Blues Run the Game
I have pretty much had to burrow backwards in time to discover where this song came from, but find it I think I finally have.
The last time I ever bought a Counting Crows records was Hard Candy, and I was sufficiently underwhelmed not to bother with them again. I was already rather losing interest by that point anyway, but two brilliant singles changed my mind. Not the singles themselves, mind you, but their quite splendid b-sides. Blues Run the Game was one of those and it never occurred to me that it was anything other than a somewhat unfortunately abandoned moment of Crows genius.
As I have a habit of doing with music I love, I put it on a CD for my folks and of course they loved it too. However, some months later my Dad came back to me and said ‘Did you know that was originally a Simon & Garfunkel song? I just heard their version of it – it’s brilliant as well.’ Again, I never really questioned this either, given Simon & Garfunkel were pretty great songwriters whether or not you like their soft-focus hippy delivery, which I do most of the time. And it would make sense that Adam Duritz & Co. would be exploring the back catalogue of legendary American songwriters on their b-sides.
Anyhow, yesterday it turned out that this still wasn’t the whole story. Before striking folk gold as half of Simon & Garfunkel Paul Simon spent some time in the burgeoning English early 60s folk scene where he happened to produce the only complete album by another American refugee, the extremely troubled Jackson C. Frank. I was reading this post at Motel de Moka and I discovered that, following a fire in his school classroom which killed several classmates, Frank was able to use the insurance money to travel to England, which resulted in his collaboration with Simon. Apparently he is still well known in folkie circles, although I’d never heard of him, but the likes of Bert Jansch and Nick Drake rated him very, very highly apparently. To read the whole story go to Motel de Moka – I’d really recommend it. It’s a rather sad tale of a troubled artist whose problems ultimately overwhelmed his artistic output, and apart from a few abortive session tracks in 1975 he only ever released a single, self-titled album.
So this post is the result of one long, obtuse train of musical thought that started for the music back in 1964 and for myself back in about 2001. Given the fact that for so many people the work of Jackson C. Frank has largely vanished into the obscurity of time I somehow feel that I am performing some sacred act of reverence here in passing it on to a new audience to hear. Enjoy the songs.
Counting Crows – Blues Run the Game
Simon & Garfunkel – Blues Run the Game
Jackson C. Frank – Blues Run the Game
Jackson C. Frank – Marlene
Nice work Toady. I knew the original but not the covers. Simon & Garfunkel don’t seem to possess the hard-earned melancholy, misery and futureless desparation of the author – and those signature twiddly bits at the end gild the lily a tad. Nevertheless, well worth sharing with a brandy and coke nostalgia ride on a wet Sunday afternoon.
It’s rare that covers hold a candle to the original version of the song but this might be the exception. I think the original is great and both cover versions have a unique quality to them that allows the artists to make the song their own. Sadly, it’s a small reminder of how good the Counting Crows used to be. VERY WELL DONE!!!!
The recent 2CD comp of Jackson C. Frank’s stuff is well worth a listen, although the music on it is at times almost unbearably sad.
There’s a modest little post about him from last year over at my place too http://theghostofelectricity.blogspot.com/2006/10/blues-run-game_116133795055210530.html
Sorry Davy, I never saw that one. But I was a mere tadpole on the internets back then!
Cheers Jon – yes I love the Counting Crows version too actually, and especially in contrast to their recent work which has been disappointing.
Nick Drake recorded a lovely version of this tune. Check your inbox.
Just about to listen to that actually – it’s taken some time to chew my way through my inbox, even after a couple of days away.
only stopped to read this as you were dissing my favourite band, but really glad i did – really interesting post and some *amazing* tunes
Oh no – who was I upsetting this time?
Eddi Reader’s version is good too … dang it, maybe it’s just a good song.
Jesus – at this rate there’s going to have to be another post on this song! Any chance you could email it to me old chap?