Eric Clapton - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

This is a live performance by legendary guitarist Eric Clapton playing his version of the classic Bob Dylan song "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right". The performance is from the concert celebrating Dylan's 30th Anniversary as a musician. (That particular concert was mentioned Friday's post Click here for that post and to read more about this particular concert).
The song "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" was originally released in 1963 in a version done by Dylan. This version was very different from Clapton's approach and was more folk and country sounding. It was released on the album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan".
The song has been done by a huge number of artists, including: Johnny Cash, Cher, Elvis Presley, Flatt and Scruggs, Joan Baez, Social Distortion, John Mayer, The Allman Brothers, and Rory Gallagher. And many more. (The Gallagher version is embeded below)

It's a great song and what I really love about Clapton's version is that he really took it and made it his own. It's a Clapton blues tune through his hands and voice and I love that.

Enjoy ; )

Volbeat - I Only Wanna Be With You

This is the music video to Volbeat's version of the classic Dusty Springfield single "I Only Want to Be With You" (often spelled "I Only Wanna Be With You", and also the way it's spelled on the cover of Volbeat's album). The song is of Volbeat's 2005 debut album "The Strength/The Sound/The Songs".
They are a band with a very distinctive sound drawing on many different influences and mixing them into a very unique, tasty and easily recognizable sound. They draw on a wide variety of genres spanning anything from hard core heavy metal, to rockabilly and even a folk/country influence as well. They have done songs dedicated to both Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, and Michael Poulsen the front man also emulates an Elvis like way of singing, it sounds unique and is an important part of the band's sound picture. The country influence can also be seen in their fondness of telling stories in the lyrics of their songs, and they have created their own text univers of Guitar Gangsters and Cadillacs, and many times continue story-arks throughout songs, and string them together that way. If you like both metal, but also enjoy listening to many other types of rock, I'd say: Give them a listen. They're definitely worth it. And I think this version of "I Only Wanna Be With You" is very interesting and different.

Enjoy ; )

Ray Charles - Merry Christmas Baby

This is a performance from Ray Charles performing the R & B Christmas standard "Merry Christmas Baby", originally composed and written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore in 1947. It has been covered by many different artists, including; Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Otis Redding, Elvis Presley, Bonnie Raitt and Bruce Springsteen.
It's a nice little soulful tune for the Holiday season.
Below is a version by Christina Aguilera and B.B. King. It's a very good version, but a bit short, and not as soulful as Ray's version.


Enjoy, and Happy Holidays

Ray Charles - What'd I Say

This is a performance from Ray Charles. It's live at the Olympia theatre in Paris. The band is the Ray Charles trio, the smaller ans amble Ray played with towards the end of his career. It's a great song and a great performance, and Ray is as full of life and energy as he always was during his shows.
The song "What'd I Say" was improvised one night in 1958. Ray was hired to play a set, but they ran out of songs. Ray and his band improvised the tune and interacted with the audience. It was such a success Ray decided to record the song as a single, the single was released in 1959.
It has certainly become a classic song, and it ranked no. 10 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 500 greatest songs of all time.
It's a great song, and it has been covered by several high profile rock 'n' roll artists including; Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, The Thunderbirds feat. SRV , Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash.

A great song, and a great performance, enjoy ; ) 

ZZ Top - Jailhouse Rock & La Grange

This is ZZ Top performing the classic Elvis Presley song "Jailhouse Rock". It's a typical rock 'n' roll song, and is one of the most classic songs ever. It ranked #67 on Rolling Stones list of the best songs ever.
It's a classic song, and has been recorded by an infinite number of artists; Jerry Lee Lewis, Jeff Beck, Cliff Richard and Queen to name a few.
It was also used as the last performance in the classic film "Blues Brothers", featuring a number of artists adding in words over the end credits (click here for Blues Brothers clip).
Elvis was Billy Gibbons main influence in deciding to be a professional musician and entertainer, he saw him live at an early age and has stated that it was at that point he decided to make a living out of music.
The video is a double performance also featuring "La Grange". It's a great performance, and Billy's guitar work is just excellent.

Enjoy ; )