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Thread: Favorite non-bg tunes played bg style

  1. #1

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    What are some of your favorite nonBG tunes played BG style? One that we do that is a crowd pleaser is "They Call Me the Breeze" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Also, Paperback Writer by Beatles. Another standard is "Friend of the Devil", and we do several other Dead tunes.

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    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    I 'm NOT a great fan of that sort of thing really,as much of the non-Bluegrass stuff done in Bluegrass style that i've heard would have been better left 'un-Bluegrassified',but i have a sneaking admiration for Dolly Parton's version of "I Get A Kick Out Of You",from her CD "Little Sparrow". Stunning Mandolin intro.by Mr.C.Thile. If it was all that good i'd be asking for MUCH more - purely MY opinion,
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    once upon a time, drmole Joel Spaulding's Avatar
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    I've been working out a pseudograss version of Pinball Wizard, not yet ready for the light of day - but it has potential if I can convince some of my buds in Lexington to follow me into the realms of the odd, bizarre and just plain wrong.

    Nothing is sacred - as someone once said - I get inspired by taking any tune in any genre and attempting to make it work in some other, often completely unrelated genre. These experiments often crash horribly, but frequently at least provide an idea that might carry over to spice up the original. This same "formula" can really work on originals also.

    Prior to any Bluegrass experience I played with a group that covered GNR's Appetite for Destruction - for a single performance. The original intent was to cover the album in a "Honky Tonk" style. I was playing a Korg organ with a wah-wah and distortion. When the performance came about we played about half the album "honky tonk", the remainder traversed Reggae, Bluegrass(stereotypical - not good BG in retrospect), U2 - ala "One", Pink Floyd-ish, and a Metheny-esque styles.

    The majority of the audience seemed to enjoy the energy and the wackiness - a few Die Hard GNR fans were expecting an actual tribute band.

    #Sorry Slash lovers- I outgrew my spandex about 1990.

    Oh, big fan of Pine Mountain Railroad's cover of the Journey "classic" Don't Stop Believing

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    I like Thile's Dead Leaves cover (The White Stripes).
    "Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man."

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    Chief Moderator/Shepherd Ted Eschliman's Avatar
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    From Mike Marsall's 1987 CD "Gator Strut;" his cover of John Coltrane's, "Giant Steps," "Giant Hornpipes."
    What a kill!
    Ted Eschliman

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    Golden ring and lonesome fugitive by Dry Branch Fire Squad

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    I know you rider by The seldom Scene

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    its a very very long song Jim's Avatar
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    I've been having fun grassing up All Along the Watchtower.
    Jim Richmond

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    Registered User minnedolin's Avatar
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    as much as it really doesn't sound bluegrass but rather kick-uh-you know, Nickel Creek useta do a really flavorful and funky 'Taxman' (Be-attles) complete with a bendy psychedelic mandolin solo that really does sound exactly like the little solo off of Rubber Soul(or was it Revolver?):D
    Ooh, he card reads good.

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    Hot For Teacher. Grisman and David Lee Roth.


    OK. I wasn't serious. I really do like Thile's version of Dead Leaves.

    Jamie
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    Registered User Pete Braccio's Avatar
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    From the "pickin on" series:

    Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
    Gallows Pole - Led Zepplin

    Vasser Clements' Dead Grass & Pickin On - Grateful Dead

    Austin Lounge Lizards - Brain Damage - Pink Floyd

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    My band does the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band version of Get Back by the Beatles, that always gets a good response. We also do a bluegrassy Ticket to Ride.
    Chief. Way up North. Gibson 1917 A model with pickup. JL Smith 5 string electric. 1929 National Triolian resonator mandolin with pickup. National RM 1 with pickup. Ovation Applause. Fender FM- 60 E 5 string electric (with juiced pickups). 1950's Gibson EM-200 electric mandolin. 1954 Gibson EM-150 electric mandolin. Custom made "Jett Pink" 5 string electric- Bo Diddley slab style. Jay Roberts Tiny Moore model 5 string electric.

  13. #13

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    Hayseed/Dixie does awesome versions of AC/DC (obviously), Queen, Spinal Tap and The Cars. The band I'm in does a pretty good version of Sting's Fields of Gold.
    My love is in league with the freeway...

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    Everly Brothers; Sea of Heartbreak
    Byrd
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    Registered User Dan Adams's Avatar
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    We've been doing 'Ball and Chain,' recently by that famous bluegrass band Social Distortion. It has all the components of a great bluegrass/country western 'down on your luck' song. Dan
    Play em like you know em!

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    Not a single tune, but Beatlegras sorta grasses up Beatle's music, hence the name. It doesn't really sound like bluegrass, but I think they do a good job with their arrangements.
    Bill Snyder

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    We used to do the old Byrds song "Hey Mr. Spaceman", and close with the Everly Bros, "Bye Bye Love", that always got 'em going. The one we do now it Hag's "Moma Tried", amongst others. The work in progress is "Who'll Stop the Rain" by CCR. We do it real different than the original.

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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Anything on the Charles River Valley Boys' Beatle Country, a recording that's stood the test of time -- 40 years! #Especially And Your Bird Can Sing, Yellow Submarine, and Joe Val's mandolin instrumental take on She's A Woman.
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    Mando Aspirant
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    At the risk of offending some sensibilities, I vote the Iron Horse cover of Enter Sandman.

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    For one I like Dolly's version of "Shine" by Collective Soul.

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    Registered Mandolin User mandopete's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by (acousticcowboy @ Aug. 01 2008, 23:38)
    One that we do that is a crowd pleaser is "They Call Me the Breeze" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. #
    Love the version by Larry Cordle - in fact that whole recording is one of the best collections rock to bluegrass songs ever!

    We do With A Little Help From My Friends for the obligitory Beatles cover and a tune called You Belong To Me which was adapted from a doo-wop song (not sure where it originated).
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    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
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    There are, of course, some non-bluegrass songs that have been adapted so well that they are now widely regarded as bluegrass songs, and at least one actually won the IBMA "bluegrass song of the year" award: "1952 Vincent Black Lightning". Another example is "I've Just Seen A Face", which admitteldy has a bit of a twang even in the Beatles original version (unlike 1952 VBL).

    Martin




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    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    "Yeller Submarine" is a killer track by the Charles River valley Boys. One of my favourites is the Buddy Holly song,"Blue Days Black Nights" that i've heard a few bands in the UK perform. If i was playing with a band,i'd be getting to grips with the Guitar solo in "Rock Around With Ollie Vee" another awesome rocker from the late,great Buddy Holly. Now "Concrete & Steel" by ZZ-Top,mmmmmmmmmmm,i wonder ?,
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    One group I'm with does Eagle's "Seven Bridges Road" and with a different group Merle Haggard's "Daddy Frank the Guitar Man".
    Charles Stimac

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    My band did a version of the theme from the Godfather. We called it Don Corleone's Breakdown and billed it as the only bluegrass song ever written for New Jersey. It was always a hit.
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