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Midnight Special
I have fallen hard for Leadbelly (or Lead Belly--bit of a controversy about his name) recently, in large part because of the mythos surrounding him, but also in large part just because his music is so. damn. good. He's such a character, and whether or not you know it, you've heard some of his music. Of course, on a number of these songs, there's no clear distinction between original "artist" and the person who claimed them, but it's safe to argue that Leadbelly's performances, as some of the first recorded versions of what may have been traditional songs, directed the course much of the music would take.
We'll start with Midnight Special, since it was so popular. It's been covered by everyone ever, basically, including my personal favorite, which is CCR's version.
Led Zeppelin, of course, did a version of Leadbelly's original Gallows (or Gallis) Pole. Zeppelin's is creepy as hell and really opens up an interesting musical dialogue with the first in terms of what sorts of musical techniques are useful in echoing subject matter. Leadbelly's is fairly straightforward blues narration; Zeppelin's is much more in the style leading into their later "When the Levee Breaks" (which is actually a cover as well, but not of Leadbelly.)
The song everyone remembers the Animals for? House of the Rising Sun? Was originally titled In New Orleans, and was a little darker, a lot more monotone, and had a slightly less complex melody.
And Johnny Cash's I Got Stripes is a cover of Leadbelly's original On a Monday. If anyone is entitled to cover Leadbelly, it's Johnny Cash--they were both moody, violent bastards, brilliant musicians, in and out of jail.
Music is so amazing. Classic rock especially, full of these references to what came before, riffs and tempos and lyrics. Everything pays homage to its ancestors while simultaneously creating something new.
We'll start with Midnight Special, since it was so popular. It's been covered by everyone ever, basically, including my personal favorite, which is CCR's version.
Led Zeppelin, of course, did a version of Leadbelly's original Gallows (or Gallis) Pole. Zeppelin's is creepy as hell and really opens up an interesting musical dialogue with the first in terms of what sorts of musical techniques are useful in echoing subject matter. Leadbelly's is fairly straightforward blues narration; Zeppelin's is much more in the style leading into their later "When the Levee Breaks" (which is actually a cover as well, but not of Leadbelly.)
The song everyone remembers the Animals for? House of the Rising Sun? Was originally titled In New Orleans, and was a little darker, a lot more monotone, and had a slightly less complex melody.
And Johnny Cash's I Got Stripes is a cover of Leadbelly's original On a Monday. If anyone is entitled to cover Leadbelly, it's Johnny Cash--they were both moody, violent bastards, brilliant musicians, in and out of jail.
Music is so amazing. Classic rock especially, full of these references to what came before, riffs and tempos and lyrics. Everything pays homage to its ancestors while simultaneously creating something new.