Tuesday, September 26, 2017

It's Chris Hillman Week: Part II -- Special Senior Citizens Edition

From the incredibly great Chris Hillman's new album Bidin' My Time...


...please enjoy a remarkable bluegrass remake of The Byrds 1967 classic "Old John Robertson."

Now called "New Old John Robertson."



That was written by Hillman and one of my other Byrds heroes Roger McGuinn and as you will hear, the original version is beyond belief great.



And as I sort of suggested yesterday, although I'm really a purist about this kinda stuff, I really like both of these versions more or less equally.

More on this subject tomorrow.








6 comments:

buzzbabyjesus said...

Chris Hillman played on many of my favorite records.

steve simels said...

The Byrds vocal blend on the original of this one is perhaps the most beautiful thing of its kind in all of rock.

But you can say that about a lot of Byrds tracks, of course...

Anonymous said...

I got to interview Hillman in the late 70's when he was touring his "Clear Sailing" album. Super nice guy, generous to everyone he's ever played with.

Anonymous said...

For the second day in a row the new vid doesn't come up - just a blank.

Alzo said...

August 8, 1974– the night Nixon resigned. My buddy dragged me to see Three Dog Night. Opening act was Souther, Hillman and Furay. I thought 'why aren't these guys the headliners?' and then I remembered: pop music.

Anonymous said...

The two versions really are quite different from each other. I lean toward the new one, myself but I like bluegrass. I don't dislike the original but I do hate the drums. There's just something too hurried sounding about them on that track. I really like everything I've heard from Hillman's new recording. Do you happen to know who the musicians are on this track?
DG