Originally posted March 1, 2010
After listening to Love's self titled debut album I began to wonder how many versions of the track 'Hey Joe' actually exist. It seems as though any band worth their weight had to cover this song at one point or another, whether it was at a town hall or on a major release. From what I read, the track was first commercially recorded by the LA band The Leaves in 1965. In the two years after The Leaves' release it would be recorded by some of the heaviest hitters in rock and roll with The Byrds, Love, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience all having a go at tracking 'Hey Joe'.
The origins of the song are like a rock version of Unsolved Mysteries. No one truly knows where it came from. Some say it was a traditional song, or even passed down from true-life events. It's often attributed, though, to the musician Dino Valenti (Chet Powers), even though it is officially registered to a virtually unknown singer/songwriter from California named Billy Roberts.
Whatever its true origins, I know that it's a pretty damn good tune, and it made me realize how different covers in music really are today. Back in the 60's, if the band thought a song was good, and they dug it, they were often compelled to try and make it even better. As 'Hey Joe' proves, you could have tons of acts putting out the same song every year, and actually charting with it! You don't see Yeasayer going out and covering songs from little-known singer/songwriters from Bushwick these days do you? I guess maybe the songs just aren't there any more, and the whole culture is a bit different. But, if The Fresh and Onlys, The Oh Sees, and Wooden Shjips are being touted as the next wave of psychedelic garage, we just might see the 2010's version of Hey Joe on The Forkcast some time soon.
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