Best Rock versions of traditional songs

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

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!!!

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

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

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,Gordonus
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 04:43 PM

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

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: shepherdlass
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 05:17 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 05:35 PM

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

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 07:19 PM

With regard to Soloman Linda's Mbube {The Lion Sleeps Tonight},
a very interesting book that I'm reading "African Stars: Studies in Black African Performance" {Veit Erlmann;Chicago, University of Chicago Press,1991} gives a fascinating account of the composition of this song. I quote from the book:

"In 1939...He [Soloman Popolo Linda]decided to take a job offer as packer at Gallo's newly opened record pressing plant in Roodepoort [South Africa]. His choir soon attracted the attention of Gallo's talent scout Griffith Motsieloa, and before long one of Linda's songs,
"Mbube {Lion}(Gallo GE 829, reissued on Rounder 5052, A5) topped the list of the country's best selling recordings for the African listenership. Like most isicathamiya tunes, "Mbube" was based on a wedding song which Linda and his friends had picked up from young girls in Msinga [a very poor section of Natal, South Africa] and whose words commemorated the killing of a lion cub by the young Soloman and his herdsboy friends.

While neither the words of "Mbube" nor its anchorage in a wedding song were particularly original, in the view of [Linda's group] Evening Bird member Gilbert Madonda, it was Linda's performance style in conjunction with other innovations that revolutionized migrant workers choral performance styles [referred to as "isicathamiya" and also known as "boloha" or "umbholoho"]".



Given the fact that "Mbube" {The Lion Sleeps Tonight}is based on a folk song, couldn't it be classified as a folk song inspite of its known author? Or does it depend on how much Linda added to the composition? It's unlikely that we'll ever know how much he changed the wedding song that he heard...

It's ironic that I found this song mentioned in this thread today as another thread on African Mudcatters caused me to think just this morning about what African folk songs I knew. Too few... This one, "Che Che Kule", and "Funga Alafia".{I don't count "Kumbayah" this list as that is actually a Gullah African American spiritual.

Well, sorry about the thread creep, but I hope the information about "Mbube" is of interest to some members & guests.

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

anything by mudcatter "Muppet".

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Maija
Date: 02 Dec 04 - 09:49 PM

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.)

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Nerd
Date: 03 Dec 04 - 04:41 PM

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!

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 03:48 PM

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".

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 04:00 PM

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

I liked Shamrock's version as well

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 04:01 PM

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

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 08:09 PM

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

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

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.

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: el_punkoid_nouveau
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 12:57 PM

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

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: MurkeyChris
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 03:24 PM

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

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: GUEST,Anne James, KZIN-fm
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

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Gurney
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 10:12 PM

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

Dates me, eh?

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 09:06 AM

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

Subject: RE: Best Rock versions of traditional songs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 12:12 PM

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.