Flipping through the dial today, I heard the intro of "Sixteen Tons"; not the original by Tennessee Ernie Ford but a cover. It sounded like someone (Ben Sidran as it turns out) who listened to their share of Mose Allison. It got me thinking about the original by Ford, which happens to be the only Tennessee Ernie Ford song that I know. When I got home, I had to listen to it again. Deduction: cool song. Not earth shattering, but cool.
When I was looking for Ford's version, I ran across one by Stevie Wonder, who is not entirely believable as someone toiling in a coal mine but otherwise does a pretty good job. The other version below is Dan McLain, aka Country Dick Montana (Beat Farmers) then known by many as the Big M.R. (after his record store, Monty Rockers). It's a live version by his short lived rag tag "all-star" band of San Diego musicians, most plucked from the nascent punk scene. Billed as The Sensational Big M.R. and his All Bitchin’ All Stud All Stars, it's from a gig they shared with the Subhumans, so the juxtaposition of material was intriguing. Straight up punk rock on the same night as a slap together band covering Tennessee Ernie Ford and Conway Twitty. Why the hell not?
When I was looking for Ford's version, I ran across one by Stevie Wonder, who is not entirely believable as someone toiling in a coal mine but otherwise does a pretty good job. The other version below is Dan McLain, aka Country Dick Montana (Beat Farmers) then known by many as the Big M.R. (after his record store, Monty Rockers). It's a live version by his short lived rag tag "all-star" band of San Diego musicians, most plucked from the nascent punk scene. Billed as The Sensational Big M.R. and his All Bitchin’ All Stud All Stars, it's from a gig they shared with the Subhumans, so the juxtaposition of material was intriguing. Straight up punk rock on the same night as a slap together band covering Tennessee Ernie Ford and Conway Twitty. Why the hell not?
~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Listen:Tennessee Earnie Ford - Sixteen Tons mp3 at Internet Archive
Ben Sidran - Sixteen Tons (streaming) at YouTube
Stevie Wonder - Sixteen Tons mp3 at Stevie Wonder (fan site) Better fidelity at YouTube
The Sensational Big M.R. and his All Bitchin’ All Stud All Stars - Sixteen Tons (live) mp3 at Che Underground
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