Monday, November 16, 2015

81 – Eight Miles High – 1971, Pamela Brown – 1974, and Julie’s House – 1983 - Leo Kottke



               

               Three of my favorite vocals from Leo Kottke.

                I actually prefer Leo’s version of Eight Miles High (from “Mudlark”) to the Byrds’. His 12 string guitar work is superlative (not that Roger McGuinn’s is worse, just different) and his vocal is perfect for the somewhat oblique lyrics. The members of the Byrds always maintained this was not a drug song, they say it was about a flight to London in 1965. (If you've ever seen Leo live, you know how rambling he can get, the song fits his persona)

                Pamela Brown, from “Ice Water,” is a Tom T. Hall song. I have seen Leo in concert probably 15 times over the last 40 years and I think the only time he ever did it live (at least that I can remember, and that gets more problematic as the years pass) was this past September at the Woodstock Opera House. It’s a great song to sing along with.

                Julie’s House, from “Timestep”, a song he wrote, with a backing vocal by Emmylou Harris, is my favorite vocal of Leo’s, another one I sing along with (when I’m alone in the car).

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