HAND ME DOWN tuesdaY

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For the second week of Hand Me Down tuesdaY I selected a song that has never failed to rev my engine. I’ll start by saying that I’m extremely fond of both versions to be honest and which one I prefer has everything to do with mood, consumption, and my particular need for twang on the day in question. While last weeks Velvet Underground vs. David Bowie was more of a calculated step (seeing as though Bowie took Reed under his wing post Velvets) “I Wanna Be Your Dog” originally recorded by The Stooges for their first album and later covered by Alt Country juggernauts Uncle Tupelo for their third, is not nearly as obvious. While I tend to enjoy whacked out covers ala The Gourds dominating Snoop’s “Gin & Juice” or Ben Folds covering “Bitches Ain’t Shit,” those songs come across as novelty acts only to be buried as 7inch b-sides. Not the case here.

A fuzzy, menacing, rip your face off your head guitar kicks open the door for Iggy. Steady, pulsating drums concocted with bouncing and head-bobbing keys roll out the red carpet. “So messed up, I want you here” sung in time with the ferocious background noise emulate that this man, Iggy fuckin Pop, is in need of, no, will stop at nothing to get the affection that he desires. While the surrounding madness is chaotic and pure Detroit grime, the lyrics are pointed and sincere. But never mind that, for 1969, it doesn’t get much dirtier than this!!!

MP3: The Stooges-I Wanna Be Your Dog

Long before Wilco or Son Volt, the two headed monster that was Uncle Tupelo, with it all of its grit and blue collar angst, recorded this cover that surely tripped the trigger of one Jeff Tweedy. Always fond of punk rock, Tweedy and his bad ass bass guitar glue this version together. Keeping the original feel afloat, Jay Farrar lays down heavy stoner rock guitar in the middle and end sections, while the sincerity behind the lyrics comes through more properly with country-style noodling and Tweedy’s always welcome vocal sweetness. This cover adds dimension and roll to a song that rocked more than pretty well from its inception. Well c’mon. Enjoy!

MP3: Uncle Tupelo-I Wanna Be Your Dog