Bust Outs: Covering The Beatles

A Day In The Life – Sting

It’s been a little while since we heard from Tantric Man, but today he is back to play a little ADITL (when’s the last time you handwrote those letters?). While Sting’s rendition sputters out of the gate a bit, stick with it as he starts feeling it on the bass. Gordon gets a bit mean as the song progresses. Overall, this is a rousing rendition by Sting and the gang, particularly the end piano build-up. Albeit it’s a little disappointing for the abrupt ending.

Possibly True Factoid: Sting just barely made to the venue it in time for sound check as the shoot for the Selsun Blue Robust Volume shampoo commercial ran a little long earlier that day.

[youtube]YGeyC1bDleI[/youtube]

Let It Be – Roger Daltrey

With help of some pipe organ lungs from his soulful duet sidekick (can anyone identify the diva?), Roger Daltrey shows once again that there was more to the Who than just Pete Townshend. This performance comes from the British Rock Symphony in 1999 with Simon Townshend (little brother) and Zak Starkey. While it is clear that Roger has lost a little of his mustard, particularly at the high end of his range, he can still conjure up a spirited performance. To the dude with tank top tie dye: ditch the Phaser on the solo, it sounds like crap.

Finally, as long as were on the subject if Let It Be, here’s another performance of the song that I thought was pretty solid. It was a little pitchy, but I loved when she took it into the false, dog.

[youtube]6YDkquH0zuw[/youtube]

Tomorrow Never Knows – Gov’t Mule

Let me guess, you’re thinking the Mule playing the Beatles is gonna be a chill departure from the band’s muddy southern blues sound and sound like Soulshine? You couldn’t be more wrong. In fact, you have no idea what you are in for right here. This song right here is worth the price of admission.

This rendition is akin to a Derek Trucks’ Soul Stew build up; starting with a backbeat bass drum & snare groove, add the funky bassline; throw in Warren’s effected slide; and then gradually stir in some Tron-like keyboards until you reach a heavy boil. Gov’t Mule clearly paid close attention to these lyrics: “Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream, It is not dying, it is not dying, Lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void, It is shining, it is shining,” because this is madness.

[youtube]4Xp4MQdgR8I[/youtube]

I’ve Got A Feeling – Tea Leaf Green

Is that Prince Caspian? Is that Pearl Jam? Wait, no it’s the Beatles, I’ve Got a Feeling. Sick. This take on the Beatles oft covered gem illustrates once again the ability of Tea Leaf Green to make a ubiquitous cover tune sound like well, Tea Leaf Green. The more you listen to their covers, the more you realize that Trevor really has a one of a kind singing voice. Also, we’d be remiss not to at least mention – what else is new? – Josh Clark’s barn burning guitar solo. By the way, this song poses an interesting question. Does part of having a good year actually include a wet dream? I always thought wet dreams were bunk. It basically means you’re all backed up and you made a mess.

[youtube]zMPg-knigZU[/youtube]

Day Tripper – Grateful Dead

The Cumberland Country crowd caught a real treat on 3/31/1985, when the fat man and friends tore through Day Tripper to deliver a fabulous ending to that night’s show. Watch as the white lights shine on the crowd at about the 3:40 mark, and you’ll see the crowd is literally jumping. Although, I think it’s safe to say we’d all rather stretch this one out to at least eight minutes long.

[youtube]i4ftxpYpEmY[/youtube]

What are some of your favorite Beatles’ covers? Let us know by leaving a comment for us right below this post…

Related Content

13 Responses

  1. I couldn’t find it on You Tube… but I was always interested in seeing Jimi Hendrix covering Sgt. Pepper’s in London less than a week after the record came out.

  2. cool stuff! pauly- im also a fan of hendrix’s Day Tripper ala BBC sessions… never expected to hear the name Owsley mentioned in that Beatles tune…

  3. Brendan’s voice seems to handle Beatles songs quite well (see I’ve Got a Feeling). Also, I have always been a fan of Umphrey’s take on The Fussy Dutchman > Tomorrow Never Knows (04.03.01, for example). One other example is 11.30.01 with their acknowledgment of George Harrison’s passing throughout the show.

  4. I haven’t listened lately, but there’s the Trey Band doing the second side of Abby Road at Bonnaroo

  5. I was a big fan of the “She Said She Said” with Phil and Friends sung by Warren
    -plus I believe the song was a recounting of an acid trip, so its got that going for it.

  6. U-melt does an excellent cover of Tomorrow Never Knows. IMO their “bust out” with that song, if you will, was from their performance at Summercamp in ’07 where Chuck Garvey from moe. joined them. Great call and answer jam between Rob Salzar and Chuck. I’m still waiting for a recording of that to surface.

  7. Jake Shimabukuro absolutely tearing a fucking hole in “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” … on UKELELE, no less.

    Work won’t let me open the YouTube, but do a search for ukelele and while my guitar. Perpare to be amazed. It should be on this list.

  8. Somebody already mentioned Umphrey’s McGee, but I can’t believe nobody has mentioned the Brain Damaged Eggmen — their combo with Bisco.

    dirty funk jams Beatles tunes = boom-shaka-lacka

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

New to Glide

Keep up-to-date with Glide

Twitter