Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. LXI--Lyle Lovett: Friend of the Devil

I tried, as I was thinking about today's tune, to think of a song that was a cover version that I enjoyed so much more than the original and came up with nary a one other than Lyle Lovett's version of the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil."  In fairness, as I've noted before, I'm not an aficionado of the Dead but I can't really say I'm a big fan of Lyle Lovett, either.  A mystical confluence of musical events, one supposes.

Lyle Lovett's career has been marked by a quiet consistency.  He started recording in the mid 80's and has more or less released an album every two years and while his sales have never soared into the stratosphere he has several gold records, a devoted following, and some serious respect in the music community.  Along the way he's won four Grammy Awards, appeared in numerous movies, and married Julia Roberts (if only for a couple of years).  Not a bad ride for the lanky Texan.

Written by Robert Hunter with music by Jerry Garcia, "Friend of the Devil" originally appeared on the 1970 Grateful Dead album American Beauty.  It tells the story of a man on the run from the law who makes a deal with the devil and then finds himself on the run from Satan, too.  The original Dead version is an uptempo folk tune, and immediately became a fan favorite (and a musicians favorite, too--it's been covered by roughly 20 different artists, including Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Dave Matthews, and the Counting Crows).

Though he wasn't the first (Loggins and Messina were actually the first and most others followed, including the Dead in their live version), Lovett slowed the tempo of "Friend of the Devil" considerably and turned it into a masterpiece.  Released in 1991 on the Dead tribute album Deadicated, the liner notes say there's a bass, some drums, and some piano on the song, but I'll be goddamned if I can hear any of them.  And that's because Lovett's vocals so overwhelm the ears (the acoustic guitar is plenty noticeable, however) as he sings with a quiet pathos that makes you empathize with the fugitive protagonist as he misses his sweet Anne Marie and fears spending the rest of his life in jail.  It's American folk at its finest--a tour de force of the old west and one of its many outlaws, all in a perfect harmony from a wondrous vocal performance by Lovett.

Like the man says, "I set out running but I take my time...."

Enjoy:

Peace,
emaycee

All around me a voice was a-sounding

I've been trying to find a spot to put this video for months--the Fourth of July seemed like an appropriate time because nothing says America quite like two old hippies (Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir) from the Grateful Dead joining forces with a Latino rock band--the incomparable Los Lobos--to sing and play Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land."  Replete with a sax solo and some mean accordion playing to boot....

From July of 1989, when I was still a very young man--Happy Fourth, and enjoy:

Peace,
emaycee

Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. XXIII--The Grateful Dead: Touch of Grey

I'd be the first to admit that I don't really get the Grateful Dead.  It's not that they're a bad band--it's that they're just an okay band.  I mean, I like "Truckin'."  I like "Ripple."  I like "Casey Jones."  I like "Friend of the Devil" (though truth be told, I like Lyle Lovett's cover version from Deadicated much better).  None of them would make my top 500, though.  I've got Skeletons in the Closet, their greatest hits package, and it's more than enough Dead album for me.  And despite their reputation for live performing, I couldn't imagine going to see them in concert, much less becoming a Deadhead.

But as the old saying goes, every dog has its day and the Grateful Dead had their day with me with their 1987 hit "Touch of Grey."  Released on their In the Dark album, it was their only top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 (the album was also their only top ten album, as well), peaking at number nine (with a bullet!).  Reluctant frontman Jerry Garcia wrote the music and longtime Dead lyricist Robert Hunter wrote the words--the Dead originally performed the song live in 1982 but didn't record it in the studio until 1987.

Ostensibly, the song is a paean to getting old--or at least the acceptance of getting old.  Not really sure why at the age of twenty-eight it struck me as such a great song--probably because the age of thirty was just around the corner and I was looking for any kind of assurance that getting older wouldn't totally suck.  Turns out Mr. Hunter was right--it is "all right."  The tune is a melange of pop and Americana supplemented by Garcia's knowing vocals, some folksy lyrics, and the oft repeated chorus "I will get by/I will survive."

True enough, that.

I turned fifty-six yesterday, and as I combed my hair after my morning shower, I noticed in the mirror that even though the full head of mouse brown hair no longer existed, a "touch of grey" suits me very well, indeed.

Enjoy:

Peace,
emaycee