Kate Rusby Covers:
Iris Dement, Richard Thompson, The Kinks, Suzanne Vega and more!
(plus Holiday Coverfolk from Kate’s newly rereleased holiday album Sweet Bells)
Oddly, I was introduced to the music of Kate Rusby through my own blog, via a guest post during my first summer hiatus way back in 2007. Since then, I’ve fallen completely in love with the gentle songstress; this time of year, especially, her clear sweet voice and that Yorkshire accent cut through the chill like a searchlight to the heart.
Exceptionally well-known in her native land, but much less so in the US — perhaps because, as the title track to her 2005 album The Girl Who Wouldn’t Fly explains, Kate is afraid to fly, and thus does not tour much, if at all, on this side of the pond — Rusby tends towards a traditional folk of the old-school type, grounded in the old ballads and songstyles of her native Britain. Each of her eight solo albums, a mere decade of output, features a rich combination of such ageless folk songs, and a scattering of contemporary folk covers and timeless originals which share the same trope and lyrical sentiment.
But this is no mere tradfolk, and Kate is no mere interpreter of song. Her arrangements may be sparse and simple, but they are also deliberate, and delicately nuanced; the 36 year old singer-songwriter may be grounded in life, but the deceptive potency of her pure voice and the ring of her high-strung guitar contain a power beyond description, setting songs of all origin to lift off and soar in all cases, whether slow and solo or tempered by a touch of the squeezebox drone, the pipe and brass, the brushed drum, the low bass, or the full folkrock package of, say, her take on The Kinks.
The result is incredible: deeply personal, highly emotional, proud against the full winds of change, and yet somehow both delicate and universal enough to startle even the most jaded tradfolk or folkpop listener into a second look, and then a lifetime of delight. It’s no wonder she is such a sought after collaborator and guest vocalist in her native land; no wonder that she is so celebrated, though surely not enough, at least on our end of the ocean.
Kate’s newest album is actually a re-release of her 2008 holiday CD Sweet Bells, which - in keeping with her eye on the past - offers stellar interpretations of traditional Yorkshire Christmas carols straight out of storybook England, filtered through regional tradfolk instrumentation and that utterly lovely voice. Today, in a nod to the season, we offer a choice cut from that seasonal delight, plus a mix of covers both contemporary and traditional from Rusby’s prolific songbook; if you like what you hear, head over to Kate Rusby’s own storefront to pick up the full catalog, and a second set for stocking stuffers.
- Kate Rusby: Radio Sweethearts (orig. J. Miller/John McCusker)
- Kate Rusby: I Am Stretched on Your Grave (orig. Scullion; pop. Sinead O’Connor)
(from Hourglass, 1998)
- Kate Rusby: Our Town (orig. Iris Dement)
- Kate Rusby: I Wonder What Is Keeping My True Love This Night (trad)
(from Sleepless, 1999)
- Kate Rusby: Withered & Died (orig. Richard Thompson)
(from Little Lights, 2001)
- Kate Rusby: Sir Eglamore (trad.)
(from Ten, 2002)
- Kate Rusby: Let Me Be (trad.)
- Kate Rusby: Cruel (trad)
(from Underneath the Stars, 2003)
- Kate Rusby: You Belong To Me (orig. Sue Thompson, pop. Jo Stafford)
(from The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly, 2005)
- Kate Rusby: The Village Green Preservation Society (orig. The Kinks)
(from Awkward Annie, 2007; more Kinks covers)
- Kate Rusby: Who Knows Where The Time Goes (orig. Sandy Denny)
(single, 2008; more covers of Who Knows Where The Time Goes)
- Kate Rusby: Here We Come A-Wassailing (trad.)
(from Sweet Bells, 2008)
Before fame arrived at her doorstep, Rusby released several collaborative albums, including a short-lived stint as lead vocalist for The Poozies. Today’s bonus tracks come from her early collaboration with friend and fellow Barnsley folksinger Kathryn Roberts, a marvelous gem which features nary an original song; though the production is less precise than in her later solo work, the songs reveal a confidence that would serve Rusby well on her way to fame. Here’s two favorites from the disc:
- Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts: The Queen and the Soldier (orig. Suzanne Vega)
- Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts: Exile (orig. Show of Hands)
(from Kate Rusby & Kathryn Roberts, 1995)
Cover Lay Down posts new features and coverfolk sets every Sunday, Wednesday, and the occasional otherday. Coming this weekend: kidfolk for the holidays, and for the fun of it.
Category: Holiday Coverfolk, Kate Rusby
December 9th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Didn’t know she was afraid of flying! I saw her in NYC in either 2000 or 2001. She was fantastic - funny, sweet and an excellent live performer.
December 11th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Love the Our Town cover. Close to Iris Dement’s original but still distinctly Rusby’s.
Have you heard the Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin version.
December 11th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I’ve been a big fan of hers since first hearing the Our Town cover about seven or eight years ago. I also appreciate and am a fan of your blog.
December 12th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Just a quick thank you for running this blog, ( a true effort of love) and also for bringing such artists as Kate Rusby to the forefront.She is truly amazing!I’ve never been much of a folkie, but after visiting your site I am getting there more each day. Thanks again
December 12th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Oh, thanks for this post! I just recently got to hear her her Xmas record at a friend’s house, and thought it was great. The whole thing is great really! It’s a nice alternative to some of the standard Xmas records, though honestly I must admit that nothing will ever quite replace the joy of hearing Elvis’ and The New Kids on the Block’s Xmas records (they are serious guilty pleasures.) She’s an artist who’s new to me, so this is a nice introduction to some other works she’s done besides the seasonal songs. Neat, thanks
December 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
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January 7th, 2010 at 8:08 am
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January 31st, 2010 at 3:49 pm
I travelled to London UK in December to see Kate Rusby because I just couldn’t wait anymore. A few days after my return I learned she’s coming to my hometown of Toronto in March! No matter. It was absolutely worth it.