Customer Reviews

Under The Covers

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Dwight has demonstrated on many albums that he is an excellent songwriter, but he has also recorded his share of covers down the years. This album is made up entirely of covers, but they are all extremely well done, suitably updated for today's listeners.

Dwight mixes country classics like Wichita lineman (Glen Campbell), T for Texas (Jimmie Rodgers) and North to Alaska (Johnny Horton) with sixties pop classics like Things we said today (Beatles), The last time (Rolling stones), Tired of waiting for you (Kinks) and Here comes the night (Them).

Baby don't go was an early Sonny and Cher hit, which Dwight sings as a duet with Sheryl Crow. Claudette was written in the fifties by Roy Orbison but is generally associated with the Everly brothers. Perhaps the most surprising selection is Train in vain, a cover of a song by punk rockers The Clash. Despite its origin, it sits comfortably among the other tracks here.

If you enjoy Dwight's other music and you don't object to cover versions, you will surely enjoy this.

Dwight Yoakam's album Under the Covers is in effect a direct parallel with Anne Lennox's album Medussa. Of course, Dwight has a Country background, so that's the spin he puts on this collection of these favorites from the past. Dwight really goes "out of his box" by trying, and succeeding in doing his interpretations of these oldy-goldies.

The song Tired Of Waiting For You, written by Ray Davies, actually comes off as a very hip Frank Sinatra-style big-band rendition, complete with a full horn section! Dwight also creates masterful, melodic versions of Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues, Wichita Lineman, Here Comes The Night, and Things We Said Today, which have no Country sounds in them. For the Country-sounding selections, Claudette by Roy Orbison, sounds like came right off of Dwight's Guitars, Cadillacs album! Playboy is rich with country fiddles and a great dance beat, as does The Last Time.

The song Baby Don't Go, written by Sonny Bono, is a duet with Sheryl Crow is a masterful version of a sing-along classic. This is my favorite song on the entire album! Dwight appropriately wraps-up the project with the song North To Alaska, which is different from all the others.

Even though it is different than all of the others on THIS album, it comes off sounding as if Dwight wrote the song, and incorporates a tremendous amount of things within a song that make it sound like many other Dwight songs!

If you are looking for a "traditional" Dwight Yoakam country album, this is not the one to get. However, if you want to discover just how varied and wide Dwight's talents are, this one is a MUST. I play this one when friends come over to visit, and it amazes everyone who actually listens to it!

Dwight Yoakam's 1997 album of cover songs, cleverly titled UNDER THE COVERS, is often harped on, but if you give it a few listens it will truly grow on you. Dwight takes each song and makes it his own, distinct, yet not taking away the original beauty or intent of the originals. COVERS features his take on songs by the likes of Roy Orbison, the Beatles, Ray Davies, Rolling Stones, The Clash, Johnny Horton and more. Quite the diverse list there. One definate highlight is the duet with Sheryl Crow on "Baby Don't Go". Other highlights include "Train in Vain", "Claudette", "Playboy", "Witchita Lineman", "Things We Said Today" and "North To Alaska". Overall an interesting collection, definately a grower, takes a few listens to sink in. Fans and admirers alike should be pleased.

Many people have come down on Dwight Yoakam for doing an album of covers like this. While it does lack a little bit of focus, Dwight manages to take each song and make it his own. Even though some might argue that he wasn't using his creativity by doing a covers album, I actually think he shows his creativity off really well on this disc. Who else but Dwight could do a bluegrass version of "Train in Vain" or a big band version of "Tired of Waiting for You". Whether you love those interpretations or hate them, you have to give him credit for taking a few risks. Although it's not his best work, it's a lot of fun to listen to. Most country artists do covers of tired old Merle Haggard songs, Willie Nelson, and all the other obligatory artists that a country artist "should" cover. There is maybe one truly "country" song on this disc...way to broaden country's horizons Dwight!

Dwight Yoakum is an artist. George Straight is a singer. And there is a difference. Dwight took a chance on this record - and it did not really come together. Big deal. It is this creativity that inspired him to do a record of unexpected cover songs that also allows him to write all of the wonderful traditional country songs he creates. I like this record simpy because Dwight Yoakum could have churned out the same old record and everyone would have bought it. But he did not do that. He did something challenging and interesting musically - and you have to appreciate that because Dwight has some clue, some vision of what he wants to do musically...he's not just wandering into a studio and singing whatever they put in front of him.

This is, by far, Dwight's worst album. But Dwight Yoakum's worst album is still better than 90% of what most other people do.

Personally, I think Dwight can do no wrong.....but this album just doesn't seem quite right! I'm not even sure what to make of his song selection, but I think this album could have been a helluva lot better if he dumped half the tracks and replace them with some of his own material (maybe even some songs he scrapped long ago?). With that said, there are some real beauties remaining here, and Johnny Horton's "North to Alaska" is one. I'd love to hear Dwight cover Horton's "Whispering Pines" or "All for the Love of a Girl".....I know he'd make them shine again. "Playboy" is the finest track on the album; solid country and love those fiddles. I pretty much despise all "70's pop-country, but I'll give Dwight credit for improving Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman", and I actually liked "Good Time Charlie". A pretty mellow release by Dwight, and maybe that's the problem.

He's diverse alright. Dwight Yoakum sings, plays and acts.He's been one of the constants in the world of modern country with a rock solid catalogue that is usually fairly traditional but often contains suprises.Recently,in a true subversion of justice, he was denied an Oscar for his superb performance in last year's "Slingblade". Such are the politics of Hollywood. But not one to dwell on failures, Yoakum has been back in the studio doing what he does best. This time, the result is "Under the Covers", a tour de force of covers that's sure to please. Can you picture a bluegrass version of the Clash's "Train in Vain" featuring Ralph Stanley on Banjo?Believe it folks, and it really rocks! There's a lounge lizard take on the old Kinks' tune "Tired of waiting with hip/schlocky horns and a twangy cover of Sonny and Cher's "Baby Don't Go" with Sheryl Crow. His band is one of the tightest units recording today and seem comfortable playing in any genre. Pete Anderson's guitar solo in "Witchita Lineman" makes this my favorite version of a song I did'nt really care for when Glen Campbell recorded it in the sixties. As always, Scott Joss fiddles to a fare thee well throughout the album. The one cut that doesn't come across well here is "Here Comes the Night" (the old Them hit) with a rather annoying slip beat. But it's quickly followed with a hillbilly version of the Stone's "The Last Time" and the Beatles "Things We Said Today"done here somewhat like the theme from an old spy movie and featuring another great guitar solo. Other highlights include Roy Orbison's "Claudette", Danny O'Keefe's "Goodtime Charlie's Got The Blues", and a take on "North to Alaska" that gives Johnny Horton a run for his money. And to throw in a little mystery, the disc ends with a cover of Jimmie Rodgers' "T For Texas" that appears neither in the booklet or on the jewel box. All in all, a very enjoyable release that suffers only from the aforementioned "Here Comes the Night" and it's short legnth,an unfortunate practice widely used in the industry today.

I have to give Yoakam at least a B+...Maybe I'll be generous and give him an A-.While his own personal reasons or choice of selections to cover are questionable, the execution or delivery is commendable.The only eyebrow raiser is the Swing-like number Tired of Waiting For You; He's trying too hard to sound like Harry Connick, Jr. , yet his vocal twang is undeniable when he strains to hit certain notes requiring more finesse! The track Wichita Lineman (penned by the famous Jimmy Web of the 60's MacArthur Park fame)even in it's country/rock-a-billy get up has an umistakeable keyboard riff very reminiscent of MacArthur Park first performed by Richard Harris in '68, then by Donna Summer in'78.The real bonus is listening to Sheryl Crow duet with Yoakam on the Sonny Bono Baby Don't Go;simply love it ! The rest can be counted as the typical,yet non-disappointing Dwight Yoakam trademark sound...

The other reviewers are right when they point out that this isn't Dwight Yoakam's best or most original work. The album does have its flaws, it is, as has been mentioned, 'uneven', but serious fans will want it anyway, if only for the chance to hear Yoakam sing the music of those who most influenced him. Everyone knows he grew up listening to Owens and Haggard, but how many artists today can claim to have been inspired by Johnny Horton, Roy Orbison and the Beatles? It's clear that Dwight Yoakam's unique sound comes at least in part from the many and varied influences represented here. This is one to listen to with that frame of mind, not looking for originality or creativity, at least not primarily so.

One other bit of info: there is a hidden track at the end of the CD. This last cover is of Jimmie Rodgers' "T for Texas". Dwight does the song well, with a sparse, rhythmic arrangement and some added verses. Dwight's cover version is also available on a recent Rodgers tribute album that also contains contributions from Willie Nelson, Iris Dement and Jerry Garcia (Garcia's last recorded performance before his death).

I have to admit, when I first bought this one, I was disappointed because Dwight didn't write any of these songs. I even tried to get my money back! But one day I gave it a chance while I was cooking dinner one night and ever since I absolutely LOVE this one now. It's worth giving it a chance. I love "Claudette" and especially "North to Alaska". Dwight's voice is awesome and Pete Anderson is awesome also. The whole band is great. If you don't like this one at first, let it grow on you. Give it a chance. It's worth buying.