinder...
...then move on to the monkey.
World is a Wonderful Place v Beat the Retreat
I have both of these, and in fact have listened to both recently in order to choose which tracks to put on my iphone. My memory was pretty much confirmed, that I much preferred The World is a Wonderful Place, 7 songs from which have made the leap into itunes, compared with only 3 from Beat the Retreat. Among the 7 is a quite mind-blowing version of Night Comes In by Full Moon Fair, which is probably my favourite RT cover. Christine Collister's contribution is beautiful too, as Retro said above [she does a fine take on Can't Win on her album Blue Aconite].
I'm afraid I thought Dave Burland's set of RT songs was awful.
Anyone remember Jo-El Sonnier's cajun version of Tear Stained Letter? That was a lot of fun.
Big tick for Jo-El
Quite a few RT songs suit a cajun style. There is a fabulous Michel Doucet LP of rock'n'roll covers, with a handy version of "Woman or a Man", featuring you-know-who guesting on geetar.
Amateur hour
An amateur band on the Isle of Man called Liebezeit used to do "I'll Tag Along" - a bit variable but generally sound....
2 crackers
End of the Rainbow and Withered and Died, as recorded by Elvis Costello
Another tick
for Jo-el. Disagree about dimming of the day however as best version is most definitely Bonnie Raitts which if anything is better even than the original.
I know I am biased but Costello did a really nice version of Withered and died.
Sorry Retro
didnt see your posting - you beat me to it.
No worries
Lichfield, home of decent music appreciation for/by 52 year olds!