“Stella Blue” – Willie Nelson
From Songbird
Speaking of the Grateful Dead and cover songs, if I were to make a list of artists least likely to cover the Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson would probably find his way on it. I love both artists, fully, madly, deeply, but on their surface they are completely different beasts.
Both Willie and the Dead are music lovers, covering everything from folk to pop standards and jazz in their repertoire. Both have made careers out of touring non-stop across the world, and their performances can drastically change from show to show. Truly, both groups are distinctly American, and showcase the pantheon of our musical heritage.
So, when I begin to think about it, the two aren’t really all that different at all.
I’m not really sure how Willie found his way into covering one of the prettiest of the Dead ballads, though I suspect the producer on this record, one Ryan Adams, had a great deal to do with it. It’s an interesting, and quite fantastic version, too. Ryan Adams and his band the Cardinals, crank out the guitar and spacey effects which sits perfectly for this song. Though I can’t say I’ve ever heard Willie sound this way in all my life.
Could a Willie and the Dead collaboration be too much to ask?
“This Is The Sound” – Juliana Hatfield
From Become What You Are
My New Years Resolution for 2007 was to write more letters. Real, genuine, written on actual paper letters. Not e-mail. Not text messages. Not instant messaged. But honest to goodness letters.
I used to be a really brilliant letter writer. I received, on average one letter per day incoming, which means that I wrote something like three letters every day. I got creative too. I’d draw little cartoons in the margins, plaster the envelopes with stickers, quote song lyrics and poetry throughout, and once even did a chip exchange with a friend from Arkansas.
Article comments
1 - Ken Kleiber
Hello- interesting and fun stories/recollections/anecdotes. Regarding the Dolly Parton story ("Cash on the Barrelhead"), if you look at the timeline of Dolly Parton's career, it's noted that Dolly Parton moved to Nashville the day after she graduated from high school, and toiled around Nashville for several years before she was hired to sing on Porter Wagoner's show. So, if the fellas rushed back home to tell Dolly of their own contract signing...they must have gone back via the North Pole...or gone sightseeing on the way...or something! But it is an interesting story nonetheless, and I hope your cousin continued to be a musician. There are some truly talented performers in that part of the country. Thanks! Ken
2 - Mat Brewster
Yes, I've seen some of Dolly's official history and it certainly doesn't match perfectly with my families version. Which is why I kind of poke fun at it in the post.
Many years have passed since the days my family played with Dolly and I'm sure the story has gotten embellished in many ways, but its still a great story to tell.
Thanks for the comment.
3 - Connie Phillips
Mat, I've really been enjoying this feature. Keep it up. The stories you relate to the music are awesome!
4 - Mat Brewster
Thanks very much. Sometimes I think I get a little too personal, and don't talk about the music enough. But then that's how I relate to the music, through my own experiences.
5 - Holly Hughes
That's how we all relate to the music, Mat -- let's not kid ourselves.
I think Willie Nelson's versatility has been seriously underrated. The great thing about Willie as a cover artist is that he actually gets inside the soul of a song and gets to know it, then makes it his own. He never just "Willie-izes" a tune, and never just replicates the original. Generally I discover new things even in a long-familiar song when I hear Willie's take on it.
6 - Mat Brewster
Thanks Holly. I know that's how we relate, but I'm not always sure thats now how critics are supposed to write.
I'm sure you've heard it, but everyone should have a copy of Stardust. Bloody brilliant is that. I love how he is able to take these old songs that have been covered by everybody and still make it fresh and new.
7 - Linda lee
I loved when Willie toured with the Dead, and they played his Fourth of July Picnic. My favorite two bands together! I enjoyed the Stella cover on Songbird, but I would love a Willie/Dead album. Maybe Bobbie and Phil, and those Rhythm Bandits Mickey and Bill could join him in the studio, too. I'd love to hear them do Friend of the Devil, and all the great Robert Hunter tunes.
Nice blog.
8 - El Bicho
"Could a Willie and the Dead collaboration be too much to ask?"
Forget the parking lot scene. I'd want to check out the tour buses.