Cover of the Day - Big River

Remember the good old days when everyone would sit around the 10 inch black and white television and watch the Grand Ole' Opry? Me neither, but it sounds like it would be swell. There's a soft place in my heart for great country music by the likes of Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings. Most importantly, I love Johnny Cash. His music never loses its bold country attitude, and some of the recordings he did at the end of his life are especially moving. Because Johnny's music is so universally loved, millions of people have covered him from the likes of U2 to local bands who played my high schools battle of the bands(I'm looking at you There Ain't No Such Thing As Free Lunch). And who would assist in one of the best Johnny Cash covers of ever? None other than Jack White Himself.

"Big River" finds Johnny Cash being Johnny Cash at his finest. That classic twangin' Martin, the steady chugging bass line, and Luther Perkins' astoundingly simple yet innovative guitar solo. Johnny tells depressing story of a man following his love up and down the south, by river, only to end up giving up on her in the end. It's really a pretty depressing song when the lyrics are separated from the tune, but when they merge, it emits this bad ass manly grit to his suffering that is exclusive the man himself. Watch him in his environment.




Today's cover comes from The Secret Sisters, a duo preserving the art of old time country singing through their creepy vocal precision and huge band of folk country friends. T-Bone Burnett produced their last album, following suit with his outstanding award winning O Brother, Where Art Though soundtrack. Jack White lends his signature electronic grit guitar between verses and absolutely rocks the house with it. It's like Big River in hell, all centering around the frightening doll-like voices nailing some of the tightest harmonies I've ever heard. The whole thing is a big pile of dirty bang recorded through Jack White's record company Third Man Records; and while you can buy the single on iTunes, it's worth it to pitch in the extra two dollars and get the vinyl, because honestly, this music is meant to be heard through the needle of a record player.

The Secret Sisters - Big River by the ruckus