Twisted troubadour Robyn Hitchcock is opening his vaults slightly to fans, this week posting a streaming collection of a dozen cover songs — recorded both live in concert and in the studio recently — of songs by David Bowie, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Johnny Cash, the Grateful Dead and Nick Drake.
The set includes four tracks off Bowie’s 1971 album Hunky Dory recorded live at a Medecins sans Frontieres benefit Hitchcock played in London this past Halloween (see full tracklist below), plus outtakes from the sessions for this year’s Propellor Time (including covers of Dylan’s “Copper Kettle,” Cash’s “I Still Miss Someone” and Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” the latter with Nick Lowe on lead vocals).
Also included: A pristine acoustic take on Harrison’s meditative “Be Here Now,” a dark rendition of Drake’s classic “Pink Moon” and a loose, fun romp through “Wang Dang Doodle,” the blues cornerstone that Willie Dixon wrote for Howlin’ Wolf.
STREAM: Robyn Hitchcock’s covers collection
See the tracklist for Robyn Hitchcock’s covers collection after the jump…
Tracklist: Robyn Hitchcock’s streaming covers collection
1. “Be Here Now” (George Harrison; studio outtake)
2. “Blue Moon of Kentucky” (Bill Monroe; ‘Propellor Time’ session, lead vocal Nick Lowe)
3. “Candyman” (Grateful Dead; Nashville with the Tennessee Crawdads)
4. “Changes” (David Bowie; 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit)
5. “Copper Kettle” (Bob Dylan; ‘Propellor Time’ session)
6. “I Still Miss Someone” (Johnny Cash; ‘Propellor Time’ session, vocal Scott McCaughey)
7. “Life on Mars” (David Bowie; 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit)
8. “Pink Moon in C” (Nick Drake; studio outtake)
9. “Quicksand” (David Bowie; 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit)
10. “Song for Bob Dylan” (David Bowie; 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit)
11. “Very Cellular Song” (Incredible String Band; vocal Mike Heron, live at Pestival 2009)
12. “Wang Dang Doodle” (Willie Dixon; ‘Propellor Time’ session)
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS:
- Video: Robyn Hitchcock plays Elvis Presley’s ‘All Shook Up’ on Memphis streetcar
- Robyn Hitchcock releasing ‘Propellor Time’ on ultra-limited cassette
- Video: Robyn Hitchcock’s new single ‘Ordinary Millionaire,’ off ‘Propellor Time’
- Robyn Hitchcock’s ‘Propellor Time’ to feature Peter Buck, Johnny Marr
- Robyn Hitchcock releasing ‘I Often Dream of Trains in New York’ live CD/DVD
