Going Back To My Roots

Cover version of the month #2
Going Back To My Roots by Ritchie Havens

Last month I started a new feature - cover of the month - with the Gladys Knight and the Pips version of the classic You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', declaring that it might be my favourite cover version of all time.

Minutes later I realised that one of my favourite songs of all time is actually a cover. Since the first time I heard Ritchie Havens doing Lamont Dozier's Going Back To My Roots it has been a staple in my top 3 fave songs ever.

I didn't realise that it was a cover version when I first heard it on a magnificent compilation; All Back To Mine by Sean Rowley. I might blog about that later this month!

I play Ritchie's version any time I DJ; the long funky intro building into a total groove with fantastic house piano, the wah-wah guitar, the ah-ah-ah oh-oh-oh backing vocals,  and then Ritchie kicks in with a rich and soulful vocal full or urgency.

Zippin' up my boots

Going back to my roots

To the place of my birth

Back down to earth

Not talkin' 'bout the roots in the land

I'm talkin' 'bout the roots in the man

Zippin' up my boots, join' back to my roots

I'm homeward bound, got my head turned around

It's difficult to know where the chorus is, the song just flows and keeps on going. The outro is exceptionally powerful with Havens really going for it. His voice throughout his just sublime, pushed to the limit, sounding soulful and true.

It's not black, it's not white

It's not red, it's not yellow.....

It's down to earth, it's down to earth 

The original is also absolutely sublime, a 10-minute epic by one of the most incredible songwriters of all-time. Dozier is absolutely on fire with the vocal delivery and the groove is sensational, leading to an extended africana outro.

Worth noting that a cover by Odyssey is probably the most famous version of the song - but here is the original in all its glory.