Burning Up, 2013: More Songs for a Heat Wave
(from Ring Of Fire to Heat of the Moment, covered in folk)
It’s been one of the hottest summers on record here in New England, with temperatures in the nineties for almost a dozen days since early June – so intolerably hot, in fact, that for the first time since the kids were born, my wife dragged out the air conditioner.
But this tiny, futile rail against the tide is not enough to make the difference. Outdoor obligations have been excruciating, and they are numerous; the rooms where we sleep remain restless torture chambers of sweat and stillness. By day, the driveway scorches, and the grass burns dry with sun. Shade offers no solace; cold showers provide but quick-fading comfort. The night is a swamp: we wilt, and nothing seems to bring us back to ourselves.
Amidst it all, I’ve been trying to put together a feature post on some great new emerging artists, but the hot, still air puts me in a stupor that stifles both the creative urge and any initiative I might have. And so we turn to the old standby: a thematic set of songs for a heat have, rebuilt around a set originally shared in May of 2010, shaken and stirred with a second round of new-found tracks, a lone concession to the creative urge. And then we’re off to the dam, to soak in the cool waters as long as we can stand it.
Listen, as the metaphors of heat – from friction to fire to the lazy lethargy of summer – stretch out in song, encompassing passion on the one hand, tempting fate on the other.
Heat Wave Coverfolk (2013) [zip!]
- Jill Sobule: Hot In Herre (orig. Nelly) [2007]
- Jenny Owens Young: Hot In Herre (ibid.) [2007]
- Sara Watkins: Long Hot Summer Days (orig. John Hartford) [2009]
- Bill Morrissey: Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight (via Mississippi John Hurt) [1999]
- Clem Snide: Heat of the Moment (orig. Asia) [2010]
- Brandi Carlile: Burn (orig. Ray Lamontagne) [2008]
- Julienne Taylor: I Burn For You (orig. Sting) [1999]
- The Harvey Girls: Burning For You (orig. Blue Oyster Cult) [2006]
- Ana Egge: Sitting In The Midday Sun (orig. The Kinks) [2007]
- Rickie Lee Jones: Play With Fire (orig. Rolling Stones) [2012]
- The Do: Sex Is On Fire (orig. Kings of Leon) [2013]
- Damien Jurado: Traded For Fire (orig. Delorean) [2006]
- James Lee Stanley & Cliff Eberhardt: Light My Fire (orig. Doors) [2011]
- Keller Williams and the Keels: Wind’s On Fire (orig. Yonder Mountain String Band) [2010]
- Naama Hillman: Ring Of Fire (orig. Johnny Cash) [2006]
- Finn’s Fury: Ring Of Fire (ibid.) [2007]
- Coyote Grace: I’m On Fire (orig. Bruce Springsteen) [2011]
- Kate Tucker: I’m On Fire (ibid.) [2011]
Previously on Cover lay Down:
- 21 covers of Springsteen’s I’m On Fire, including favorite versions from Town Mountain, Shakey Graves, Coty Hogue, Sara Barielles and more!
- A dozen covers of Johnny Cash classic Ring of Fire from way back in February, 2010, featuring Lucy Kaplansky, Bad Livers, Alison Moorer & more!
Category: Mixtapes, Reposts 4 comments »
July 18th, 2013 at 7:51 am
Great collection, boyhowdy. Must be the heat but Brandi Carlile has turned into The Proclaimers!
July 19th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Looks like you found an accidental bonus track, Eli! Link fixed – enjoy Brandi’s cover!
July 19th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
[…] For covers of various songs about the heat, check out Cover Lay Down. […]
July 19th, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Hot playlist, thanks, stay cool!
Another great version of “Ring Of Fire”:
https://kut.org/2012/12/ruthie-foster-in-studio-1a-121112-2pm-2