Wayfaring Stranger

This is more a question of opinion. Who has performed the best cover of "Wayfaring Stanger"? I already know that Jack White in the movie Cold Mountain butchered the song. I'm looking for a couple of good versions to add to my CD collection.

[wah]

Tim O'Brien from "Songs From the Mountain." How it's sposed to be done.

Wayne

[Landgrass]

Doc Watson

[mandoJeremy]

I like Tony Rice's version of it.

[Scotti Adams]

Grisman has got my fav version of it....cant tell ya what recording its on tho...

[John Flynn]

Tim O'Brien from "Songs From the Mountain." How it's sposed to be done.
I would like to second that. I have played that CD to death and I still get chills from that track. Tim's voice combined with Dirk Powell's fiddle in dead man's tuning just blend to perfection.

[Givensman]

Joan Baez

[Mandodoc]

The Cluster Pluckers do an excellent job on it. From the "Just Pluck It" cd. Really good stuff.
jon

[Peter Hackman]

What exactly is a "cover" of a PD tune?http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Monroe recorded two dissimilar versions,
and they are among my favorites.

The first, in A flat, was on the I Saw the Light album,
with sparse accompaniment (I am pretty sure that
Owen Bradley plays piano on that one).

The second, in G (as I recall), is on the Smithsonian/Folkways
compilation "Off the Record". Monroe duets with
Peter Rowan on the chorus, and has a
beautiful call-response sequence with Richard
Greene.

Both versions are very beautiful, but the second version
(recorded in B F Logan's home, I believe)
is more hard-core bluegrass. The singing on
the studio version is cleaner, though.

[OdnamNool]

Well, Howdy do, VikingPlayer!

You already know my answer...

Never heard any other version... Don't need to... No one can top the best...

[Pete Martin]

I heard someone do a great take off called

"Weight Bearing Stranger" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[mandopete]

I like Tony Rice's version of it.
I'll second that - especially the second part where he starts playing it fast.

[abram]

By the way, that break Bill does in the Smithsonian/Folkways album "Wayfaring Stranger" is one of the best I think I've ever heard.

[batman]

Grisman and Bush on the mando extravaganza in Gm. Also Sam's mando break on Tony's version in Cm. Don

[doc holiday]

Although I like T Rice's version I find it a little jazzy. As a guitar player and Tony afficionado I hate to admit it but.... my favorite is the Mr. Monroe version at Tex Logan's.
That's my $0.02
Thanks
Doc


http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[mandopete]

Although I like T Rice's version I find it a little jazzy. #
You say that like it's a bad thing!

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[om21ed]

Emmylou Harris with, I believe Sam Bush on mando

[Dan Cole]

For Grisman its "Mandolin Extravaganza" also on "Dawg Grass/DAwg JAzz.

[Mike Bunting]

I gotta go with the version on the Smithsonian/Folkways recording. The mando solo is eerie!

[johnwalser]

The definitive version was preformed last Friday evening in my living room by yours truly. Don't be so danged concerned about the play of others, enjoy your own musical experience. Don't rely on others to provide the musical high points in your life.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong (there's always a first time).
John

[mandoJeremy]

hmmm.....just trying not to respond to that one!

[Scotti Adams]

..well..in that case..I have to say my version with a couple of friends of mine with whom I get together with occasionaly...just mando, guitar and upright bass..we call ourselves "The Stringfellers" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[mandopete]

Don't be so danged concerned about the play of others, enjoy your own musical experience.
You say that like it's a bad thing.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[JDARTGOD]

Hands down, for me...the Emmylou Harris Version. #Has Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, etc.........

This great tune is on her 1980 Warner Brothers release titled "Roses in the Snow".

Here are the credits from the tune:

Emmylou Harris Wayfaring Stranger traditional

Tony Rice lead acoustic guitar
Albert Lee mandolin
Jerry Douglas dobro
Emory Gordy bass
Ricky Skaggs fiddle/guitar/vocals
John Ware percussion
Brian Aheren acoustic guitar

[Scotti Adams]

..yep..that there is a goodin'

[patsites]

Strictly speaking from an instrument mandolin approach, I have a bootleg from Rockygrass a couple years back, the group was called, "Just Some Mandolin Pickers". It consisted of Dawg, Sammy, Mike Marshall, Ronnie McCoury, and Thile. About 3 songs in they pulled out Wayfaring Stranger in Gm, absolutely beautiful and very useful learning tool for any mandolinist. It is especially cool to hear each individual players approach to the song, tremolo, triplets, doublestops, crosspicking, etc, that particular version covers every facet that a mando can cover.

[Lane Pryce]

Sam Bush and the Dawg duet. If you have a fast connection PM me your e address and I'll email you the tune. Lp

[oakland]

I like the Monroe version with the high tenor part and also the one from the Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza...

[jmcgann]

The Wayfaring Strangers- on the CD Shifting Sands of Time (Rounder) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[GTison]

my fav is Monroe doing it by himself, w/o any company. It's powerful. Try to do some of those pulloffs on a arched fingerboard... Umh umh... powerful even to think of. Him singin flat to the pitch... just a hair above crying it out...

(saw it on a Marty Stewart special and have it on VHS)

Modern Version? Clara Lynch

Wow, I didn't realize how many people have recorded this song! Thank you for all your opinions.

[Andrew Reckhart]

I like MY version the best http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[GVD]

I always liked my version and a couple of weeks ago I found out I'm not the only one. Me and a couple of friends were invited to play at a large outdoor party. Everyone was sitting around a bonfire and would give us a little polite applause. At one point someone started talking to our banjo player so I took the oppurtunity to launch into my solo version. Believe it or not I got a standing ovation.

GVD

[Michael H Geimer]

I'm sure Emmilou and her band did a great version, but I'm gonna side with John above ... this is not a song that should have a "defintive version".

Late one night, I was lying on the couch noodling on my mandolin and somehow wandered into the melody WS in way that really stirred something within me. I realized just how powerful that song is.

I think that's what John was driving at, the song is autobiographical in truest form.

[Bluegrasstjej]

A female country band named the Thornbirds do a wonderful version of it. You can listen to a soundclip here (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thornbirds?cdbaby=f1b9a2c6080684b6857188ebe125c7f8 ).

[Michael Lewis]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Burl Ives. He did a very good version, recorded in the early 50s I believe.

[Peter Hackman]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Burl Ives. He did a very good version, recorded in the early 50s I believe.
It was his theme song, and his nom de guerre.

[Givensman]

Joan Collins

[mandolooter]

Wow, Burl Ives...I love his sound track #from Rudolf the red nosed Reindeer movie...I'll have to track down his version of WS. #One of my favorite tunes of Bill's.

Benig...emotional content in that tune is over the top! #At #most of the jams around here it seems folks wanna play fiddle tunes as fast as possible which is fine by me but I'd much rather play a slow sad song. #Its one of the things that drew me to the mandolin, the ability to put the emotions I feel into music.

Keep posting these everyone there great! #One thing I've found is at CD.com you can search for a song and usually come up with 20 versions or so by different bands and most have a small soundclip to listen to.

[om21ed]

Daniel Kobialka and David Grisman on the "Common Chord" cd--an outstanding disc.

[withak]

I'll add another vote for Tim O'Brien's version from Songs From the Mountain.