Hendrix is tops. Is that just the three guitar solos Jimi? Dylan's version is also great, dripping with portent and atmosphere. U2- I suppose the kindest thing to say is I haven't heard it. :-)
The Dylan original is remarkably understated, and if you listen to his acoustic guitar work, he seems to be playing something more subtle than the Am/G/F of most other versions (including his own masterful live at Budokan from 1978).
On an associated point ... What song most evokes the Vietnam War for you? All based on the movies I've watched I guess as I was born in 74 but for me it is this song or Paint it Black or whiter shade of pale.
Always amuses me this. Vietnam war not fought to soundtrack of Hendrix or CCR
Beat me to it Henry. Hollywood seems intent on propagating some kind of myth that the GI's were some hip collective with ready access to psychedelic drugs and fighting to the soundtrack of the sixties. I expect most of them were scared young kids far from home and way out of their comfort zone, with a fair proportion of boneheaded anti-hippy rednecks to boot
I hear what you are saying .... And I did reference my point of reference. I think you might be doing Hollywood a little bit of a disservice though. they're Trying to make entertainment not cinema veritie (is that the word?) . A Sound track for the age to get you into that emotive state that music and smell etc can do ( thank god they've not worked out how to incorporate smell)
For some songs, despite whoever wrote them, there is an overall evocative sound that makes thet production sit archly over an era and a genre. Songs that fit that category for me are definitely the Hendrix All Along the Watchtower, but also Dylans Like a Rolling Stone, Marvin Gaye and 'Grapevine', London's calling by The Clash, 'Won't get fooled again' by the Who, Elvis with Heartbreak Hotel and Whole Lotta Love by Zeppelin and even 'Stand by your Man' by Tammy Wynette. I am less up with more modern classics, but I suppose even Wonderwall by Oasis might hit the spot with some people (even though i personally think Oasis are generally poor). On this narrow question though it is Hendrix all day long for me.
The Dylan original is remarkably understated, and if you listen to his acoustic guitar work, he seems to be playing something more subtle than the Am/G/F of most other versions (including his own masterful live at Budokan from 1978).
Dylan. I think Hendrix first played it a couple days after the album came out (that might have been Sgt. Pepper's), and it is a lovely version, but Dylan's vocals, nothing beats that.
In terms of Vietnam soundtrack - I always associate For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield with it. I think it's not that much of a stretch to see US troops in Vietnam being affected by all sorts of ideas about the war. Bear in mind it wasn't just rock songs that were about Vietnam. Last Train to Clarksville by the Monkees is about it, so is Galveston by Glenn Campbell.
This song was heavily used, somewhat bizarrely, in the reboot of Battlestar Galactica a few years ago, in which it is somehow linked to and associated with the Cylons. There's an instrumental version of it in one episode that sends shivers down my spine. Probably at least partially due to the rather strange story and background that leads up to it but musically it's also utterly brilliant. Bit of a slow burner but I absolutely love this version!
Check out the Hendrix-esque solo at the end. He used loop effects on his guitar long before Ed Sheeran was even thought of!
Interesting sound. I hadn't heard of him before...off to spotify to listen to some other songs of his
I am so jealous of you, I wish I was discovering Zevon for the first time.
His album "The Wind" was written and recorded after his diagnoses of terminal lung cancer - Springstein, Joe Walsh, Billy Bob Thornton and some other guests on there too - it's wonderful.
An album of the sound in the youtube track above is "Learning to Flinch" - great live solo album.
To everyone else - for your consideration: Dylan and the Band Live from the album "Before the Flood" is a great version. Or if you can find any Dave Matthews Band version of AATW they do a great live version.
Check out the Hendrix-esque solo at the end. He used loop effects on his guitar long before Ed Sheeran was even thought of!
Interesting sound. I hadn't heard of him before...off to spotify to listen to some other songs of his
Zevon - my God, the man was a genius.
Had an accidental hit with "Werewolves of London" in 1978 but this was far from typical Zevon fare. His "Excitable Boy" LP which included "Werewolves" also featured "Lawyers, Guns and Money". "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Accidentally Like a Martyr" (the last which included the line "Time out of mind" which Dylan lifted for the title of his 1997 album. )
He was always on the fringes of commercial success - Jackson Browne produced his second "Warren Zevon" album, on which he also recorded with Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Phil Everly and Browne. He also co wrote a song with Bruce Springsteen ("Jeannie Needs A Shooter") on his "Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School" LP in 1980.
His "Sentimental Hygiene" LP from 1987 included Bob Dylan on one track, and another was co written with members of REM. He later recorded the Hindu Love Gods album in 1990 with a Stipe-less REM as backing band.
Known for his unpredictable live performances in his drinking days - he was a chronic alcoholic but eventually gave up drinking after the alcohol almost killed him - he was latterly a compelling live solo performer on guitar and piano, using tape loops on stage. This is heard on the official "Learning to Flinch" release from 1993 but thanks to the wonders of the internet, there is a vast array of Zevon live solo performances which, as well as his signature songs, also feature crazy cover versons of things like "Hallelujah", "Ring Them Bells", "All Along the Watchtower" and "Winter Wonderland".
His "Mutineer" LP from 1995 is a fine, understated set - when it was announced that he was terminally ill, Bob Dylan added Zevon songs to his live set, covering "Accidentally Like A Martyr" and "Mutineer".
His "Live'll Kill Ya" LP in 2000 was touted as some kind of come back, but he had never been away. The humourous song "My Shit's Fucked Up" was spookily prescient, as at this point, Zevon was fit and well. A life long hypochondriac and sufferer of OCD and other addictive behaviours, it turned out that his shit really was fucked up when he was persuaded by his dentist to seek medical attention and he was diagnosed with mesotheliama (the same thing that killed Steve McQueen.) He was left with long enough to record "The Wind" in 2003 and to see the birth of twin grand children.
His ex wife Crystal wrote a book about her life with Zevon (named after his "I'll Sleep when I'm Dead" song) which revealed a complex, messed up character who at the height of his alcoholism was occasionally violent and who also appears to have had a sex addiction when he ditched the drink. However, his legacy is 14 superb albums released between 1969 and 2003. He died in September 2003 at the tragically young age of 56.
Comments
Dylan's version is also great, dripping with portent and atmosphere.
U2- I suppose the kindest thing to say is I haven't heard it. :-)
Songs that fit that category for me are definitely the Hendrix All Along the Watchtower, but also Dylans Like a Rolling Stone, Marvin Gaye and 'Grapevine', London's calling by The Clash, 'Won't get fooled again' by the Who, Elvis with Heartbreak Hotel and Whole Lotta Love by Zeppelin and even 'Stand by your Man' by Tammy Wynette. I am less up with more modern classics, but I suppose even Wonderwall by Oasis might hit the spot with some people (even though i personally think Oasis are generally poor).
On this narrow question though it is Hendrix all day long for me.
Hendrix, it's the best cover EVER!
But Hendrix for me.
The U2 version is fun, but nothing extraordinary.
In terms of Vietnam soundtrack - I always associate For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield with it. I think it's not that much of a stretch to see US troops in Vietnam being affected by all sorts of ideas about the war. Bear in mind it wasn't just rock songs that were about Vietnam. Last Train to Clarksville by the Monkees is about it, so is Galveston by Glenn Campbell.
XTC's version is good as well.
Check out the Hendrix-esque solo at the end. He used loop effects on his guitar long before Ed Sheeran was even thought of!
https://youtu.be/9c2ZJPKz5u8
His album "The Wind" was written and recorded after his diagnoses of terminal lung cancer - Springstein, Joe Walsh, Billy Bob Thornton and some other guests on there too - it's wonderful.
An album of the sound in the youtube track above is "Learning to Flinch" - great live solo album.
To everyone else - for your consideration:
Dylan and the Band Live from the album "Before the Flood" is a great version.
Or if you can find any Dave Matthews Band version of AATW they do a great live version.
Had an accidental hit with "Werewolves of London" in 1978 but this was far from typical Zevon fare. His "Excitable Boy" LP which included "Werewolves" also featured "Lawyers, Guns and Money". "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" and "Accidentally Like a Martyr" (the last which included the line "Time out of mind" which Dylan lifted for the title of his 1997 album. )
He was always on the fringes of commercial success - Jackson Browne produced his second "Warren Zevon" album, on which he also recorded with Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Phil Everly and Browne. He also co wrote a song with Bruce Springsteen ("Jeannie Needs A Shooter") on his "Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School" LP in 1980.
His "Sentimental Hygiene" LP from 1987 included Bob Dylan on one track, and another was co written with members of REM. He later recorded the Hindu Love Gods album in 1990 with a Stipe-less REM as backing band.
Known for his unpredictable live performances in his drinking days - he was a chronic alcoholic but eventually gave up drinking after the alcohol almost killed him - he was latterly a compelling live solo performer on guitar and piano, using tape loops on stage. This is heard on the official "Learning to Flinch" release from 1993 but thanks to the wonders of the internet, there is a vast array of Zevon live solo performances which, as well as his signature songs, also feature crazy cover versons of things like "Hallelujah", "Ring Them Bells", "All Along the Watchtower" and "Winter Wonderland".
His "Mutineer" LP from 1995 is a fine, understated set - when it was announced that he was terminally ill, Bob Dylan added Zevon songs to his live set, covering "Accidentally Like A Martyr" and "Mutineer".
His "Live'll Kill Ya" LP in 2000 was touted as some kind of come back, but he had never been away. The humourous song "My Shit's Fucked Up" was spookily prescient, as at this point, Zevon was fit and well. A life long hypochondriac and sufferer of OCD and other addictive behaviours, it turned out that his shit really was fucked up when he was persuaded by his dentist to seek medical attention and he was diagnosed with mesotheliama (the same thing that killed Steve McQueen.) He was left with long enough to record "The Wind" in 2003 and to see the birth of twin grand children.
His ex wife Crystal wrote a book about her life with Zevon (named after his "I'll Sleep when I'm Dead" song) which revealed a complex, messed up character who at the height of his alcoholism was occasionally violent and who also appears to have had a sex addiction when he ditched the drink. However, his legacy is 14 superb albums released between 1969 and 2003. He died in September 2003 at the tragically young age of 56.
Here's some songs to check out:
"Hasten down the wind":
"Werewolves":
"Excitable Boy: "
"Jesus Mentioned":
"Splendid Isolation":
"Poisonous Lookalike":
"Similar to Rain":
"My Shit's Fucked up":
"Porcelain Monkey":
"Don't Let us Get Sick":
"Mutineer" as covered by Bob Dylan:
As the man said "Enjoy every sandwich"!
U2 version of Watchtower - opening track on Rattle and Hum album is typical over The top Bono.