The Keith Richards version was recorded while he was out on bail after his infamous Toronto drug bust in 1977. He was facing possible life imprisonment, so there is something maudlin and chilling in his somber piano version which was recorded in a studio and leaked as a bootleg. But we all know how his story turned out. In between these versions is a great live take by The Grateful Dead at Fillmore East in 1971 and another version by the guy who probably taught it to Keith, Gram Parsons, with The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Other stuff: Ghostface Killah's dense "Fish", Lee 'Scratch' Perry & The Upsetter's spacey "Corn Fish Dub", Yo La Tengo's Eurythmics cover "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)", the slightly didactic "The Way It Iz" by Guru, Kai Bee & Lil' Dap, Marci Griffiths's lovely "Love Walked In", Norma Jean Wright's disco platter "Saturday", Diana Ross' disco smash "Upside Down", Tweedy Bird Loc's menacing "Fuck The South Bronx", Joe Simon's soulful "The Chokin' Kind", Bob Dylan's domestically blissful "Winterlude", Eric Clapton's sweet "Hello Old Friend", and Roosevelt Graves & Brother's foot-stomping "Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind On Jesus)".
I have two Billy Idol covers: one a banjo-driven version of "White Wedding" by Whip, and another a lush take of "Eyes Without A Face" by Paul Anka.
THree more songs that continue that vibe: Chet Baker's "Love Walked In", The Zombies' gorgeous cover of "Goin' Out Of My Head" by Little Anthony & The Imperials, and a very young Ray Charles singing "If I Give You My Love".
The last selection of the week that I haven't mentioned was a brief audio clip from the series and soundtrack for the television show "The Wire" called "Later For That Gangsta Bullshit". This time last year, watching The Wire was a bonding experience.
