Best Rock versions of traditional songs

20 Nov 04 - 09:14 PM (#1334108)
Subject: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Nerd

Given the current thread on Rolling Stones' 500 top rock songs, I thought it might be fun for members to list their favorite rock arrangements of traditional songs. I would go with the following (in no order):

Tony Sheridan and the Beatles: My Bonnie
Nirvana: Where did you Sleep?
Bo Diddley: Bo Diddley (which is a version of "hambone," etc)
Grateful Dead: Samson and Delilah
Cordelia's Dad: Jersey City
Ritchie Valens: La Bamba (or maybe the Los Lobos remake!)
John Wesley Harding: Edward
Bill Haley and his Comets: The Saints Rock and Roll
David Bromberg Band: Mrs. Delion's Lament
Beach Boys: Sloop John B.
Dr. John: Iko Iko
Led Zeppelin: Gallows Pole
Steeleye Span: All Around My Hat (They did better songs, but none rockier)
Otis Clay: Banks of the Ohio
Snatch and the Poontangs: The Great Stack-a-Lee (really a traditional "toast" set to music, offensive as all hell to boot!)


Anyone want to add their own favorites? Maybe you'll steer me toward new CD purchases!

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20 Nov 04 - 09:22 PM (#1334110)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Peace

CCR: Cotton Fields

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20 Nov 04 - 09:39 PM (#1334116)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Peace

Simon and Garfunkle: PSR+T

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21 Nov 04 - 12:39 AM (#1334201)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Nerd

I'll have to listen again to the Creedence. The only reason I didn't mention S & G is that it isn't all that different from a non-rock version! But it IS a great track!

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21 Nov 04 - 05:05 AM (#1334274)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Sooz

Thin Lizzie - Whiskey in the jar
Pogues - Irish Rover

still thinking.......

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21 Nov 04 - 05:52 AM (#1334291)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Les in Chorlton

Fairport Matty Groves

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21 Nov 04 - 05:57 AM (#1334293)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Big Tim

John Barleycorn, by Traffic.

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21 Nov 04 - 05:58 AM (#1334294)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Jerry Rasmussen

Boston Burglar - Cat Mother And The Allnight Newsboys
If I Was A Carpenter - Bobby Darin
Muleskinner Blues - The Fendermen
Shanendoah - James Taylor
Stacko-O-Lee Lloyd Price

Jerry

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21 Nov 04 - 06:09 AM (#1334305)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Jerry Rasmussen

And of course,, House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals

Jerry

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21 Nov 04 - 08:13 AM (#1334372)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST

Jim Moray + The Oysterband - Cuckoos Nest

Its like the version sung by Barry Dransfield on Morris On, but with added guitar solos!

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21 Nov 04 - 05:50 PM (#1334702)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: 12-stringer

"If I Was a Carpenter" was composed by Tim Hardin in the 60s, so it's hardly a "traditional" song!

"Rain and Snow" by the Grateful Dead, derived from Obray Ramsey, definitely a traditional piece.
"How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live" by Ry Cooder, from Blind Alfred Reed, who may have composed it.

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21 Nov 04 - 07:38 PM (#1334763)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: PoppaGator

Also by Creedence, "Midnight Special."

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21 Nov 04 - 08:04 PM (#1334790)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Jerry Rasmussen

True... If I was a Carpenter isn't a traditional song. Not sure that Jersey City is, either. Don't even know for sure if Boston Burglar is.

Jerry

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21 Nov 04 - 08:54 PM (#1334829)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: PoppaGator

In addition to the two or three songs referenced above, a *lot* of the Grateful Dead repertoire consisted of traditional covers (e.g., "I Know You Rider," "Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie). They were originally a jug band, after all.

However, many of their other songs whose titles quote from traditional sources are in fact newly composed Hunter-Garcia pieces (e.g., "Shake Sugaree"). Like many more "purist" folkies, they were making an honest effort to write within, and contribute to, a time-honored tradition.

Then there are the many not-quite-folk songs they did: folk-revival-era originals, like Bonnie Dobson's "Morning Dew"; and blues/R&B standards, like Bobby Bland's "Lovelight." Well, maybe the Libba Cotton song I mentioned above is not truly traditional, but falls into this category.

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22 Nov 04 - 01:58 AM (#1334970)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Lonesome EJ

I've always thought the Byrds' version of Wild Mountain Thyme the prettiest version I've heard because of the rich harmonies. Unfortunately, the recording suffers from over-production as did many mid-sixties folk-rock efforts, with lots of strings dampening the impact of the vocal.I also think they had excellent versions of John Riley and The Bells of Rhymney, if Rhymney can be called traditional.

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22 Nov 04 - 06:47 AM (#1335125)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: rich-joy

Stonecutter Boy : the Oyster Band, springs to mind ...

... but now me mind has sprung off too.



Cheers! R-J

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22 Nov 04 - 07:36 AM (#1335160)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,mollycat

Canadee-I-O by The Duncan McFarlane Band

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22 Nov 04 - 09:21 AM (#1335226)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Den

I like the Thin Lizzy version of Whiskey in the Jar and then that version was also covered by Metalica. Horslips did a great version of The King of the Fairies.

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22 Nov 04 - 10:05 AM (#1335240)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Nerd

Jerry, Jersey City is a version of "The Butcher Boy" or "Died For Love" that happens to be set in Jersey City instead of Oxford City, etc. It's a nice Americanized version: "There is a tavern in the town, where my love goes and hangs around..."

The Boston Burglar is also considered a trad song (Laws L16B to be precise!)

But If I was a carpenter isn't.

mollycat, I don't know the Duncan McFarlane band. Are they generally worth looking into?

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22 Nov 04 - 10:25 AM (#1335253)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: M.Ted

Not to forget the Beach Boys versions of "Sloop John B" "Cottonfields"--

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22 Nov 04 - 10:58 AM (#1335276)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST

Copper Kettle was done by a rock band, Maybe Led Zepelin?

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22 Nov 04 - 11:03 AM (#1335278)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Splott Man

So nobody rates Van Morrison's attempts, then?

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22 Nov 04 - 11:04 AM (#1335279)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: punkfolkrocker

Kaleidoscope [US 60's band.. not 60's UK band with same name]

"Oh death"

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22 Nov 04 - 11:05 AM (#1335281)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Jerry Rasmussen

Ricky Nelson - My Bucket's Got a Hole In It and Get Along Home, Cindy
Gene Vincent - Frankie & Johnny

Jerry

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22 Nov 04 - 11:15 AM (#1335293)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,ClaireBear

The Home Service: On Alright Jack, John Tams' original song "Sorrow" (words here) is followed by a short, ominous instrumental reference to "Dies Irae", segueing into an amazing, rocked-out "Babylon Is Fallen." The whole arrangement is brilliantly crafted, and "Babylon Is Fallen" is WONDERFUL!

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22 Nov 04 - 11:26 AM (#1335303)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Paco Rabanne

'Ace of Spades' by Motorhead.

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22 Nov 04 - 11:32 AM (#1335310)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: JulieF

You may jest with Motorhead but when I saw them a couple of weeks ago Lemmy did a rather good Blues track as part of the encore including blues harmonica. ( then they played Ace of Spades)

J

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22 Nov 04 - 12:03 PM (#1335344)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Bill D

" Best Rock versions of traditional songs"

**null category--does not compute**

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22 Nov 04 - 12:22 PM (#1335362)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Once Famous

The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens (wimoweh)

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22 Nov 04 - 12:47 PM (#1335386)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,Terry K

The Beef Can Close by Five Hand Reel. I guess it's really electric folk, but where do you draw the line, particularly with an arrangement like that.

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22 Nov 04 - 12:48 PM (#1335387)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,DMcF

Hello Nerd. You say...

Mollycat, I don't know the Duncan McFarlane band. Are they generally worth looking into?

...she's a fan, so one would expect her to say something nice.

Are you in the USA Nerd? This from Dirty Linen, The USA's magazine of folk and world music (#113, August/September '04)

The world can always use more good English folk-rock, and the Duncan McFarlane Band from West Yorkshire is off to a promising start on its inaugural recording, Woodshed Boys.
This is loud, fast music, based on the rhythms of English country dance music and reminiscent of some incarnations of the Albion Band with sharp-edged electric guitar leads, electric fiddle, and gutsy, gritty singing.
The power chords in the traditional nautical tale 'Bring 'Em Down' crash like surf on rocks, and there's a strong rocking arrangement of Nic Jones' version of 'Canadee-i-o', plus potent instrumental sets like the 'Twohey Step' with duelling electric guitar and fiddle as leads.

...so Canadee-I-O gets mentioned in despatches by that independant source.

If you UK based, try this from one of our 'nationals'.....

Review from fRoots, June 04 issue
The Duncan McFarlane Band "Woodshed Boys" (Dunx Music CD016)
Full-throated folk rock with as much attack as the Charge of the Light Brigade. Could have done with a bit less throttle at times, but at least McFarlane and crew are eager and put some determination into proceedings.
Guests include Maggie Boyle (flute) and Alistair's Hulett and Russell (vocals). A loud party animal and totally unashamed.

...even the BBC have noticed something...
BBC Radio Two Folk & Acoustic Website [14/07/04]
TOP SOAP FEATURES DUNCAN McFARLANE BAND
They may be fairly new to the scene, but English folk-rockers The Duncan McFarlane Band are already media stars: tracks from their debut CD Woodshed Boys are currently being featured as background music in ITV's Emmerdale*; tune in on August 3rd for a scene where their tune Jigolo issues loudly from a shed and causes complaint! Though the band is flying the flag for full-on electric folk, front man McFarlane also plays traditional music, writes songs and tunes, and has recently accompanied Margaret Walters of Sydney-based duo Walters & Warner on tour. The band is receiving top reviews in the UK and US for both their CD and live appearances

...generally not doing too bad for a semi-pro band not many folk have heard yet. We just enjoy it man! www.duncanmcfarlane.co.uk
No management, no agent - having to do all our own publicity - hence this episode! Come see us! Or ask any of the festival organisers that've put us on so far - see website, www.duncanmcfarlane.co.uk
All the best - Duncan

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22 Nov 04 - 01:16 PM (#1335416)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Steve-o

Geeezzz, nobody's talking about the Byrds......the originators of what we call "Folk-Rock"??? Their version of "Old Blue" is fabulous. And how about "You Don't Miss Your Water". "Turn, Turn, Turn", of course.....yeah, Pete wrote it, but its credentials are sure folky. There are a few others of theirs, too. The Band's version of "Long Black Veil" is superb- although it's not traditional, it's surely in the folk song bag. BTW, I take exception to the identification of "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live" by Ry Cooder as a rock'n'roll version. NOT R&R....definitely folk-style (Ry at his best).

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22 Nov 04 - 01:19 PM (#1335426)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: PoppaGator

Good one, MG -- that's a great exaample from The Tokens, perhaps the very first "folk-rock" record. I'm surprised no one had mentioned it earlier -- disappointed in myself for not coming up with it.

I didn't know "Wimoweh" WAS a folk song until years after that rock/pop recording hit, when I heard Pete Seeger perform. Had he recorded it as a members of the Weavers? That would have been well before my time.

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22 Nov 04 - 01:51 PM (#1335455)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: John C.

Call me old-fashioned, and a purist (I'm sure someone will), but I have never believed that 'rock' and 'traditional song' go together - any more than 'comedy (&) thriller' or 'liver and strawberry'.

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22 Nov 04 - 02:00 PM (#1335470)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Nerd

Actually, wimoweh is not exactly a folk song, which is why I didn't mention it in the first post. I do think it's a great track though.

I'll explain: "Wimoweh" is an original composition called "Mbube" by a South African choral singer/arranger named Solomon Linda. Linda was working in a tradition similar to that of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. So while the tradition is one an ethnomusicologist would study, the song itself isn't exactly traditional.

The way it got to American audiences was through Alan Lomax and Pete Seeger. Lomax worked at the Library of Congress, and at some point got a load of ethnic recordings to play with, including this one. He introduced the song to Seeger, who made it into Wimoweh, a wordless chant that he performed with the Weavers. The word "Wimoweh" was simply Seeger's misheard version of "Mbube," but Seeger did not understand any of the other words, so just made it into a chant. Later, the English words were added for the Tokens' version.

So: the music was composed by Solomon Linda, the word "Wimoweh" was added by Pete Seeger, and the other words written by a third party--I'm not sure who.

I don't mean to split hairs, MG and PoppaGator, and I do like the song a lot. It's definitely in the same vein as many of these others. But I wouldn't call it the first folk-rock record!

Duncan, thanks. I'll check you guys out. I'm a Dirty Linen reader, but must have missed that review!

The Byrds is a great one, Steve-o. I'm surprised no one got to them before!

Jerry, I'll have to see if i can find the Rick Nelson and Gene Vincent songs! Your suggestion of Lloyd Price's Stack-O-Lee is an excellent one, too, because that version has been covered by everyone from Wilson Pickett to Ike and Tina Turner. Actually, I think it was itself a cover of a record sung by Archibald and produced by Dave Bartholomew.

I'm also going to look for the Kaleidoscope version of "Oh Death." By the way, Camper Van Beethoven did a pretty good "Oh, Death" as well.

Splott Man, all the Van Morrison versions I've heard have been with the Chieftains, so the arrangements don't sound like rock to me.

This is fun! Keep the suggestions coming!

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22 Nov 04 - 02:12 PM (#1335486)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Jerry Rasmussen

Nerd:

I had both My Bucket's Got A Hole In It and Frankie And Johnny on 45 rpms. Don't have them anymore... Frankie and Johnny was on an ep -- extended play album on 45..

Jerry

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22 Nov 04 - 02:16 PM (#1335491)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: punkfolkrocker

i think Kaleidoscope also did

a heavyish rendition of "cuckoo"..

most probably other old songs as well..

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22 Nov 04 - 02:32 PM (#1335508)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: punkfolkrocker

Jack the lad.. [Lindisfarne splinter group]

cant remember any individual tune titles right now..

but when I was an impressionable teenager,
me and my mates watched them play a live gig
on saturday lunchtime childrens TV.. [Geordytime..???]
they were an astonishing noisily irreverent
and very exciting 'missing link'
between folkrock
& the soon to explode musical anarchy of punk..

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22 Nov 04 - 02:36 PM (#1335512)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST

Well, lots of stuff from way back in the day I'm not too clear on, but a few faves that spring to mind right now:

Delaney & Bonnie's "Come on in My Kitchen" (later ripped off by the Dead--and I mean ripped off affectionately)

The entire Jeff Beck catalog! You know, "Morning Dew" etc etc

Yes, I loved the Beach Boys version of "Sloop John B" because they made it sound so hippy dippy!

The Everly Bros "Songs Our Daddy Taught Us" completely charmed me when I discovered it at the time of Rhino re-release.

The Band/Burritos/Byrds were faves of mine, but there isn't any of their covers of trad tunes that stand out for me. Maybe "Night they Drove Ole Dixie Down". I preferred Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for the rocked up trad versions they did.

Being a big rockabilly fan, I also loved the older rockers like Carl Perkins and Gene Vincent (god I loved Gene Vincent!). More recently, it's been the revivalists extraordinaire: Stray Cats. Sheer joy.

Pentangle and Steeleye more than Fairport for me. Planxty, Moving Hearts, Paul Brady, Davy Spillane.

Bonnie Raitt's live duet with Sippie Wallace "Woman Be Wise" on her greatest hits CD. Lots of Bonnie's country blues stuff.

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22 Nov 04 - 02:46 PM (#1335522)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,DMcF

Aye - check us out Nerd - a wee band the noo - hence the wee review in Linen which was easily missed - but was a good 'un!

I don't know which bit of that big place over there you hail from, but we've been played a lot by Anne James, program director for KZIN-fm, a radio station in Shelby, Montana!
Strange how we get about!
We've likely been aired by Prairie Ceilidh radio in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada on CKJS Radio 810 every Sunday night from 9:00-10:00pm - a chap called Lyle Skinner emailed asking for my solo CD a while back - so I took the trouble to send him this year's band CD too.
Hell - we're on Radio Voce Spazio, Italy too thanks to interest from one Massimo Ferro.
It's wonderful (to us, anyway!) that the internet has helped spin our brand of folk-rock around!
Must dash - band arriving any second to learn a couple of Fairport Convention songs for a benefit gig this Friday to raise money for Dave Swarbrick.
All the best - Duncan

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23 Nov 04 - 09:36 AM (#1336435)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST

c c Rider by Chuck Willis...wow

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23 Nov 04 - 11:18 AM (#1336539)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: PoppaGator

Lloyd Price's "Stagger Lee" is a cover of the long-established New Orleans boogie-piano song of that name. To me, it's an entirely different song from the other "Stagger Lee" or "Stack-O-Lee" usually played on the guitar that is more familiar within the folk tradition (e.g., John Hurt's). The melodies, chord progressions, etc., of the two songs are entirely distinctive, even though the lyrics tell the same basic story. There are plenty of versions and variations of *both* these Stagger Lees.

Is the New Orleans jazz/R&B/brass-band tradition a "folk tradition"? I'd say "probably," but I understand that others may not always agree.

Nerd, point taken in re "Wimoweh/Lion Sleeps."

Rock and traditional-folk may be *very* different from each other, but any song (any combination of words and melody) can conceivably be played in any style. There can be a "rock version" (rearrangement) of *any* song originally from *any* genre, just as they can be a reggae version, a jazz reinterpretation, etc.

I understand that some may not *like* rock, or jazz or whatever, and may despise most or even all rocked-up remakes of their favorite traditional songs, but it can't be denied that such reinterpretations exist.

The original quesion asked for "best" rock remakes of "traditional" songs. We may have strayed a bit by mentioning non-traditional folk songs, but it's been interesting to make note of so many well-loved remakes, or updates, or bastardizations -- whatever you want to call 'em.

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23 Nov 04 - 02:30 PM (#1336697)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST

IMO, Runrig's version of Loch Lomond ain't too shabby.

s

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23 Nov 04 - 06:14 PM (#1336971)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Nerd

I agree with everything you said, PoppaG! When I said a cover of Archibald's version, it's just that Archibald's was the first recording I knew of. As you say, the New Orleans version is a traditional song in its own right.

And there's a third stack-o-lee/stagger lee also, which is the "toast" or spoken-word version, an entirely different set of words with lots of graphic sex and violence. This has been set to music by Johnny Otis, Nick Cave and others.

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24 Nov 04 - 08:02 AM (#1337521)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Stu

Anything by Rambling Syd Rumpo

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24 Nov 04 - 08:47 AM (#1337565)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: TS

Here's a Van Morrison one...he did a great version of "Star of the County Down" with the Chieftains.

Also like the Rolling Stones' " Long Black Vale" and Dave Matthews' version as well.

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24 Nov 04 - 08:50 AM (#1337566)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Davetnova

Elvis used quite a few traditional tunes if not words, do they count.

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24 Nov 04 - 08:58 AM (#1337576)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Splott Man

Long Black Veil was written in the 1950s

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24 Nov 04 - 12:36 PM (#1337839)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Wotcha

"Wild Colonial Boy" as sung by Mick Jagger in the long forgotten movie about the outlaw Ned Kelly.

"General Taylor" by Canadian Maritimes band Great Big Sea ...

Cheers,

Happy Thanksgiving auf Stuttgart!

Brian

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24 Nov 04 - 02:14 PM (#1337914)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Steve-o

"My Bucket's Got a Hole in it" is a great one....I remember that Ricky Nelson had a huge hit with it. I'm sure he changed the "can't buy no beer" part, though...BTW, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" is a trad song??? I don't think so.

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30 Nov 04 - 08:22 AM (#1343093)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,mollycat

I think after Friday night's Swarb aid gig in Otley, we should add Matty Groves - The Duncan McFarlane Band with Alistair Hullet & Janet Russell!

Brilliant!!!

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30 Nov 04 - 10:16 AM (#1343199)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,DMcF

Bless you Molly - yes, it was fair old head of steam generated on that one
- but still doesnae measure up to the real deal by the Convention.
(And they're one of the main reasons we do this folk rock thing!) - Duncan

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02 Dec 04 - 04:43 PM (#1345690)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,Gordonus

The Oyster Band - Star Of The County Down
The Fables - Heave Away
Steeleye Span - Alison Gross
Eddi Reader - Blacksmith
The Waterboys - Raggle Taggle Gypsy(live version)
The Albion Band - Ramble Away
Great Big Sea - Mari Mac
Wolfstone - Sleepy Toon
Jack The Lad - Gentleman Soldier
Capercaillie - Coisich a' Ruin
The Home Service - Rose of Allendale
Fairport Convention - Polly On The Shore
Karla Bonhoff - The Water Is Wide
The Barely Works - Byker Hill
Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band - Just As The Tide Was A Flowin'
The JSD Band - Johnny O'Braidislea

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02 Dec 04 - 05:17 PM (#1345730)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: shepherdlass

Brian Johnson's (yes, the AC/DC singer!) version of Byker Hill on the Northumbria Anthology is a bizarre and wonderful treasure.

Likewise Sinead o'Connor doing "She Moved Through the Fair" - not exactly rocked up but not a conventional folk voice either. It's gorgeous and chilling in equal measure.

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02 Dec 04 - 05:35 PM (#1345743)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Jerry Rasmussen

Was flipping around the channels last night and watched a video of the Allman Brothers doing a rocking (and pretty good) version of Statesboro Blues... the Blind Willie McTell song.

Jerry

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02 Dec 04 - 07:21 PM (#1345830)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull

anything by mudcatter "Muppet".

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02 Dec 04 - 09:49 PM (#1345928)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Maija

Being more of the folkrock (-metal) chick, I would say that there are so so many nice ones that it is hard to actually start listing them.

So here are a few, with appropriate links: (Note: these are all German bands)

Thanateros - Dirty old town (I'll list it even though I think I read somewhere here that it's not really a trad, but it is damned good) They also do great versions of other folk trad tunes mixed with metal. Yes, metal folk.

Subway to Sally - Krähenfraß (the Twa Corbies translated into German) and other songs; Haughs o'Cromdale, Julia und die Räuber (German trad), Carrickfergus (also transl into German).

In Extremo - make medieval/folk metal/rock with versions of traditionals from all over Europe. On their latest CD is "Follow me up to Carlow" with a 3 bagpipe-edition included.

Fiddler's Green - is a folk rock band with lots of Irish/Scottish folk rocked up. Have a killer version of Queen of Argyll, plus other songs like Matty Groves, Lanigan's Ball, Tullochgorum, As I roved out, Blarney Roses, Fiddler's Green (duh), Little Beggarmen, Market day, Rockey road to Dublin, Rose of Ballymore etc etc etc.

And as a side-note; there is something called Kölschrock (Colonian rock, I guess that would translate to), where traditionals (Irish/Scottish) are frequently being translated into German and played during the karneval-season here. The most famous Kölschrock band have been working together with Wolfetones. (Btw, I abhor Kölschrock.)

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03 Dec 04 - 04:41 PM (#1346706)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Nerd

Azizi: I'd go along with that. I had forgotten that Linda was reworking an older song. Thanks for the correction and the extra info!

Gordonus: great list. I love some of those too! I had forgotten about The Fables. BTW, 10,000 Maniacs did a good version of Just as the Tide was a-flowing, influenced by Shirley Collins's. It's another good version!

Sheperdlass: I'll try to find that version of "Byker Hill." Does he do it in the Bert Lloyd-influenced Eastern European time signature that Martin Carthy and others have used?

Kate Bush recorded a few traditional songs as b-sides on her 12-inch singles: The Handsome Cabin Boy and My lagan Love were a couple of them. She did them a cappella, so they weren't really rock versions, but as with Sinead O'Connor her voice is unusual and interesting! Of course, Sinead did a whole CD of traditional songs, Sean-Nos Nua, a couple of years ago.

Maija: thanks for the links! I love finding this kind of music in other countries!

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04 Dec 04 - 03:48 PM (#1347424)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Steve Latimer

Hmm, Don't know if this is a traditional song or not, but Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart do a very nice version of "People Get Ready".

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04 Dec 04 - 04:00 PM (#1347439)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Big Al Whittle

I tell me Ma by Van the man(complete with My Irish Molly Oh/Sash lead break)

I liked Shamrock's version as well

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04 Dec 04 - 04:01 PM (#1347440)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Lonesome EJ

Steve, Curtis Mayfield wrote it. Destined for the Folk Process, no doubt!

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04 Dec 04 - 08:09 PM (#1347654)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Steve Latimer

LonesomeEJ,

Curtis Mayfield was lingering in the back of my mind. It sure has that old Spritual feel to it. I guess I can now post it in the "Songs you thought were Trad. thread. LOL

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05 Dec 04 - 12:06 PM (#1348033)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,Weasel Books

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Thin Lizzy's Roisin Dubh. It's several Celtic tracks (Roisin Dubh, Shenadoah, Wild Mountain Thyme, March of the Kings of Laois, Mason's Apron, I think) with a melodic metal arrangment, and Phil's clever lyrics keeping it all together.

Wolfstone have some good ones, like Hector the Hero and Bonnie Ship the Diamond.

Horslips are great too.

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05 Dec 04 - 12:57 PM (#1348063)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: el_punkoid_nouveau

For me (this may seem a bit naff) - Whisky In The Jar by Thin Lizzy, or John Barleycorn by Traffic. The latter just holds the edge, simply for being by Traffic...

epn

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05 Dec 04 - 03:24 PM (#1348159)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: MurkeyChris

The Levellers have done a number of trad. songs, including Lowlands of Holland and Rain and Snow. I particularly like the Rain and Snow remix on the B-side of 'Celebrate' (forget the name of the remix). It starts with a woman moaning and has turntable scratching in it. Great for dancing!

MurkyChris

www.coolasfolk.co.uk - British folk online and on air

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10 Dec 08 - 08:23 PM (#2512183)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,Anne James, KZIN-fm

It's all in who you know, Duncan. One of your bandmates (Anne) is a cousin to two friends of mine. They thought I might enjoy the "Woodshed Boys" CD, and they were right!

Anne

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10 Dec 08 - 10:12 PM (#2512230)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Gurney

I shouldn't think it's 'traditional,' but 'Red River Rock' by Johnny and the Hurricaines fits very well otherwise.

Dates me, eh?

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11 Dec 08 - 09:06 AM (#2512543)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: HipflaskAndy

From: GUEST,Anne James, KZIN-fm - PM
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 08:23 PM
It's all in who you know, Duncan. One of your bandmates (Anne) is a cousin to two friends of mine.
They thought I might enjoy the "Woodshed Boys" CD, and they were right!
Anne

Yep - thanks for passing it on.
From our Anne, on to USA-Anne and onto the radio!... grand!
it's good to hear we're big in Montana!

Hope you passed 'em the (later) 'All Rogues & Villains' CD too!
It's a much mightier beast! (samples here )
If not, contact me and I'll post you one.
Cheers - Duncan

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11 Dec 08 - 12:12 PM (#2512698)
Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Richard Bridge

Thank you all for reviving this. I must try some of the german folkmetal bands again.

If "The Morning Dew" is allowed, then I think the Nazareth version of it is the absolute killer.

Surely Lonnie Donegan's "Rock my Soul" was traditional gospel before he got at it?

I much liked Taj Mahal's version of Statesboro Blues.

Canned Heat did fine versions of many blues classics.

Do Robert Johnson originals count as "traditional" yet? If so Cream's version of "Crossroads", Fleetwood Mac's version of "Hellhound on my Trail" are both excellent - and the John Mayall version of "Dust my Broom/Blues" was a classic piece of updating.

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