Tune du Jour: “Into the Mystic” – Van Morrison
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: The Icicle Works vs. The Allman Brothers vs. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
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The Original
Van Morrison:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
The Icicle Works vs. The Allman Brothers vs. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
The Icicle Works:
The Allman Brothers:
Never thought The Allman Brothers would be making an appearance on CMI yet here we are …
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit:
Hey Pete, there’s a clip of Jason and the boys on YouTube doing this at Smith’s Olde Bar. Would have been a nice show to be at.
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 
The original is a real favorite of mine. Pre-1975 Van is about as good as it gets.
None of the contestants changed the song much. None were bad, but none charted a new course.
I’m surprised to see The Allman Brothers Band on CMI. I wasn’t crazy about their material from the seventies. This clip is from 2011, and by that point I wouldn’t have been interested. This clip is just under ten minutes, and I listened to the entire thing, which was better than expected.
Jason Isbell’s vocals were the best, and gets today’s vote.
Talk about a song to drift off by …
I was not familiar with The Icicle Works before my research, but I have discovered that they have done a few great covers. Here is a very reverent, non-creative version, but it is delivered so well I can get passed that. Of course, Van’s vocals are hard to approach, but here, the vocalist does a credible job!
Van gets the southern treatment with The Allman Brothers … c’mon ya’ll … It’s an investment in time but it’s got some real bluesy, southern charm to it. The thing is I just cannot watch Dickie playing guitar anymore without it conjuring up disturbing images of Betts and his country club buddies playing golf naked (long story, ask me about it some time …).
Without any surprise at all, Isbell delivers an awesome cover, and at a hometown Atlanta haunt, no less! Jason’s vocals really soar!!!
Many of these posts are getting harder and harder to choose a winner, which I guess is what I am striving for … but still … damn pain-in-the-ass! Jason Isbell’s version just cannot be topped … and yet … in a shocker, given my general disdain of southern rock, I went with The Allman Brothers. I just really enjoyed the long yet graceful journey.