It probably wont come as a surprise but the first round went to Townes with the original version of Flyin' Shoes
Initially it looked like it was going to be a whitewash with the first 6 votes going to Mr Van Zandt. However there was a late rally for Rumer who swept up the last two votes. Most of those who voted for Townes were also complimentary of Sarah Joyce
An early lead then for TVZ. However, I suspect that this week will be a little bit closer and which maybe will even result in the cover winning.
I suspect that more folk will be familiar with the cover by Nanci Griffith than the original. Nancy's version is taken from her 1993 covers album Other Voices, Other Rooms. The only version I have by Townes is a 1973 live version which features on his Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas album.
Live versions of songs can be very much a hit or a miss but here I feel that Townes totally nails it.
Others of course may choose to differ
Townes Van Zandt - Tecumseh Valley
Nanci Griffith - Tecumseh Valley
You may or may not be pleased but I have taken the necessary steps to make this a first to 10 series!
Did Steve Earle do a version, on Train a Coming?
ReplyDeleteSo can I vote for that one?
DeleteNo
DeleteYou will get an opportunity to vote for Steve further down the line
I take back what I said last week about it being a 5-0 (now 10-0) trouncing. If you had gone for Townes's version on "Our Mother The Mountain" I might have voted differently, but if these are the options it is Nanci (with a bit of help from Arlo Guthrie) for me
ReplyDeleteI think this one could be close
DeleteTownes
ReplyDeleteDo George and Parsley get a vote each?
DeleteI'm going for Townes this week. There's a sparseness and... purity (?) to that version that's somehow missing from Nancy's more polished, harmonies n all cover.
ReplyDeleteI chose Townes last week because his was a purer, spare version but this week I'm going the other way and choosing the version with a bit more production values/harmonies to it. Like how it's sung by a woman too and I really like her voice. Tragic lyrics though, as is so common with this genre. It's a vote for Nanci from me.
ReplyDeleteGlad you found another compare and contrast candidate as I really like these series - makes me properly listen to songs/artists I might not be familiar with, so I learn a lot.
I'm liking Nanci's version just a little more - whilst not as stripped back as Townes' original, the harmonies and arrangement still don't sound too overdone - it works for me.
ReplyDelete