So there seems to be three general schools of thought to this song penned and originally recorded by Fats Domino, straight covers in a jazz or blues style which comprise the bulk , much like Fats' version, then there are the rockabilly versions, and a handful of 60's mod/garage rock renditions with a few esoteric sub-genre versions peppered in. The playlist is flanked with the Fats Domino version, the original recording and a live version.
Fats Domino's original recording; I have a penchant for New Orleans jazz and Fats so his version is undoubtedly my favorite, but there are many interesting and worthwhile covers.
Charlie Feathers doing a very countrified take, more hillbilly than rock. Whatever they are doing with that guitar to make that "wah" saw-like sound is alright with me.
Lou Hobbs doing another country version, but getting warmer on the rockabilly front. I also kind of dig how he embedded "Your Mama Don't Dance" in there despite Loggins and Messina being pretty lame in my book.
Which brings us to my old frenemy, Johnny Rivers. Is there a song this guy didn't cover? Man. A whole career built on mediocre covers of fantastic songs. I know I use this guy as my musical punching bag a little too often, I mean he's no Pat Boone, but, seriously, nearly every listening project, this guy has covered the song. Every time his versions come on the radio, I just long for the originals, but I'll say this; he has good taste. Here's another tambourine-y Rivers cover.
Jerry Jaye does what Johnny Rivers couldn't with this purist rockabilly version.
Here's a straight rollicking rockabilly take in instrumental tradition, by Hank C. Burnette. (And yeah, I don't know what the stupid yodeling thing is at the beginning, if it's part of the actual track or not.)
Here's that kind of energy with the lyrics by Sleepy LaBeef. It's not groundbreaking by any means, but it's got a ton of energy and it looks like one hell of a concert.
Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers do their neo-rockabilly take, with a little Jerry Lee piana' thrown in.
Speaking of ol' Jerry Lee, here's a duet he did with the King sound-a-like, Jimmy "Orion" Ellis. Supposedly Lewis was the one that originated the "Ha-ha-ha" version of the song.
This is definitely moving into the 60's mod territory, but still has rockabilly tinges and the "ha-ha-ha" has turned into a maniacal cackle. Here are the Scorpions (the UK band, not be confused with the "Rock You Like a Hurricane" Scorpions.)
Here's a particularly shrill version by Billy Thorpe, with its unmistakeable 60's dance sound.
Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders try their hand more successfully at the tune, but it still has that clear early Beatles-esque/Dave Clark Five sound to it.
Chris Farlowe takes them all to school with this Animal-istic, darker 60's English blues slant with incredible energy. It's just layered with sound, it has both organ and piano, unobstructive percussion, great guitar picking and gruff and believable vocals. I am loath to admit it, but this version is probably the coolest of them all.
So I didn't quite know what to follow that musical madness up with, so here's "My Girl Josephine" in espanol. "Mi Chica Josefina" by Los Sonadores. It's about what you'd expect.
So, The Flamin' Groovies did a version, not all that notable, but it's included nonetheless. It makes you almost clamor for it to be even more 70's sounding. It's almost there, but not quite.
So here's a saxophone laden instrumental by Bill Black's Combo
An older reggae version to the Supercat one, therefore with less dub. Ken Parker doing a spin with "Hello My Little Queenie."
Queen Ida and Her Zydeco Band doing a full-on, zydeco version.
Taj Mahal merging blues and cajun' while slipping in some zesty French of his own. This is the tune that started me on this listening journey.
Long Gone Miles going straight blues, finally giving it that much desired blues harp the song just cries out for. (See image at around the 1:20 mark.)
Fat Domino doing a live version of his venerated classic.
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