Who does the best version of Long Black Veil?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

I think Lefty Frizell did the original.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50k18gL76AU

Ten years ago on a cold dark night
There was someone killed ‘neath the town hall light
There were few at the scene, but they all agreed
That the slayer who ran looked a lot like me
The judge said son what is your alibi
If you were somewhere else then you won’t have to die
I spoke not a word though it meant my life
For I had been in the arms of my best friend’s wife

She walks these hills
In a long black veil
She visits my grave
When the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
nobody knows but me

The scaffold’s high and eternity near
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold wind blows
In a long black veil she cries o’er my bones

She walks these hills
In a long black veil
She visits my grave
When the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees,
nobody knows but me

Nobody knows but me
Nobody knows but me

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. The Band...

I think that was on Music from Big Pink, but I may be incorrect. :hi:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. So many versions out there

Cash with Joni Mitchell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pALSKcWcVEk&feature=PlayList&p=89B9CB46D7D82609&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13

[jeff30997]

4. That one is hard to beat IMHO.

Two great performers.

How are you Tuesday Afternoon ? :hi:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. doing fine, Jeff. And you?

:hi:

yeah, nice version.

[jeff30997]

7. Doing fine thank you but need some sleep.

I thing I'll go read a bit before going to bed.So tired.

Good night my dear. :hug:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. night, Jeff

:hug:

[cemaphonic]

35. Yeah, Its on Big Pink

I like Johnny Cash's version a bit better. The Band's version seems (surprisingly) rhythmically stiff.

[evlbstrd]

3. I'm more familiar with the version by The Band.

But The Cheiftains with Mick Jagger is an interesting take.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBGvO3VhkeA

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. interesting...I like it.

here is one of the Band's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0PHbpWfkSM&feature=related

[Common Sense Party]

9. Johnny Cash. End of discussion. n/t

[old mark]

10. His was the best I ever heard.....nt

[jobycom]

11. Funny you ask, because I've been trying to figure that out for years. I heard a version once

that still haunts me, and I can't figure out who it was. It was done in an old folk manner, with a woman accompanying. It was slower, more haunting, than most of the famous versions. It wasn't Cash, Lefty, or Dave Matthews, though it was similar to the one Matthews did with Emmylou Harris at the Cash tribute. It was on a local program, so it may have been one of the Austin celebrities--Ray Wilie Hubbard, John Prine, John Earl Keene, Guy Clark. It sounded a little like Jerry Jeff Walker, only more soulful. The DJ never said who it was, and I've never heard it again, and I don't know if I'd recognize it. Oh yeah, and it was a live recording.

So the unknown one is my favorite, and then Lefty's, then Dave Matthews with Emmylou Harris. Mike Nesmith does a good version of it, too. I like Cash's version, but it's too smooth for me, and not passionate enough.

I heard a rumor that Chris Ledeoux used to sing it. I'd have loved to hear that.

And you want an unknown gem? Here's John Anderson and Merle Haggard. Lousy sound recording. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ_1nfv4D2U&feature=PlayList&p=06436B5BC161F283&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=10

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. Now see here.

I LOVE this because I adore John Anderson. I love that man's voice and Merle is the Man :thumbsup:

Thanks for the link.

eta The Stranglers version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0PHbpWfkSM&feature=related

[jobycom]

28. You know, I love Danko's voice, but the music in their version sounds too much

like "Take a load off, Fanny," or "Annie," or whatever that song is called. I love that song, but for some reason the similarity distracts me. I guess it lets me hear the mechanics of what they're doing, which makes it sound less sincere, despite the fact that Danko sings it well. Yeah, that makes no sense to anyone but me, probably. :)

[SCantiGOP]

31. Annie or Fanny?

I had never known in listening to the Band's version which it was. I just googled 'the band the weight lyrics' and different sites have it about even saying that it's Fanny, fanny, Fannie, Anny or Annie. I went to their official site, which contains the sheet music, and it is Fanny.

[jobycom]

34. Thanks for the research!

:rofl: I'd run across both so many times I gave up.

[Mopar151]

29. Ga. Satellites bootleg

No foolin'. Great cover of "No money down" on the same bootleg. (recorded from the radio broadcast on WBCN, live from the Channel in Boston)

[lazyriver]

13. Garcia, Grisman & Rice...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHmB0evkxHQ

[Tuesday Afternoon]

17. nice

Johnny Rivers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wW5V9RpiOQ&feature=related

[lazyriver]

19. also nice...kinda like Johnny Cash meets very early Elvis.

[slewfoot]

14. I always liked John Anderson's rendition. NT

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. Yes. and welcome to DU --

love me some John.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0PHbpWfkSM&feature=related

[JitterbugPerfume]

16. Johnny Cash

[mitchum]

18. Johhny Cash...that's why I had him autograph that record

[Tuesday Afternoon]

20. Awesome! You got His Autograph!

That is way cool.

[mitchum]

27. That's the only reason I ever went to a christian bookstore...

about 20 years ago, he was promoting his book "Man In White" (I believe it was a novelistic account of Peter or Paul or one of those bible guys)

[Rambis]

21. JOHN ANDERSON & MERLE HAGGARD LONG BLACK VEIL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ_1nfv4D2U

[Tuesday Afternoon]

22. long black veil live at st johns church - david gray

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbGJcZV5iw8

[Rambis]

23. Gillian Welch David Rawlings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kejux0z7SKA

[AngryAmish]

24. Johnny Cash w/ Chieftains

[LanternWaste]

25. The Proclaimers!

The Proclaimers. No doubt about it (imho).

The two brothers use really good (and really tight) harmonies, yet they don't overshadow or supersede the haunting melodic lines. Add to that the Proclaimers wonderful brogue, and we are left with a winner. :)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

26. Wish I could find it on YouTube...

:thumbsup:

[bif]

30. Mick Jagger with the Chieftans

[graywarrior]

32. Mick Jagger and The Chieftains is my favorite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLPgju2LLrE

[Tikki]

33. Mike Ness did a version and so did Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds...

It made a bit of a rotation among early punk bands...

Lefty Frizell did the best version...excellent song.


Tikki

[In_The_Wind]

36. I've never heard Lefty Frizell before now.

I like it!

Thanks

:hug:

[mduffy31]

37. Dave Matthews Band did a pretty decent cover of it

with the "Lovely Ladies" in the background that made the chorus really haunting.