Covered By Cash

 

A few years ago I made a playlist consisting of four songs from each of the first five American Recordings albums by Johnny Cash which I stuck on a CD.

This may have been on or around my Covered by Cash series in 2017/18

I listened to the CD  the other day and thought that long enough had passed for me to get away with sharing some of the covers again.

From the first of the five albums simply titled American Recordings I give you Johnny's version of the Tom Waits song Down There By the Train.

From Unchained, the second one, we have a cover of Tom Petty's Southern Accents..

American III - Solitary Man has, I think, more covers than any of the others. Solitary Man was originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond. This record also gives us Johnny's version of Nick Cave's The Mercy Set.

There are probably enough others to justify a further post in due course.

Johnny Cash - Down There By The Train

Johnny Cash - Southern Accent

Johnny Cash - Solitary Man

Johnny Cash - The Mercy Seat

Covered By Cash - Rowboat

After a brief break for the festive period the Covered by Cash series returns.
Last time round Johnny covered Tom Russell's Veteran's Day. Some felt it too close to call but Johnny eventually won out by four votes to two ( five to two if you count Shaggy the dog)
The score is now Cash 6 The Rest 3.

I had wanted to compare and contrast  the respective versions of the Beck song Rowboat. Trouble was I couldn't source a copy of the Beck version. Fortunately Ramone666 from the ever wonderful For the Sake of the Song duly obliged.
Then I hit a further problem in that for some reason I was unable to download Unchained the second in the American Recordings series and I therefore had to go and downoad a further copy of Johnny's version
I'd never heard the Beck original which is from his 1994 album Stereopathetic Soulmanure album before.
For me the Man in Black's version is far superior.

Others, of course, may choose to disagree

Johnny Cash - Rowboat

Beck - Rowboat

Covered By Cash - Personal Jesus

A second win on the bounce for JC last week albeit by the narrowest of margins over Elvis Costello with his version of The Big Light.
So we are back to even stevens with the score being Cash 2 The Rest 2 .

Back to the American Recordings series and American IV: The Man Comes Around  again with one of his most iconic covers from the series. Probably second only to Hurt.
Good though the Depeche Mode original of Personal Jesus is there is clearly only one winner this week. Given his well known Christian faith Johnny sings this with utter conviction and sounds as if he really means it
He really does reach out and touch faith and makes it his own.
I see this has also been covered by Marilyn Manson. Fortunately I've never heard his version and I hope that is still the case by the time I to go to my grave.

The easiest yet for me this week. It's Cash for me.I suspect it may well even by unanimous.
Others, of course, may choose to disagree. But they will be wrong there.

Johnny Cash - Personal Jesus

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus

Covered By Cash - Desperado

What the Dickens is going on here! Despite almost universal love for the legend that is Johnny Cash he has been on the wrong end of another whooping. Week 1 - 10-3 to Kris Kristofferson  and Week 2 9-3 to Tom Petty.
So the score so far is Cash 0 The Rest 2.
I suspect that this week the balance may well be redressed in that I have gone for a band that are pretty much loathed by the musos ,
Desperado is a song from the album of the same name from 1973 by the Eagles. One of their most famous songs but surprisingly it was never a single.
Johnny's version comes from American IV:The Man Comes Around.
Is it the dulcet tones of Don Henley or the smooth baritone of Johnny Cash?
Somewhat controversially I'm going for the Eagles this week, I actually quite like some of their stuff including this one.

Others (and I suspect  there may be a few), may choose to disagree.
Next week a compare and contrast submitted by the great Ernie Goggins

Johnny Cash - Desperado

Eagles - Desperado

Covered By Cash - Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down

A new Saturday Covers series for you today - but with a twist.
Instead of comparing an artists songs with covers by others we are comparing songs covered by Johnny Cash with the originals.
Usual rules apply and I have more than enough material for the first to ten being the winner

I think that I probably heard Johnny's version of Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down before I heard the Kris Kristofferson original. Good though it is it doesn't hold a candle to the original.Also Kris looses the G's while Johnny keeps his.
A thought . When Glen Campbell died Rhinestone Cowboy was regularly trotted out as opposed to his greatest song Wichita Lineman.
When Kris finally shuffles off this mortal coil we shall probably get Me and Bobby McGee played more than this. Wrongly in my opinion.

So it is Kris for me this week. Others, of course may choose to disagree.
Another compare and contrast next Saturday

Johnny Cash - Sunday Morning Coming Down

Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down

Covered By Cash - The Big Light

At last the Man in Black is finally on the score sheet - but only just.
 Johnny beats the Eagles by the narrowest of margins by 6 votes to 5 (7 if you count Mrs CC)
Swiss Adam even tried to vote twice. Sorry Adam, OMOV applies here.
So the score is now Johnny 1 The Rest 2

This week we have a cover offed up by the original surfer of the zeitgeist Ernie Goggins from the ever eclectic 27 Leggies blog and it is one that I am not familiar with.
I'm familiar enough with the original version by Elvis Costello from his wonderful 1986 album King of America(Credited to The Costello Show).
Johnny's version is from the year after and from an album called Johnny Cash is Coming to Town. Bang in the middle of the wilderness years before his career was rescued by Rick Rubin and the American Recordings series.
Nevertheless Ernie plumps for Johnny as in his opinion Johnny romps home what with the horns and assorted Carters on backing vocals
And who am I to argue with the great man.

Others,of course, may choose to disagree

Johnny Cash - The Big Light

Elvis Costello - The Big Light

Covered By Cash -Down There By The Train

A unanimous victory last week for Simon and Garfunkel  with Bridge Over Troubled Water. That is unanimous among those that chose to vote. A good few were not that enamoured with either track and felt that Johnny would have had a much better chance with The Boxer or even better The Sound of Silence. I am inclined to agree.
The first defeat for a while sees the score now sitting at Cash 4 The Rest 3.

Today I was going to feature Rowboat but couldn't source a copy of the Beck original which I only heard for the first time via You Tube last week. If anyone could oblige I would be grateful.
Plan B sees Johnny up against Tom Waits with Down There By The Train with his version from the original American Recordings record.
Silk versus gravel.
 I struggle with Tom Waits (although this is one of his better numbers) so for me there can only be one winner and that's The Man in Black.
Others, of course, may choose to disagree

Johnny Cash - Down There By The Train

Tom Waits - Down There By The Train

Covered by Cash - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

When Swiss Adam and C cast their votes for Bruce Springsteen then you know that Johnny is in serious trouble.
And so it proved. Only a vote by George prevented a total landslide for The Boss with the original of Highway Patrolman.
The scores therefore are now Cash 7 The Rest 4.
The Man in Black has probably covered dozens of Hank Williams songs over the years and indeed I have a few.
I've opted for his version of I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry on America IV: The Man Comes Around where he is accompanied by Nick Cave. I suppose you could argue that 2 against 1 is hardly fair but let's face it you probably would need haunners if you were up against the Hillbilly Shakespeare.

I think that the tag team just about shade it. Others, of course may choose to disagree.

Johnny Cash (with Nick Cave) - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Hank Williams -I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Covered By Cash - Solitary Man

Johnny was comprehensively routed last week by Roberta Flack with her definitive version of First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
From a seemingly unassailable position The Man in Black's lead has been severely clawed back after three straight defeats in a row to make the score now Cash 7 The Rest 6.

Can he stop the rot this week?
This week we have Solitary Man the title track to American III up against the original from Neil Diamond another veteran artist who had his career resurrected by Rick Rubin. Just received the sad news that Neil has reluctantly retired having being diagnosed with Parkinsons.My mum had that and it is not pleasant.

I think that the rot may have well and truly been stopped this week. It's Johnny for me by a distance. He gives the song some gravitas.

Others, of course, may choose to disagree but they would be wrong there


Johnny Cash -Solitary Man

Neil Diamond - Solitary Man

Covered by Cash -Veteran's Day

He's back! Clear daylight again between Johnny and the rest with a pretty convincing win over Tom Waits with their respective versions of Down There by The Train. While Johnny's music is loved by everyone the same it would appear cannot by said for Mr Waits
It's now Cash 5 The Rest 3 - he's half way there (and living on a prayer).
Today's comparison comes once again courtesy of our good friend Ernie Goggins. Fresh from seeing the great Tom Russell in concert for the umpteenth time he has offered up two versions of Veteran's Day.

Tom's original is from 1990 and features on his album Poor Man's Dream. Johnny's version features on later versions of his album Boom Chicka Boom also originally released in 1990. It also appears on 2008's Wounded Heart of America where a number of singers pay their own homage to Tom.

Until now I didn't think  I've ever heard either version although it does sound vaguely familiar. Perhaps he sang it when I saw him live. After an initial listen it's a tough one as they are pretty much of a muchness. Maybe Tom slightly shades it for me.
Others of course may choose to disagree


Johnny Cash - Veteran's Day

Tom Russell - Veteran's Day

Covered By Cash -Redemption Day

The week before last Johnny succeeded in stopping the rot but sadly for him and all his fans it appears to have been only temporary as there was a fairly comfortable win for Steve Earle with The Devil's Right Hand.

That takes the score to Cash 8 The Rest 9. So the Man in Black requires to win this week to take it to a final end.Plus it's his birthday on Monday. So no pressure then.

Given his life story Mr Cash is no stranger to redemption and this is certainly the case when it comes to his choice of cover.We have previously had Bob Marley's Redemption Song and this we you are getting his version of Sheryl Crow's Redemption Day from his final American Recordings album - American VI: Ain't No Grave
When the subject matter has a whiff of religion Johnny usually comes into his own and this week there is no exception
It's JC for me by a distance this week.
Others ,of cours,e may choose to disagree but I suspect we are going to the wire

Johnny Cash -Redemption Day

Sheryl Crow -Redemption Day

Covered by Cash - Highway Patrolman

A reasonably comfortable win last week for Johnny over Beck with his version of Rowboat but also an acknowledgement that the original was pretty tasty also.
That takes the score to Cash 7 The Rest 3.

In my Springsteen Covered series the Man in Black was soundly thrashed by the Boss for his version of Johnny 99. There were comments at the time that had I featured Highway Patrolman that it would have been a lot closer.
Time  then to put that to the test. I agree that it is miles better than his take on Johnny 99 but anyone, even the great man himself, would be pushed to better any of the songs on Nebraska and here he falls just short.

Others, of course may choose to disagree.

Johnny Cash - Highway Patrolman

Bruce Springsteen - Highway Patrolman

Covered By Cash - If You Could Read My Mind

There are more twists and turns in this series than a twisty and turny thing.
Last week was the clash of the Titans - Johnny and Joe Strummer up against Bob Marley with Redemption Song.
A lot of love for JC and JS but in the end a narrow victory for Bob by 8 votes to 6 .
The score is therefore now Cash 7 The Rest 8 and it is the first time that Johnny has been behind since week 3.
That may well change as we feature something from American V - A Hundred Highways from 2006 but with songs recorded during the period September 2002 right up to 21st August 2003 shortly before his death on 12th September 2003.
Now the original of If You Could Read My Mind by Canadian singer- songwriter Gordon Lightfoot is a mighty fine song but I defy any of you to listen to Johnny's version and not have a lump in your throat or even a little bubble.
So it is Johnny for me all day long. The heartless among you may choose to disagree.

Johnny Cash -If You Could Read My Mind

Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind

Covered by Cash -Bridge over Troubled Water

As I type this  it is 5 apiece from JC and NC  last Sunday with their  respective versions of The Mercy Seat.
Spence is prone to a late night post so I may wake up to a winner.
However I am conscious that this one caused some of you a degree of consternation as both versions are so good (there was event an abstention!) Therefore a draw was probably a fair result and the scores remain Cash 4 The Rest 2

This week's may be slightly easier. Johnny ably assisted by Fiona Apple is up against Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel with Bridge Over Troubled Water
The baritone tones of Johnny versus the falsetto of Art.
Although Johnny could recite the phonebook and sound brilliant it seems to my that by the time American IV:The Man Comes Around was released in 2002 his voice was starting to weaken slightly as his health gradually worsened
This week it is Simon & Garfunkel for me on the basis that you can't improve on perfection.

Others, of course, may choose to disagree and I'm sure some will

Johnny Cash - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon and Garfunkel -Bridge Over Troubled Water

Townes Covered - Flyin' Shoes

 

Long suffering readers may recall my previous compare and contrast series namely Dylan Covered, Springsteen Covered and Covered by Cash.

During my holidays I had some time on my hands to think of a couple of potential others .One that I came up with was covers of songs by the genius that was the late great Townes Van Zandt. I think this one will be a first to 5 as I'm not sure I have enough material for a first to 10. Indeed I hope I have enough for a first to 5!

Let's start with Flyin' Shoes In the red corner we have Townes with his versionfrom the album of the same name from 1989 on the Tomato label.

In the blue corner it is Rumer with her version from her covers album Boys Dont Cry from 2012 on Warner Brothers

I'm also throwing in a version by Lyle Lovett from his Step Inside This House album of Texan songs but he is not part of today's equation as he may feature later on in the series.

Townes v Rumer -  Who is it to be? Two excellent and beautifully sung versions but for me Rumer's is perhaps a wee bit too polished.

It's Townes for me. Others, of course, may choose to differ

Townes Van Zandt - Flyin' Shoes

Rumer - Flyin' Shoes

Lyle Lovett - Flyin' Shoes

Covered by Cash - The Mercy Seat

Another extremely close contest last week. A last minute intervention by Spence in favour of The Man in Black led to a 7-6 victory (if my arithmetic is correct) over Laughing Len with their versions of Bird on A/The Wire
So afte a shaky start Johnny is on a roll with the score now being Cash 4 The Rest 2.

Another tricky one today and one which  I suspect could go either way. Johnny is up against Nick Cave with his interpretation of The Mercy Seat taken from American III:Solitary Man.
I know that there is a lot of love out there for Mr Cave and the original is pretty stunning.
However as you may have come to expect I am going for Johnny again this week as there is just something about him singing songs which have religious references that gives him a slight edge.

Others, I'm sure, will choose to disagree. This one will go to the edge.
Back to Saturdays next week

Johnny Cash - The Mercy Seat

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat

Covered by Cash - Redemption Song

Well I didn't see last week's result coming. Seems that I was the only one. A resounding victory for Neil Diamond and his single version of Solitary Man.
Which means that for the fourth successive week that the Man in Black has been defeated and that therefore the scores are now even at Cash 7 The Rest 7

Maybe this week's selection will stop the rot.  But then again maybe not. Yet again Johnny calls for haunners and he is ably assisted by Joe Strummer when up against Bob Marley with  their respective versions of Redemption Song.
Their version didn't make the American Recordings series ,which shows the depth and quality of the songs on offer, but made an appearance on the 2003 Unearthed box set.
I featured the two versions before last March  but didn't put them to the vote on that occasion.

This time I'm making you choose and it is a really tough call. Three absolute legends all of who are sadly no longer with us.
For me this is probably the toughest yet but I am going for Bob but only just.
Others, of course, may choose to disagree.



Johnny Cash (with Joe Strummer) - Redemption Song

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Redemption Song

Covered By Cash -Bird On The Wire

My prediction for a unanimous victory for Johnny over Depeche Mode with his version of Personal Jesus very nearly came true. There was only one naysayer (you know who you are!) although many were at  pains to say it was a close call with two terrific versions.
For the first time Johnny takes the lead with the score now being Cash 3 The Rest 2.

This week I am again predicting a rousing victory for Johnny. Although Bird on The Wire from his 1969 album Songs From a Room is considered as one of Leonard Cohen's signature tunes it is nowhere as good as the version by The Man in Black on American Recordings the first in the Rick Rubin  produced series from 1994.and the one which set the bar pretty high. Johnny , like many, calls it Bird on A Wire.

Johnny totally bosses it. Other's of course, may choose to disagree.
Next week's offering will be on the Sunday for reasons that will become clearer nearer the time.

Johnny Cash - Bird On a Wire

Leonard Cohen - Bird On The Wire

Covered By Cash - I Won't Back Down

I'm not sure how long I'll persevere with the GIF!

Well that was an interesting start. An early lead from the Man in Black before Kris Kristofferson pulled away to administer a 10-3 whooping. To a man and woman, however, everyone acknowledged that they were two brilliant versions.
I would argue that this also applies to this week's compare and contrast when Johnny is up against the recently departed Tom Petty with his version of I Won't Back Down with Tom and the Heartbreakers providing the music and backing vocals.

Johhny's version is from American III : Solitary Man. The American Recordings series will feature fairly heavily over  the next few weeks.

Another very tough call this week.After having given both of them a listen I will go for Mr Cash  this week.A close call though.
Others, of course may choose to disagree.

Up above us on a cloud somewhere Tom Petty and Johnny Cash as sitting trying to work out what they are going to call their new duet!

Johnny Cash - I Won't Back Down

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - I Won't Back Down

Albums on both CD and Vinyl - Graceland

 

A song called Graceland has appeared here before. Not the title track from this album but a song from the band The Bible written by another great songwriter Bow Hewerdine.

Mr Simon himself has only made a couple of fleeting appearances here. Once was with his best solo song Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard  in the It's a Family Affair  series when he appeared alongside his son Harper.

The other time was when alongside Art Garfunkel he wiped the floor with their version of Bridge Over Troubled Water when compared with Johnny Cash's version in the Covered by Cash series

It was controversial on its release in 1986 as it broke the cultural boycott against South Africa's abhorrent apartheid regime 

Simon's counter argument was what was unusual about Graceland is that it was on the surface apolitical, but what it represented was the essence of the anti-apartheid in that it was a collaboration between blacks and whites to make music that people everywhere enjoyed. It was completely the opposite from what the apartheid regime said, which is that one group of people were inferior. Here, there were no inferiors or superiors, just an acknowledgement of everybody's work as a musician. It was a powerful statement.

You pays your money you takes your choice. 16 million people opted to purchase the album, one of the first to be referred to as World music.. My vinyl copy is second hand. I'm not sure where the CD version came from but I think it was part of an inherited CD collection.Therefore although I have two copies I have never contributed to its sales!

Paul Simon - Graceland

Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al