Saturday, February 27, 2010

songs by other artists I have approached and manhandled to the ground

These are the songs I have covered over the years, in live shows and on records. After the Moodists, when Clare and I started playing as Dave Graney with the Coral Snakes in London in 1987, I had an idea to be a performer in a singer songwriter style. Only I wanted to be more of a singer than a songwriter and do a lot of songs by other artists. In those days we would do Gene Clark and Gram parsons and Fred Neil and Lou Reed and a few of my songs. In general I wanted to get a feel going that was more wide ranging and less claustrophobic than when you see a performer struggling with stuff he's bringing out from the inner pocket of the same old filthy coat. "Here's another one I thought up!"
Often when you try to do a song you really love you find yourself pulling it all apart like a car and examining it and then you don't know how to put it back together again and you can't listen to it in the same way anymore. The most mysterious song out of all of these for me is Mike Nesmith's "Joanne". Whenever I hear this on radio I try to listen to it objectively for a moment and note the verses and the lyrics but then the whole flow of the song with its beautiful melody and instrumentation takes me away and I seem to wake up later on and think, "damn, what happened with that song! It got me again!". Its lovely to sing as well, its got real power. At the moment, when we pull out "shame,shame,shame" or "boogie oogie oogie" or "coz I luv you" they have unfailing power and groove and can really lift a room off.



Boogie Oogie Oogie
(a taste of honey)...every now and again
Whos that lady (the Isley Brothers) ..every now and again
1-2-3 (the Len Barry Combo) ..every now and again
feel like makin love (Roberta Flack) ..
codine (the Charlatans)...88-91
32-20 blues (Robert Johnson) recorded 1994
morning dew (Tim Rose) ...88-91
the lady came from baltimore...88-91
reason to believe (Tim Hardin)..night of covers songs 2001
pillowtalk (Sylvia Robison)..recorded 1994
money changes everything (Cindy Lauper)..1992
joanne (Mike Nesmith)..2000-2002
I've got a secret (Fred Neil)...88-91
it didn't even bring me down ( sir douglas quintet) ...87-89
everybodys talkin' (Fred Neil)...87-91
a gift...every now and again
stupid man (Lou Reed)...87
the dolphins Fred Neil)...87-90
shiloh town (Tim Hardin)...87-90
In a misty morning (Gene Clark)...87 92...recorded 1989
I've got to have you ((Kris Kristofferson)...87-92
touch me...2004
the crystal ship (the Doors).....every now and again
alabama bound (the Charlatans)...1995
penetration (iggy and the Stooges)...1995
arnold layne (Pink Floyd)...2004
coz I luv you (Slade)...2005
the bogus man (Roxy Music) ..currently
in a silent way (Miles davis)..currently
goin down south ...unknown instrumental ..currently
it never rains in southern california (Albert Hammond)...every now and again
Luther the anthropoid (the Jimmy Castor Bunch)...every now and again
Crawfish
I feel so bad
I'm a stranger in my own home town
one night of sin
return to sender
thats alright mama
mystery train
(Elvis Presley)..special Elvis gig 2007
the lowdown (Boz Scaggs)...2005
Heavens in the backseat of my cadillac (Hot Chocolate)...2005
shame shame shame ( Shirley and Company)..currently
Serpent at the gates of wisdom (Robyn Hitchcock)...2002
who of us two? (M)...recorded 2006
sorrow (David Bowie)..every now and again
eight miles high (the byrds)...2006
lets stick together (wilbert harrison. bryan ferry)...2005
seattle (Perry Como)...2001-2004
ooh child (Stairsteps)..currently
auntie aviator (Beveryley Martyn ...sung by Clare Moore)...2002
make it easy on yourself (Walker Brothers)...special covers gig 2001
she's a rainbow (Rolling Stones)....special covers gig 2001
who knows where (Fairport Convention...sung by Clare Moore)...2002-2003
you wear it well (Rod Stewart)
I'm 5 years ahead of my time (the Third Bardo)...2001
jesse james( Trad)..currently
rider in the rain (Randy newman)...1993...performed on tv with kim salmon 1994
white rabbit. Jefferson airplane...sung by Clare Moore) ....special covers gig 2001
you're gonna miss me...(thirteenth floor elevators)....special covers gig 2001
New face in hell...the Fall
Lament ...the Doors
Alone again or...
Live and let live
...LOVE
Alex Chilton..The Replacements
Sweet surrender
Move with me
...Tim Buckley

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