It’s all subjective to personal tastes and interpretations but here are some more fine versions of songs first done by other artists.
MARY CHAPIIN CARPENTER- “The Bug”- In 1991 Dire Straits’ leader Mark Knopfler wrote and recorded this song for the band’s last studio effort “On Every Street.” A year later, Mary Chapin Carpenter covered the track for her fine “Come On, Come On” album as she even scored a top 20 hit on the country charts with it. Knopfler and his band creep and hop through this one just fine but forgive my sexism here, I think this song sounds better when a woman is telling us “Sometimes you’re the Louisville Slugger sometimes you’re the ball.”
BRUCE HORNSBY- “Jack Straw”- Grateful Dead members Bob Weir & Robert Hunter put this one to vinyl in 1972, and semi-based it on John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” Bruce Hornsby and his band The Range recorded the adventures of Mr. Straw for a Grateful Dead tribute album titled “Deadicated. The Dead’s track is so sparse and bleak and that’s why I prefer Hornsby’s rendition which I first heard him play live in the summer of 1991. It takes a minute to chug out of the rail yard and then you’re locked into the story. Funny enough, for years Bruce was a guest keyboard player at numerous Grateful Dead concerts.
MARIAH CAREY- “I’ll be There.” The Jackson Five’s original 1970 recording of this classic is high in tone and sweet in spirit. Mariah Carey equals Michael Jackson on the lead by adding soul to this love song and Trey Lorenz takes over brother Jermaine’s part in it. This was from a 1992 MTV Unplugged special. Just the “woo woos” in Carey’s playing of this gives me chills.
TRAVIS TRITT- “Sometimes She Forgets.” Originally written and recorded by the great Steve Earle, Travis Tritt does this heart tugging cut supreme justice. Tritt said he put this song to a rhythm similar to the Eagles “Tequila Sunrise.”
I’ve seen him cover this tune and Earle’s “Copperhead Road” in concert. Back in my country radio days I hung with the Georgia born Tritt a couple of times and got to tell him he’s the only person outside of Steve Earle who should be allowed to sing Steve Earle songs. Travis laughed and liked that.
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