Somebody's been taking singing lessons from Keith Richards.

Absolutely. He is great since more than 15 years. No mainstream at all

Big John. Always gives me goose bumps.

I like his take on this song - more bluesy and raw in delivery, an interesting contrast to the cool, polished version by Portishead.

brokemusician wrote:

ahahahahahaha

yes yes yes

Well the usual inane comments from Physics genius who clearly couldn't recognise real musical talent if it bit him in the bum!

Triple the temp and try again when the Novocaine wears off.

supremo wrote:

Me four!

I absolutely love the Portishead original, so was a bit prejudiced in listening to this cover. But having heard it here on RP a few times now, I have come to appreciate the unique essence of abject despair that this song communicates in the quite worthy treatment by John Martyn. I have never heard his stuff before (to my knowledge), but will certainly hunt down his music and delve into it more.

Odd..but interesting. Only because I am used to Portishead singing it. Did he add lyrics? Or maybe I just understand him better when he sings!

Cool version!

highwindows wrote:

i'm with you on the above high windows but at least he gets some play. keep trying the uploadiing

OK, always grateful to hear Big John.
who is clearly under represented on RP - but this is frankly a little mediocre.
I'll keep trying to upload stuff from some of his REALLY great albums.Viz;
One World
Grace & Danger
The Apprentice
Sunday's Child
Inside out
Solid Air
Piece by Piece

Kerly wrote:

Me three - this is another cover that is all right but I'd just as soon hear the real version. The live Portishead version makes this one sound happy.

lunar1963 wrote:

I agree. He's made it his own. This is good stuff.

Oh my gawd, it's my uncle John doing karoake! And Portishead! How cool is that?

Fenderbelly_Bodine wrote:

Nice, I was trying to remember who sang this song.
Thanks. I agree, Portishead's version is much better.

Nice

nshifley wrote:

Wasted and tired... that's exactly how it should sound, weary... How you feel when you're lonely

This is just "OK" Big John doing a cover - but there are soooooooooo many more wonderful, self penned songs from his 20 odd albums that ought to already be on the RP playlist. A hugely underrated artist!!

valerama wrote:

Radiohead Covers: (click here)

I don't think it's complete though.

torturedpotato wrote:

good idea for a party.

very nice. I like this cover, even though it makes me miss the original. I've never heard of this singer but I'll look around for his music.

The fact he covered this... A+. His execution? Not so hot. It most definitely does sound like he's totally wasted.

so sad and beautiful. I like this & portishead's too - for different stages of the party.

this may sound stupid, but which is the original? (I like them both!)

litl_granger wrote:
oh my yes. nice to hear this one though.

valerama wrote:
why not? Anything's got potential in the right hands, provided the material's strong enough to begin with.