Carmelita, Hold Me Tighter
Warren Zevon at first glance would not strike you as one to have a lot of “influence” in the realm of country music. I always knew him through his bit songs like “Werewolves of London,” which became an immediate punch out after years of being tirelessly run into the ground through Clear Channel’s shallow song rotation. The exception is his 1972 composition about a heroin addict called “Carmelita.”
With unexpected country soul and tackling subject matter that was almost unheard of at the time, “Carmelita” has spoken now to generations of of country artists who’ve added their own takes to the song. Just like The Rolling Stones’ “Dead Flowers,” which has its own heroin references and seems to be making the rounds in a country resurgence, the song seems to speak to some universal truth that even the needle-less listener can get behind. Here’s a couple of my favorite takes on the classic:
GG Allin took time away from defecating on stage and throwing all manner of bodily fluids at crowds to record “Carmelita” on probably his most professional and well done album Carnival of Excess. Known more as a punk performer, GG idolized Hank Williams and saw him as a kindred spirit, and was inspired to put out a strictly-country album. “Carmalita” might be the best song on the record, and the most-played GG Allin song ever. Here’s the official video from Ponk Media:
The textbook definition of a regional celebrity, Danny Balis and his band The King Bucks have been performing soulful, true country around Dallas for a while now, and making enough noise that its starting to permeate outside of the north Texas scene. Fast forward through the first minute of banter, and you will witness one of the most soulful singing performances of this song I have ever seen:
How about from someone who needs no introduction, Mr. Dwight Yoakam:
You can also check out performances from Cross Canadian Ragweed, Linda Ronstadt, and an up and comer who says he’s making country ugly again, Gabe Zander.
June 12, 2010 @ 9:56 am
I’d never heard Dwight do it before. Fantastic.
June 12, 2010 @ 10:07 am
I keep trying to pick what is my favorite version but dammit I can’t. Danny Balis sings it the best, but Linda Ronstadt does a damn good version too. I’m not a huge Ronstadt fan, but she covered it in 77 before anyone and did a real good job. Dwight is Dwight.
June 12, 2010 @ 10:26 am
all of them good stuff, triggerman. danny balls took too long to get going. probably one of those you needed to be there deals. dwight was cool. i’ve always been a sucker for linda.
great pipes. first time i saw her was after the stone ponies split. she came out on stage barefoot and backed by dillard and clark. amazing. loved her ever since. yeah, even the 40’s torch stuff. anyway, it’s a great tune. thanks for bringing back again.
slip me a link to the ‘dead flowers’ remakes. though i think ‘moonlight mile’ is a better tune for that.
June 12, 2010 @ 11:20 am
Willie, Keith Richards, Hank III, and Ryan Adams or the “Lost Highwaymen.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gzglg7WDmQ
Steve Earle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv39oEpEIsA
Townes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ResLOFXJAhA
June 12, 2010 @ 11:29 am
thank you.
June 12, 2010 @ 12:20 pm
J.B. Beverley and The Wayward Drifters doing Dead Flowers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V2q9yWjdx0
June 12, 2010 @ 12:32 pm
I dig GG Allins “Carmelita”. Very soulful. Thanks for the Wayward Drifter link, Owen.
June 12, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
I should have said GG’s lone rendition, with just him and his guitar… I think i first saw part of that in the “Hated” documentary, if I am not mistaken.
June 12, 2010 @ 2:26 pm
Quality sucks, but . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E496MSz4keU
June 12, 2010 @ 5:22 pm
Willie, Keith Richards, Hank III, and Ryan Adams or the “Lost Highwaymen.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gzglg7WDmQ hell yeah! thank you John AND Triggerman.
June 13, 2010 @ 7:01 am
I see mention of Gabe Zander..Gotten drunk with that dude on a couple occasions in Nashville. Nice guy Straight up dude Keeps bad company. Fuck a SHARP’s bar.
June 13, 2010 @ 8:30 am
This was a good opportunity to mention Gabe and Danny Balis, who both have deserved mention here before but haven’t gotten it, and both who probably deserve more than just a mention.
June 13, 2010 @ 10:28 am
Thanks for that link, Triggerman. That was the version I first heard of that song and it still comes across, to me atleast, as the most heartfelt take on the song.
June 13, 2010 @ 10:37 am
GG’s version is probably my favorite song of all time. An I love that that whole album shows that his other albums are supposed to be fucked up. He played that way cause he wanted to. Like Picasso who could paint regular but saw things in cubism.
Tweets that mention Saving Country Music » Blog Archive » Carmelita, Hold Me Tighter -- Topsy.com
June 14, 2010 @ 7:12 am
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by KClowlife, The Triggerman. The Triggerman said: What Linda Ronstadt, Dwight, Danny Balis and GG Allin Have in Common: https://savingcountrymusic.com/carmelita-hold-me-tighter […]
June 14, 2010 @ 9:25 am
I LIKE GG’S VERSION, ALWAYS THOUGHT IT SHOWED A SIDE OF HIM THAT FEW PPL THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK GG, A FINGER IN THE FACE OF HIS CITICS!!!