Monday, January 13, 2014

The Blues Came Down From Chip Taylor

Well, actually it didn't, but he did write "Wild Thing." So why isn't HE in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame?

In any case, I was reminded of the Chipster last Friday when I mentioned Sloan's version of his fabulous and often recorded"I Can't Let Go."

A little history lesson, then, with various artists essaying the song over the years.

Let's begin, shall we, with the song's original version -- from 1965, a minor hit for the incredibly great Evie Sands.




And now, from 1966, here's the more familiar international hit version by The Hollies.




Moving right along and skipping decades, from 1995 and the fabulous tribute album Sing Hollies in Reverse, please enjoy The Continental Drifters -- featuring Peter Holsapple, Vicki Peterson and Susan Cowsill -- with their truly snappy cover.




From 1996, and that Live at a Sloan Party album I mentioned Friday, here's the aforementioned Sloan and their quite spirited cover.




And finally, from 1998, here are The Dickies with their surprisingly un-ironic and vaguely punkish assault on the tune.




What can we learn from all of this?

Well, for one thing, I'm beginning to think it's quite literally impossible to do a bad version of the song...

5 comments:

Sal Nunziato said...

All of those and Linda Ronstadt's version, too.

Visorman said...

Thanks for reminding me about Edie Sands. If I'm correct, her first 3 singles were "Take Me For A Little While", "I Can't Let Go", and "Angel of the Morning". And not a single hit for her. There's no justice.

buzzbabyjesus said...

I like Evie's best.

Jerry Lee said...

Evie Sands flat out kicks ass on Hollywood A Go Go with run "Home To Your Mama"!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czTul8VsAxg

Jerry Lee said...

D'oh! That's "Run Home To Your Mama"