Leadbelly Covers

[tiggerblue10]

Not many people have heard of Leadbelly but he was an inspiration to many musicians/artists over the years and quite a few of his songs have been covered.

If you know of any, which are your favourite covers?

[rayzorless]

just dug out Leadbelly CD. Alberta. was that covered by Eric Clapton and Rock Island covered by Lonnie Donigan

[JJ109]

Key to the Highway - Derek and the Dominoes. - But I think Leadbelly's was also a cover!

[rayzorless]

Key to the Highway by Bill Broonzy and Chas Segar

[JJ109]

I know - but I also liked Leadbelly's version! It is really a blues standard and covered by many!

[rayzorless]

cant remember hearing that version but ill look out for it. Ive only got the sheet music

[JJ109]

razorless (this song is presently unavailable in my area (Thailand) but it may be Ok for you!
https://www.jiosaavn.com/song/key-to-the-highway-bonus-track/IQomVzJpdVc

[rayzorless]

ill check it out on utube also ill get my old albums out of the loft. if i can get it to you ill do my best

[rayzorless]

a hard copy that is

[JJ109]

I'm Ok thanks Razorless. I have it on a compilation of blues classics that one of my friends did for me many years ago. I have it, but it is not an official album, just a home-made CD!

[rayzorless]

ive a few like that myself. better than not having though

[jno]

Gallows Pole, though again I think that was an old song that Leadbelly also covered.

[The Builder]

I guess one of his best known tunes would be "Goodnight Irene".
Covered by Eric Clapton/Van Morrison/Johnny Cash etc etc etc

Ry Cooder has a Youtube of this from The Old Grey Whistle Test.
I think my favourite though, is from good old Keith Richards.......
.

[EdmundD]

King of the 12 string guitar.

If It wasn't For Dicky - covered by many
Cotton Fields - covered by The Beach Boys

[Buenchico]

Ry Cooder's covers of Leadbelly's work seem to stick somewhat closer to the originals than many other artistes interpretations seem to have done.

e.g.

[tiggerblue10]

I love Nirvana's cover of Into The Pines, Where Did You Sleep Last Night.

[jno]

Buenchico, I don't know that there's much point in sticking close to the original, unless you're a juke box. The point of a cover version ought to be about what you can bring to it that's new. Both Buddy Holly's and the Stones' versions of Not Fade Away are great, but very different.

[Buenchico]

^^^ It wasn't written by Leadbelly though, Tigger, so it could be argued that his own version was a 'cover' anyway.

I'd agree though that the Nirvana version . . .

[Buenchico]

. . . is a damned sight better than the one that made the UK charts in 1964!

[tiggerblue10]

Oh, I thought it was, Chris. This shows Leadbetter Huddle as the writer.

nirvana where did you sleep last night' lyrics https://g.co/kgs/nekDzH

[tiggerblue10]

*Huddie, not huddle!