#932. Lineage of Song: “Ring of Fire”

 

Anita Carter

Johnny Cash

Here’s part of music lore! Cowritten by June Carter and originally recorded by her sister (somewhat forgotten and/or overshadowed by the much wider reputation of the guy June ended up marrying later, the Carter family had a considerable reputation of its own).

#931. Lineage of Song: “Layla”

 

Derek and the Dominoes 

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton’s career and legacy tends to be downplayed somehow, possibly because there was a time he leaned into the stereotype and then when he pulled back and just leaned into the music. I’m not sure there’s a lot of people who understand the difference. But you can probably hear it in these two distinct versions of the same song.

#930. Lineage of Song: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

 

Here’s one of the most legendary songs, and covers. Great voice, difficult name to remember: Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwo’ole.

#929. Lineage of Song: “Hallelujah”

 

Leonard Cohen

Jeff Buckley

John Cale

Father Ray Kelly

Pentatonix

Here’s one of the most famous songs of the modern era, and cover songs. 

Back in college I took a class in Canadian literature, and the professor was a huge fan of Leonard Cohen. In fact I learned Cohen’s poetry before knowing, really, about his music career, but then I had a look around and found his style was very close to spoken word accompanied by instruments.

Anyway, John Cale covered “Hallelujah,” setting the style for how Jeff Buckley would achieve immortality. It’s the Cale version included in Shrek, but aficionados still adhere to Buckley. Cohen’s can be heard in Zack Snyder’s Watchmen.

But for my money, once I discovered it on YouTube, my favorite is probably Father Kelly’s riff.