Robert Wyatt – At Last I Am Free (1980)

Now, most of you will know Robert Wyatt from his sublime reading of Elvis Costello’s, anti-Falklands war polemic/lament, “Shipbuilding”.

Others will remember him as a founder member of Soft Machine where he was drummer and sang a bit.

Others will remember him as the guy who fell out of a fourth floor window in 1973 resulting in paralysis from the waist down and a life in a wheelchair. This prompted a solo career spanning many years and highlights.

However, having posted Chic a few minutes ago (here), I have chosen Robert Wyatt as the person who pulled off extraordinary cover versions. None more so than “At Last I Am Free”; a near perfect rendering of the Chic album track which he released on Rough Trade Records in 1980.

Yes really.

Chic themselves do a beautiful version on the C’est Chic (which includes “Le Freak” and “I Want Your Love” – what a band they were!).

Just the track …. courtesy of those Youtube guys!

Chic – Le Freak (1978)

Quite simply one of the best dance and guitar tracks of all time.

Nile Rodgers is probably my favourite ever guitarist and Bernard Edwards pretty much my favourite bass player.

Over the years, I’ve tried to learn the Nile Rodgers guitar style but always fall a million miles short. Somehow, it always sounds like Niall Quinn and Bernard Matthews when I try this ….

Three versions for you: 12 inch version; 7 inch/LP version; then a live version from 1996 with Slash from Guns’N’Roses playing the guitar solo – no really! Slash arrives around 2 mins 50 for those unable to wait … finally, live in 1978!

Dead Kennedys – Let’s Lynch the Landlord (1980)

The Dead Kennedys “Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables” is one of the great debut LPs.

I can remember hearing it on John Peel in the summer of 1980 and then having it flown out to Hong Kong for me as the ideal Christmas gift. My cousin, who was the vinyl “mule” for these purposes, didn’t quite realise what he was letting himself in for and I fear his Christmas was rather ruined by the genius of Jello Biafra and the fellas on near constant rotation (apart, of course, from the Basement 5 – of which more, later).

I will post further Dead Kennedys ditties in due course and it was tricky not to go with Holiday in Cambodia, California Uber Alles or Kill The Poor. Or, indeed, the DK’s definitive reading of the Rawhide theme tune.

But you just have to love this. Relentless buzzsaw guitars, a twangy guitar solo and a lyric with a timeless message that unites nations and continents.  

LP version then a live cut – not sure of the date!

The Walker Brothers – The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore (1965)

This is a wonderful record with a stunning production and was always slated to appear on this blog. Unfortunately, I’ve had to bring the post forward because of the sad death of John Walker that was announced this morning.

I had never realised that Frankie Valli actually recorded the original version of this earlier in 1965. Haven’t heard the Valli version but struggle to believe it could top this. Wonderful bassline, drums that pound as the chorus cuts in. A very Phil Spector-esque wall of sound (hang on, he didn’t produce it did he?). 

Original vinyl version then a live version from Ready, Steady, Go in 1966!