Bill Callahan’s dark country & western croon takes on “So long, Marianne,” the opening track off side two of Leonard Cohen’s 1968 debut, Songs of Leonard Cohen. Slowing things down, Callahan and co. eschew the original’s violin and backing female vocals and in their stead add weeping pedal-steel and a dose of Texas heartache. The cover is lifted from Mojo magazine’s recent Cohen tribute (The Songs Of Leonard Cohen Covered) on newsstands now. Other artists lending their talents include Cass McCombs, Will Oldham, Michael Kiwanuka, Father John Misty and more.
MP3: Bill Callahan :: So long, Marianne (Leonard Cohen)
Anyone heard NZ band, Straitjacket Fits and their version from the late 80s?
whole cd is great, this cover especially
I didn’t think much of this cover at first, but now I’m head over heels for it. Bill’s Kath Bloom cover (“The Breeze/My Baby Cries”) is still tops. Can’t wait to hear his upcoming take on a Mickey Newbury tune or two.
I can’t think of this song anymore with out seeing and hearing Shanye Carter and the Straightjacket Fits version… he “owned” this song, There’s a post on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49VQ3-PTr7k
The great pop star Brian Hyland also covered this Cohen tune quite nicely. Worth searching for.