Covers Songs In Surprising Places
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 11:43AM Today I learned that “My Maria” is a cover song.
Now, Allyson, you might be asking “Why are you mentioning a country song on BBG! – especially when you despise the genre?”
The answer, young grasshoppers, is that I was intrigued because of a past life.
“My Maria” was a big hit for Brooks & Dunn back in 1996. I know this because I grew up in farm country and people at my high school were always playing Brooks & Dunn. I was in tenth grade at this time. (You might recall Brooks & Dunn won a 1997 Grammy for their version too).
Fast forward to the year 2000. I was in college and doing a broadcast internship at the local radio station. I went to college in a small town – also in the “holler” – and the broadcast format was (and still is) country. I write all this to say that I heard “My Maria” constantly.
Like, the song was many years old by the time I was on the microphone and it was still in regular rotation in the Audio VAULT system.
Fast forward to today. You know, 23 years later. I decided to work in-office today, so I’m driving down the highway and flipping channels on my satellite radio. 70s on 7 is playing “My Maria.” I was confused and glanced down to see the track was really by B.W. Stevenson. The song was a single in August of 1973 – and was a top 10 hit then, too. The guitar portion features my beloved Larry Carlton even! You might recall Larry recorded some of the best guitar solos for Steely Dan. Remember – I’ve said before I think his work on “Don’t Take Me Alive” is among the best rock guitar solos ever!
After I googled “My Maria” and learned the roots of the song, I had to look the song up on Amazon Music and listen more closely to the guitars. I do prefer Larry Carlton’s noodling (shocker) – but the Brooks & Dunn version is pretty true to the original.
Now I want to hear a metalcore version of this song – and no, I’m not kidding. There could be a great breakdown in the middle of the song at around the 2 minute mark. I’m always amazed at how artists can approach cover songs – either completely rip them apart and make them unique or stay true to the original as a nod of respect. I’m just saying, I think Upon This Dawning should reform and do a cover. I mean, look what they did with this pop hit:
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Perhaps the greatest cover of all time is Hendrix’s version of Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” … Just ask Dylan himself, who is quoted as saying it’s better than the original.
Another prime example is DEVO’s take on the Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” … But don’t take my word for it, just ask Richard(s) who says it’s the best cover of that song ever!
It’s just before midnight here on the eve of 4th of July … I will follow up tomorrow with a list of more covers!
Happy 4th, everybody!