Heaneyland!

The book of Daniel

I enjoy the music of Daniel Johnston, but his solo recordings can be kind of difficult to listen to, so I've always preferred experiencing his songs as cover versions. Fortunately, lots of people are fans of his work. The Dead Milkmen covered "Rocketship" on "Bucky Fellini"; both Yo La Tengo and Mary Lou Lord have covered "Speeding Motorcycle"; and Kathy McCarty recorded an entire (brilliant) album of Johnston songs, "Dead Dog's Eyeball", which is currently out of print, so if you know me and want a copy, I am happy to oblige.

Anyway, even more listenable versions of Johnston songs are on the way, featuring covers by Beck, Tom Waits, Death Cab for Cutie, Guster, Mercury Rev, and scads more, plus a bonus CD of Johnston's original versions, so those who have never heard him before can compare and contrast. Alas, no cover version yet of my personal favorite, "I Remember Painfully" (which features the timeless line, "I remember how we looked at the embryo in the jar together"). I may have to record my own.

Posted by Francis at 01:47 PM