What Is Life?

Cover version(s) of the month #123
Olivia Newton John covers George Harrison 

Bonus covers
George Harrison and Olivia Newton-John cover Bob Dylan's If Not For You

I recently bought a 7-inch of Paul McCartney's Coming Up on Discogs and was pleasantly surprised when Olivia Newton-John's version of George Harrison's What Is Life? (a record/cover I didn't know existed) was flagged up as another record I might be interested in. I absolutely was! Especially at the bargain price of £3. This is the modern day equivalent of finding a hidden gem in a dusty record crate. Not quite as much fun, but still pretty thrilling!

What Is Life? from George Harrison's majestic All Things Must Pass album, also released as a single in February 1971, is one of my favourite George songs. I get a lift every single time I hear it and adore the incredible guitar sounds that feature throughout.

Released a year later in 1972, Newton-John's version remains true to the original, but it doesn't have the power of George's wall of sound, the Phil Spector produced gem that has roaring brass and rippling reverb. Olivia's voice is beautiful, all sunny, light and country-tinged, super melodic and pure.

I subsequently discovered that Newton-John had also recorded Bob Dylan's If Not For You, a song that the author released in October 1970 on his New Morning album. Dylan is at his poetic best, singing beautiful lyrics in a simple and catchy melody. There is an urgency to it, and also a gentleness, especially with the xylophone played beautifully alongside the acoustic shuffle groove.

If not for you my sky would fall

Rain would gather too

Without your love I'd be nowhere at all

I'd be lost, if not for you

Dylan and Harrison recorded a version together back in May 1970. This would later be released in 1991 as part of Dylan's bootleg series. This is absolutely brilliant, all rustic and organic, Harrison's guitar sliding and piercing in all the right places, sounding utterly sublime against the acoustic groove and Dylan's harmonica. Harrison and Dylan met, jammed and wrote together. I wonder if recordings are lurking somewhere in Dylan's vaults ...

Harrison released his slide guitar infused version a month after Dylan's original on All Things Must Pass. Like many of the recordings on that wonderful album, Harrison sounds positive, hopeful and hopelessly in love. There is a playfulness to the guitars and a lovely nod to Dylan with the harmonica. 

Newton-John's version is more akin to George's. She clearly loved his own songs, and his taste in, and arrangement of, others. Her voice is beautifully pure and clear - gorgeous.

What about the original What Is Life? 

Opening with a glorious soaring Harrison fuzztone descending guitar riff the song also features Motown-esque beats and ecstatic horns. It's joyous pop music, Harrison sounds head over heels in love and happy to shout it to the world.

What I feel, I can't say

But my love is there for you any time of day

Spread across 4 minutes 24 seconds, there is plenty of time for Harrison to declare how helpless he is/would be without this incredible love he has. The drums pound, horns soar and guitars sound utterly incredible. Everything is super positive and upbeat.

Tell me, what is my life, without your love?

Tell me, who am I, without you, by my side?

Olivia Newton-John's cover version and George's original, plus their takes on Dylan and his original are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE

Previous covers of the month blogs

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 

2. Going Back To My Roots

3. Nirvana play The Vaselines

4. Slip Inside This House

5. Top 10 covers by Teenage Fanclub

6. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

7. Time For Livin' 

8. Sound and Vision 

9. All Along The Watchtower

10. I Am The Walrus 

11. Guiding Star

12. You’ll Never Walk Alone

13. Hurt

14. This Guy's In Love With You

15. I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine

16. California Soul

18. Wonder wall 

19. Dancing In The Dark

20. Always On My Mind

21. Ceremony

22. Heroes

23. Different Drum

24. Wild Horses

25. Respect

26. Mr Tambourine Man

27. I Heard It Through The Grapevine

28. Superstar

29. Twist and Shout

30. Purple Rain

31. Baker Street

32. Not Fade Away

33. Stop Your Sobbing

34. I Don't Want To Grow Up

35. Serious Drugs

36. Dancing With Myself

37. How Does It Feel To Feel?

38. Love Buzz

39. ABBA-esque
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash

41. Discoland

42. Varshons 2 by The Lemonheads

43. The Langley Schools Music Project
44. Witchi Tai To
45. Our Lips Are Sealed
46. Sunshine Of Your Love
47. Here Comes The Sun
48. I Think We're Alone Now
49. Don't Let Me Down 
50. It's Oh So Quiet
51. Alcoholiday 
52. Summer Holiday
53. Who Do You Think You Are?
54. Head On
55. Nothing Compares 2 U

56. Hey Jude

57. Seven Days Too Long

58. L.O.V.E Love

59. Into Your Arms

60. Heart Of Glass

61. Take Me To The River

62. We Can Work It Out 

63. Talking In My Sleep

64. Lola

65. Lost In Music

66. My Little Red Book

67. Isn't It A Pity

68. Walk On By

69. Walk Away Renee

70. Tainted Love

71. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

72. Listen The Snow Is Falling

73. Mrs Robinson

74. He's Gonna Step On You Again

75. In My Life

76. Caravan Of Love

77. The Only Way Is Up

78. Dancin' Round & Round

79. With A Little Help From My Friends

80. Killing Me Softly

81. Ain't No Mountain High Enough

82. Drop

83. Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay

84. Sympathy For The Devil

85. I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor

86. Love Will Tear Us Apart

87. Indian Rope Man + bonus Strawberry Fields Forever + This Wheels On Fire

88. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

89. Love The One You're With

90. Cum On Feel The Noize

91. Addicted To Love

92. Valerie

93. Ride On Time

94. Let's Dance

95. It Must Be Love

96. I Fought The Law

97. For What It's Worth

98. Do Your Thing

99. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

100. Don't Leave Me This Way

101. Shout!

102. God Only Knows

103. The Last Time

104. Bridge Over Troubled Water

105. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

106. Louie Louie

107. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

108-110. I'm A Loser, Yesterday and Beware of Darkness 

111. So You Say You Lost Your Baby

112. Kelly Watch The Stars

113. Association

114. Some Velvet Morning

115. If I Had A Boat

116. Vapour Trail

117. Femme Fatale

118. You've Got A Friend

119 & 120. Jolene & I Will Always Love You 

121. Get Ready

122. Just My Imagination 

Like A Rolling Stone

Trust me #58
Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

'Play it fucking loud!'

Bob Dylan's instruction to his band The Hawks (later to become the Band) was simple, firm and crystal clear.  And The Band responded. They played Like A Rolling Stone fucking loud and Dylan, seeming to relish the confrontation that generated his instruction, bends and twists his melodies to suit. His voice rises even louder for the chorus, he hollers it with all his heart.

How does it feel?

How does it feel?

Dylan's sense of urgency came on the back of what must be the most (in)famous heckle in musical history. It resulted in a legendary performance of Like A Rolling Stone at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester in 1966 that still causes spines to tingle and jaws to drop all these years down the line.

'Judas' was the cry from someone in the crowd, frustrated and annoyed that Dylan had given up his folk roots to 'go electric'. Dylan split his sets on this tour, opening with an acoustic half before bringing on his band for the second half. It's crazy to look back on this now, but a lot of people didn't want to see or hear him play electric.

Dylan's transformation from acoustic to electric was swifter and easier than The Beatles transformation from Mop Tops to psychedelic studio boffins! But, almost 60-years later, we're still talking about it

And no wonder. This Manchester Free Trade Hall performance documents it perfectly. One simple heckle generates an incredibly powerful response. No wonder music boffins keep writing about it, debating it and glorifying it.

There is actually a small cheer from the crowd following the heckle. Then Dylan responds; I don't believe you, he starts strumming his guitar, turns to his band who gradually start up, Dylan then says You're a liar into his microphone before turning to his band urging them to Play it fucking loud.

Photo by Mark Makin

Mark (from the 4th row) took the only known photos that night

The way Dylan then turns back to the audience and hits his guitar just as the drum kicks in is one of the coolest things you'll ever see. The basic spotlight shining on his curls gives him a Readybrek glow. And then he's off, tumbling into the flowing lyrics of Like A Rolling Stone.

Once upon a time you dressed so fine

Through the bums a dime in your prime

Didn't you?

Dylan and The Band deliver an astonishing performance over the next 8-minutes. The urgency and energy are absolutely electrifying. I love when he turns to face a young Robbie Robertson to jam on guitars and then back to his mic and his mouth organ for a furious finale. 

The song finishes to cheers, but remarkably there is still a booooo when they end. Guess you can't please everyone!

1966 Manchester - the glorious performance of Like A Rolling Stone in full

Fan account - Mark Makin - BBC interview with Mark who attended as a 16 year old

No Direction Home - Trailer - Martin Scorsese's incredible documentary of Dylan's early years up until his 1966 tour, taking in the 'electric' storm.

But Bob Dylan has only ever been interested in pleasing one person - himself. And that has led to him releasing (at the time of writing) a remarkable 40 studio albums, 96 singles plus all kinds of volumes of bootlegs and live albums. Not to mention his never ending tour where he reinterprets everything to keep his band and audience on their toes.

Like A Rolling Stone remains Dylan's biggest hit and his most famous song. In fact, it is arguably the most important song in rock/popular music. Countless books, essays and thesis' have been written about this song, debating the characters mentioned, Dylan's mindset and so much more. So I'm not going to go crazy with this blog!

Released in the summer of 1965, Like A Rolling Stone was like a hurricane, the song blew everyone and everything away. A 24-year old Dylan hollering and questioning how does it feel? sounds electrifying now. What must it have sounded and felt like in 1965? 

Well, thanks to the wonder of YouTube you can check it out. Dylan played his first electric concert at The Newport Folk Festival that year. The folkies had already criticised him for abandoning his political acoustic songs that had led to him being labelled the spokesperson for a generation. 

Dylan looks sensational and completely in the zone, dressed in a leather jacket, shirt buttoned up, mouth organ round his neck. The band (the Paul Butterfield Blues Band) jam Like A Rolling Stone into life, there is some lovely jangly guitar and then Dylan finds the groove and they are off. The hammond organ sound is glorious. The sight of Dylan playing and singing his heart out against a dark background, illuminated by a single spotlight and occasional flashes from cameras, is stunning. 

Newport 1965

Dylan wrote the song, "a long piece of vomit, 20 pages long", from frustration. He was allegedly ready to give up singing as he didn't dig anything he was doing. All of a sudden he had something he dug in a big way.

Al Kooper was invited to jam on hammond organ and his improvised riff became a key part of the song. Dylan and his band capture something magical. It did take time, at least 15 takes, but they sure did get there.

Al Kooper's story of recording the song

Just enjoy the Manchester 66 and Newport 65 live videos above and check the original recording below. Do me a favour though. PLAY IT FUCKING LOUD.

Original audio

Like A Rolling Stone is added to my Trust Me playlist on Spotify. You can find a list of all the songs on it to date below, along with links to the blogs.

Search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify , or CLICK HERE

Official video

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix 4

 

Photo by Gered Mankowitz

In memory of Charlie Watts, this months Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix kicks off with the outstanding Happy from The Stones epic Exile On Main Street album. Blasting out one of my favourite Stones songs led me to creating a rock n roll  style mix, the kind of tunes that would blast out in McChuills on High Street. A lot of the artists that feature in this mix have record sleeves adorning the walls in my favourite pub.

This mix would soundtrack a great night! Raw guitars, dirty grooves, cool hooks, vocals, soul and attitude dripping out of each and every song.

Enjoy. You can find this mix on Spotify by searching for Everything Flows DJ mix 4 

or by CLICKING HERE

Tracklist

Happy - Rolling Stones

Have Love Will Travel - The Sonics

Green Onions - Booker T and the M.G.'s

Baby, Please Don't Go - Them

Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan

Louie Louie - The Kingsmen

Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix

Wild Thing - The Troggs

I Wanna Be Your Dog - The Stooges

My Generation - The Who

My Little Red Book - Love

I'm Waiting For The Man - The Velvet Underground

L.A. Woman - The Doors

Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers

The Jean Genie - David Bowie

Personality Crisis - New York Dolls

Tin Soldier - Small Faces

Till The End Of The Day - The Kinks

Never Ending Mixtape Part 20

Welcome to the 20th section of the Never Ending Mixtape, my Spotify playlist that I add to on a regular basis and blog on monthly (sometimes twice).

20 songs are added and it's quite a mix ranging from a blissed out Primal Scream to a some funk soul masterpieces by Sly and the Family Stone.

In between we have beautiful disco electro from Joe Goddard (Hot Chip), indie cool from Galaxie 500, the pure rush of Dylan's seminal Like A Rolling Stone, 2 from The Beatles including Two Of Us - a song that always reminds me of buying the Let It Be album on cassette from Impulse Records in Hamilton and playing it on the way home as my Mum drove to Carluke through the Clyde Valley

The Roses are in with their sublime Where Angels Play and then we have 3 from Love including one of my top 3 favourite songs of all time - You Set The Scene. I was fortunate to catch Arthur Lee and Love half a dozen times in the 00's and his voice blew me away. The first time I caught him at Tuts shortly after he had been released from prison and I don't think I have ever felt my spine tingle quite as much as it did when he played this.

Jimmy Cliff plays the Kelvingrove Bandstand in the summer and he has 3 classics. His performance at Wickerman a few years ago was exceptional and I Can See Clearly Now was mind blowingly beautiful, euphoric and mesmerising.

We have a funk classic in the shape of Sport before a couple of tunes discovered through Spotify - the very gorgeous Stop Your Tears, a new wave pop tune from XTC and something from Super 8.

The latest additions close with a tender flowing instrumental from Curtis Mayfield before 2 bonafide classics from Sly and the Family Stone.

Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify. Or click HERE.

The latest additions are listed below. You'll need to scroll down to play them, or just click shuffle and see where you start!

ENJOY!

Come Together - Primal Scream
Ordinary Madness - Joe Goddard
Strange - Galaxie 500
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
Dear Prudence - The Beatles
Two Of Us - The Beatles
Where Angels Play - The Stone Roses
You Set The Scene - Love

Wonder People (I Do) - Love
Hummingbirds - Love
I Can See Clearly Now - Jimmy Cliff
The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff
Many Rivers To Cross - Jimmy Cliff
Sport - Lightnin' Rod
Stop Your Tears - Aldous Harding
Senses Working Overtime - XTC

T T T Technicolour Melodies - Super 8
Think - Curtis Mayfield
Everyday People - Sly and the Family Stone
Time For Livin' - Sly and the Family Stone

Never Ending Mixtape Part 18

Welcome to the latest additions to The Never Ending Mixtape, which smashes the 400 song barrier without breaking sweat as a whole heap of songs are added to my Spotify Playlist.

We start with the sublime Rocket Man by Elton John, leading into a Dylan song that reminds me of the magical time I saw him at the Barrowland Ballroom. we have two sublime covers by The Fuzzy Bunnies and The Icypoles, the smooth seductive sound of Barry White, a Donovan song that I thought was a lost Belle and Sebastian number when I first heard it, the majestic Carole King, fantastic indie guitar from Guided By Voices and The Replacements, a beautiful Lennon song sung by Yoko, some gems from The Boo Radleys Giant Steps album and a couple of tracks by Royksopp that reminds me (pardon the pun) of dating my wife back in 2001/2 and going clubbing. Their Melody AM album was a post club favourite.

There is also 3 gems from New Order, including 2 from their Technique LP, we have Stevie Wonder covering The Byrds/Dylan, 2 from The Supremes, a beauty from Martha Reeves, a masterclass in songwriting from Gordon Lightfoot and 3 timeless pieces of rock n roll from Eddie Cochran.

You can search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or simply check it out below. You'll need to scroll to near the end for the latest additions (listed below). Or just press shuffle and enjoy. New additions are added and blogged about monthly.

Enjoy!

Rocket Man - Elton John

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight - Bob Dylan

Love Hurts - Gram Parsons

I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better - The Byrds

Wasn't Born To Follow - The Byrds

Blue Boy - Orange Juice

L.O.V.E. Love - Orange Juice

The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore - The Fuzzy Bunnies

Love Thy Will Be Done - The Icypoles

Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right - The Mayberry Movement

Let The Music Use You (12-inch) The Nightwriters

It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me - Barry White

Wear Your Love Like Heaven - Donovan

It's Too Late - Carole King

Glad Girls - Guided By Voices

Swinging Party - The Replacements

The Joker - Steve Miller Band

Time Of The Season - The Zombies

Remember Love - John Lennon and Yoko Ono

You Are Here - John Lennon

Take It All In - St Etienne

Wish I Was Skinny - The Boo Radleys

Lazarus - The Boo Radleys

I Don't Know Why I Love You - The House of Love

Eple - Royksopp

Remind Me - Royksopp
Age Of Consent - New Order

All The Way - New Order
Run - New Order
Disappointed - Electronic
Mr. Tambourine Man - Stevie Wonder
Bad Weather - The Supremes
Love Child - The Supremes
I Can't Dance To The Music You're Playing - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
C'Mon Everybody - Eddie Cochran
Somethin' Else - Eddie Cochran

Mr Tambourine Man

Cover version of the month #26

Hi we're called Teenage Fanclub and this is a song by The Byrds

This is how I was introduced to the legendary Bob Dylan song. I recorded Teenage Fanclub live from Reading off the radio back in 1992. I was immediately hooked on the chiming guitars and flowing lyrics and the imagery of the song, the title too!

The Fanclub version was pretty true to the 2-minutes of pure guitar pop genius that The Byrds produced in homage to Dylan back in April 1965, only a month after Dylan had released his classic Bringing It All Back Home LP. The jingle-jangle mentioned in Dylan's chorus is replicated by beautiful 12-string Rickenbacker in the Byrd's version.

The Byrd's manager had acquired an acetate of Dylan's original recording of the song, ear-marked for Another Side Of Bob Dylan, but the author decided the song was special and he hadn't captured it correctly, so he held it back for his next LP, re-recording it in January 1965. Ironically the month The Byrds recorded their version!

One of Dylan's many masterpieces, Mr Tambourine Man is a flowing psychedelic poem that lasts 5-minutes and 27 seconds, during which time Dylan barely pauses for breath (either singing or playing harmonica) and a guitarist called Bruce Langhorne plays some exquisite lead guitar.

The Byrds cut out most of the verses and in 2 and a half minutes they produce something utterly compelling and vital. The harmonies are glorious, the guitar riff is one that must surely have made kids pick up a guitar. Roger McGuinn's lead vocals are sublime, suiting the dreamy and surreal lyrics penned by Dylan.

 Dylan played around with Mr Tambourine Man a lot, producing a remarkable version on his Live At The Budokan album which was one of the first Dylan albums I bought. Listen to the flute and the incredible organ solo - what a band! You can listen to this version below along with the original, the glorious Byrds cover and also one by Stevie Wonder.

Previous covers of the month

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 

2. Going Back To My Roots

3. Nirvana play The Vaselines

4. Slip Inside This House

5. Top 10 covers by Teenage Fanclub

6. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

7. Time For Livin' 

8. Sound and Vision 

9. All Along The Watchtower

10. I Am The Walrus 

11. Guiding Star

12. You’ll Never Walk Alone

13. Hurt
14. This Guy's In Love With You

15. I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine
16. California Soul
18. Wonder wall 
19. Dancing In The Dark
20. Always On My Mind
21. Ceremony
22. Heroes
23. Different Drum
24. Wild Horses

25. Respect

All Along The Watchtower

Cover of the month #9

All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

Most, if not all, of my blogs on cover versions to date talk about artists transforming a song - Jimi Hendrix takes on Dylan's All Along The Watchtower and takes it to another planet. Hendrix guitar playing is trailblazing. Mitch Mitchell more than matches Hendrix' guitar with his ferocious drumming. Noel Redding usually underpinned everything, but Hendrix plays bass on this recording. Online info seems to indicate Redding walked out of the recording as it was all done rather spontaneously with Hendrix shouting chord changes. Brian Jones from the Stones plays percussion. 

Dylan's version came out in 1967 with Hendrix following swiftly a mere 6-months later. Hendrix peppered his career with covers; Hey Joe being the obvious one, but he also covered The Beatles Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band on the day the album was released, shredded Wild Thing and famously interrupted a live TV performance of Hey Joe by saying 'We'd like to stop playing this rubbish and dedicate a song to Cream....' and taking off on an instrumental tribute of Sunshine Of Your Love to the band who were breaking up.

Hendrix is on fire, the breakdown at 2-minutes in and subsequent guitar solo with Hendrix yelping 'hey' goes on for a spellbinding 50-seconds before Hendrix brings it all back in.

Dylan has said of Hendrix' version: 'It overwhelmed me, really. He has such a talent, he could find things inside a song and vigorously develop them. He found things that other people wouldn't think of finding in there. He probably improved upon it by the spaces he was using.'

Hendrix's version remains pretty true to the vocal melody (although he gives it more urgency and just sounds typically Hendrix cool) and acoustic rhythm, but his electric guitar just takes it to another dimension. The needle practically leaps of the record, it sounds vital, there is so much going on, yet like Dylan says in his quote above, Hendrix finds space and he also finds a real groove. 

Previous covers of the month

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 

2. Going Back To My Roots

3. Nirvana play The Vaselines

4. Slip Inside This House

5. Top 10 covers by Teenage Fanclub

6. Only Love Can Break Your Heart

7. Time For Livin' 
8. Sound and Vision 

Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire at Oran Mor, 27th May 2011

Roddy Hart and his band The Lonesome Fire displayed all the signs of a band on the way up at a sold out Oran Mor last night. Riding high in confidence on the back of the Forever Young - Bob Dylan birthday concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in January, Hart and his band flew through their back catalogue and played a few new songs to boot.

Support band the Sunshine Social played a short acoustic set, with Hart and co determined to have their equipment set up and ready to go. The highlight of the set was a stunning song that the singer played at the end called 'Bones' that moved him to tears. It was emotional and the young guy was baring his heart and soul on stage, resulting in a hug from his band mates afterwards.

The Lonesome Fire is now a 6-piece band as Hart continues to develop his sound; think Petty mixed with Dylan, The Band and Springsteen. With two (sometimes 3) electric guitars (Roddy is normally on acoustic), there is a real warmth and depth on stage.

Opening with a new song, the band barely let up for the first few songs until Roddy welcomes and thanks the crowd. 

Throughout the course of the night and the between song banter we learn that Roddy has had a busy day; finishing a song (that he plays along at the piano with the lyrics in front of him), attending a mate from uni's wedding and playing two songs, getting stuck on the M8 on the way ack(checking to see if someone who tweeted him to say they were stuck has arrived) and playing a packed Oran Mor!

There are many highlights from the night, I should really take a pen and paper to gigs to get the setlist, but I go to gigs to enjoy them, not to take notes. So in no particular order;

'She Is All I Need' was a searing blast of American rock with Hart on harmonica; 'Home' received one of the biggest cheers of the night and rightly so, with beatutiful guitar work and Hart's voice at its best.

'Send A Message' is epic pop with eches of U2 and Coldplay at times, Petty and the Heartbreakers at times, particularly towards the end when it moves up through the gears with the; 'send send, send send the message' section with a gorgeous stadium size (yet delicate) guitar riff.

The band rip through a song called 'A Girl Named Joe' and afterwards we learn that it originated from a jam session with Ryan Adams, although he ended up collapsed in a corner, so Hart finshed the song. It was good fun guitar pop.

'Take Me Home' was another cracker, harmonies reaching skywards, a lovely piano riff taing the song all the way.

'Edge of Love' is stunningly beautiful, the band seem to work as one throughout the night and Hart ensures they are well thanked and name checked to applause from the crowd.

'I will take away your loneliness and fear, to the edge of love I will follow you my dear'

'Bright  Light Fever' is one of a number of new songs thrown into the set, it is another epic song with the band really going for it. A possible future single (to my ears anyway), this is a song that the band clearly enjoy playing, I could imagine it being played and enjoyed at festivals.

'Mercy Boat' ends the night in stunning fashion, Hart's lyrics are among his best, his voice throughout the night is sensational, rising and falling when required, roaring and straining in all the right places, backed up superbly on harmonies by the Lonesome Fire.

'it might take time, strength, prayers, we'll get there'

This summer will see the CD release of his third album Road of Bones (currently available on LP here) and I am sure that the band will kick on from there. I'd highly recommend going to see them live the next time they are in town, although if you fancy a trip to Paisley they play there in June.

Forever Young - A 70th birthday tribute to Bob Dylan at Celtic Connections

I've just about recovered from a quite sensational concert at the Royal Concert Hall on Monday night. 


Rising Scot's singer-songwriter Roddy Hart curated a magnificent bill of artists to pay tribute to the legendary Bob Dylan as part of Celtic Connections and celebrate the year of his 70th birthday.


At one point during the night, a visibly moved Hart recalled making the pitch for the concert to the Director of Celtic Connections, thinking that he may agree to a venue the size of King Tuts or Nice n Sleazys. However when the Director agreed to the gig, Hart was encouraged to pitch for the Concert Hall and was successful. Hart then set about inviting artists to join him, contacting Roseanne Cash via Twitter and proving successful.


If Hart was surprised by his success, I imagine no-one in the audience would have been. Hart was polite, genuinely passionate, talented, engaging and the perfect host, admirably backed by his band The Lonesome Fire for the night.


With all of the effort and time invested into the concert it was fitting that Roddy and The Lonesome Fire should open proceedings and they did that in fine style, roaring through 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'.

(Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire)

If Hart deserves huge credit for the night he put on, so too do the staff at the venue who ensured that the artists got on and off stage to join Roddy and the band for all of the songs.


The show started at 7.30pm sharp and finished at 11pm with a break in between, there was a lot to get through so lets crack on. The fill setlist is above so here we go.


Rab Noakes joined the band for a loving stomp through 'Absolutely Sweet Marie', keeping up the pace set from the opener, before Tim O'Brien and his band took us on a country tip for 'Maggie's Farm' before RH&TLF rejoined them for a gorgeous 'Lay Down Your Weary Tune'.


That was followed by one of my personal highlights of the night, a beautiful solo rendition of 'Buckets Of Rain' by Eddie Reader. Her voice was beautiful and her guitar playing exceptional.


Thea Gilmore then came back on with the boys and sand 'I Pity The Poor Immigrant' before launching into a stunning 'Masters of War', introducing it by saying it is still so meaningful today. It was powerful stuff and she rightly received rapturous applause.

(Thea Gilmore)

Gemma Hayes was up next, an absolutely gorgeous singer from Ireland with an equally gorgeous voice and a nice cheeky smile. The crowd responded warmly to her song choice of 'The Times They Are A Changing' before a beautiful rendition of the modern Dylan classic 'Most of the Time'.

(Gemma Hayes)

Kris Drever was up next with a solo rendition of 'A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall' before Nell Bryden and the band played a great version of 'Just Like A Woman' and a romp through 'All Along The Watchtower' with James Grant on soaring guitar. Taking us to the break, phew! 


Every artist had a beautiful voice but the power in Nell's voice was something else, powerful and soulful.


Roddy and the band kicked things off with a beautiful take on 'It's Not Dark Yet'. The band were absolutely awesome throughout the night, top marks to them and Roddy for the hours of rehearsal they must have put in.

(Roddy Hart)

Josh Rouse, a funky wee guy, came on for a song I wasn't aware of but I'll be searching for called 'The Man In Me', following it up with a brilliant take on 'Lay Lady Lay'.


The band got a wee break while James Grant returned with a solo take on 'Simple Twist of Fate' before Laura Cantrell wowed the crowd with her takes on 'I Thew It All Away' and 'Mr. Tambourine Man'. She must like the 'Live At Buddokan' album as the rendition of the latter featured the flourishes in that Dylan version.


Young Scot's singer Tommy Reilly came on with his best Dylan impression on'It Ain't Me Babe', looking a bit like a young Dylan, if a little nervous at the size of the crowd.


I was then jealous of Roddy Hart as he got to share the vocal duties with Gemma Hayes on 'Oh Sister', their harmonies combining effortlessly. Rab Noakes then played a fantastic solo version of 'Mississippi'.


And still they kept coming....


'Blowing In The Wind' was a joy before the star of the show (well that was really Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire) Roseanne Cash came on, opening with 'License To Kill' before a great version of 'Girl From The North Country' that her Dad had recorded with Dylan.

(Roseanne Cash)

Roseanne was at ease, oozing confidence and personality and she had the crowd singing a long to 'You Ain't Going Nowehere' before Roddy invited all the artists back on for 'My Back Pages' and 'Forever Young'.


After a huge standing ovation Roddy came on solo to play 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue' before everyone joined him for renditions of 'I Shall Be Released' and a romp through 'Like A Rolling Stone'.


This was a great, great night and one I will remember for a long time. Top marks to Roddy for organising such an enjoyable and successful evening.