Singer-songwriter Steve Earle is best known among black folk for his rendition of “Way Down in the Hole” for Season 5 of “The Wire.”I myself had never heard Earle’s music until 1999, when my man David Simon chose “South Nashville Blues” as the theme song for “The Corner.” (Re-recorded by Corey Harris and Henry Butler.)
Well, shame on me. Because Steve Earle is a major talent.
Last week I stumbled upon a documentary called “Heartworn Highways,” which was filmed in 1975. It features a very young Earle along with David Allan Coe, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and other country troubadours.
Click here to hear Steve Earle performing “The Mercenary Song.”
That track is available as a FREE MP3. Follow this link to the “Heartworn Highways” website, then look in the right-hand column under “FULL MP3S.”
A video clip of Earle’s performance is up on YouTube:
Hate to say it, but I didn't care for his version of "Down in the Hole." It was easily the weakest of the five in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThat said, his character on the show was great.
I'm a huge Steve Earle fan (in fact, I named my first book after an Earle song), but I didn't care for his version of DITH either.
ReplyDeleteGlad you've found him. He is indeed a major talent.
I actually liked his version of "Way Down" more so than the original version by Tom Waits. Though I'm sure not many people agree with me on that one.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people never did like his version. It was a different groove for him, no doubt. But I always liked it, and never grew tired of it.
ReplyDeleteBig Steve Earle fan too but yes his version of WDITH was surpsingly dull and uninspired, particularly considering his great talent and his connection to the show.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clip though. Not sure I've ever seen footage of him so young! Hard to believe it's the same dude.
UBM, love it that you're working your way through the white guys with guitars. First Dylan, that awesome (!) Petty mashup a couple days ago and now Earle. Zevon next? :)
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you ever heard Steve's (tongue-in-cheek) ode to Condoleeza Rice. Here's a live version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avwJPNmCDh0
A bit indelicate in his comments at the end, but funny song nonetheless.
Bobby P. ("condoleeza, won't you come out tonight!")
Earle's version of DITH grew on me as the season progressed. My favorite version is still the first season, though.
ReplyDelete("Condeleeza, jump a little higher!")
Yo RP... I gave Warren Zevon some love back in January. Dylan's the one I've been ignoring.
ReplyDeleteI surprised you didn't nudge me towards Bruce!
Nudge nudge nudge
ReplyDelete