Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Yeah, Yeah, Oh Yeah


...What Condition My Condition Was In.

Written by singer/songwriter Mickey Newbury and first recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1967, Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) became a top 10 Billboard hit for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. You may remember this song from a particularly memorable dream sequence from the Coen Brothers' The Big Lebowski. This has been covered a fair number of times, but the interesting thing is that they're all good covers.

Supergrass - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
I'm a big fan of Supergrass and looking forward to a new album sometime this year. I Should Coco is practically a greatest hits album and Road to Rouen was a nice comeback. They don't do a lot of covers, but the few they do are choice cuts.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
Here's a great funk/soul rendition. If you're a fan of Mark Ronson's Version album (which I am), the Dap-Kings are responsible for the funky horn sections. You've probably all heard the cover of Radiohead's Just, so you know what I'm talking about. I recently got tickets to the Calgary Folk Festival next month and I'm really excited to see this group take to the mainstage. The real coup for me (and the main reason why I'm shelling out and traveling 3 hours south) is a rare Canadian date of the recently reunited Squirrel Nut Zippers. They're hitting the mainstage on a Friday night just before Hawksley Workman and Neko Case. Even more exciting is the prospect of the weekend "sessions", where the different artists team-up on side stages for unexpected musical collaborations and jamming. I just checked out the Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings album Naturally last week and finding out they'll be at the folk fest too is a major bonus. Sadly, the line-up for the Edmonton Folk Fest is a bit unspectacular IMHO, especially after seeing Rodrigo y Gabriela last year (who incidentally never did return to Edmonton with their supposed Canadian tour).

Nick Cave & Die Haut - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)

Jeff Walker Und Die Fluffers - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
With a metal twist...

Tinsley Ellis - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
A bluesy version. This works well... a very versatile song!

Coming up later this week, Pink Floyd covers! ...As I check out Roger Waters performing Dark Side of the Moon this Sunday. Holy crap, then it's the White Stripes the next Friday! And the week after, 4 more White Stripes shows in the Maritimes. VERY EXCITING next few weeks!!!

3 comments:

Guuzbourg said...

thanks for these! check out Willie Nelson's version too.

Fongolia said...

I just heard about the Willie Nelson cover. I'm also rounding up the Mickey Newbury and Jerry Lee Lewis originals for posting in a day or two...

absonderpop said...

Though I recently watched The Big Lebowski again, I wouldn't have though of this song for my own blog.
Thanks for collecting these version and keep up the good work!

Cheers, Netzhaut