Dok (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} cyberinsekt) wrote,@ 2007-12-16 11:24:00 |
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John Cale - Heartbreak Hotel
Today's track is from a classic live album, released by a band who were a supergroup in all but name. The reason why? They didn't have a name. They were simply John Cale, Brian Eno, Kevin Ayers & Nico, with occasional support from Robert Wyatt and, um, Mike Oldfield. Well, 5 out of 6 is plenty good enough. The album's name is similarly devoid of flash, simply being the date it was recorded, June 1st, 1974. Half the tracks are Ayers songs. They're performed fairly conventionally, and they're very nice, if a little bland. There are a couple of Eno songs, stark and satisfying. And then there are the album's two standout tracks, both cover versions. One is by Nico, with her voice resonant and icy, as she sings The Doors' The End to a stark synth backing from Eno. And then there's today's track.
John Cale does something very remarkable here. He steals one of Elvis' song. Now, I have always detested the music of Elvis Presley. Even as a very small child, I just wanted the big man with the horrible voice to go away. It's not as if it was a reaction against rock and roll in general, because I can remember getting very excited whenever I would hear Chuck Berry. No, it was just Elvis. So maybe I'm a little biased here, maybe I'm an untrustworthy source. Maybe you'll just have to listen for yourself to decide the truth of what I tell you. Because once you hear John Cale singing Heartbreak Hotel, I believe you will have heard the definitive version. Never again will you think of it as an Elvis song. Cale completely owns this. It is an art rock howl of pain and misery, and one of the all time great cover versions. Or, I could just be some weird old guy with an unnatural prejudice against popular entertainment. You decide.
John Cale - Heartbreak Hotel
Today's track is from a classic live album, released by a band who were a supergroup in all but name. The reason why? They didn't have a name. They were simply John Cale, Brian Eno, Kevin Ayers & Nico, with occasional support from Robert Wyatt and, um, Mike Oldfield. Well, 5 out of 6 is plenty good enough. The album's name is similarly devoid of flash, simply being the date it was recorded, June 1st, 1974. Half the tracks are Ayers songs. They're performed fairly conventionally, and they're very nice, if a little bland. There are a couple of Eno songs, stark and satisfying. And then there are the album's two standout tracks, both cover versions. One is by Nico, with her voice resonant and icy, as she sings The Doors' The End to a stark synth backing from Eno. And then there's today's track.
John Cale does something very remarkable here. He steals one of Elvis' song. Now, I have always detested the music of Elvis Presley. Even as a very small child, I just wanted the big man with the horrible voice to go away. It's not as if it was a reaction against rock and roll in general, because I can remember getting very excited whenever I would hear Chuck Berry. No, it was just Elvis. So maybe I'm a little biased here, maybe I'm an untrustworthy source. Maybe you'll just have to listen for yourself to decide the truth of what I tell you. Because once you hear John Cale singing Heartbreak Hotel, I believe you will have heard the definitive version. Never again will you think of it as an Elvis song. Cale completely owns this. It is an art rock howl of pain and misery, and one of the all time great cover versions. Or, I could just be some weird old guy with an unnatural prejudice against popular entertainment. You decide.
John Cale - Heartbreak Hotel
