I've taken an executive decision not to include Van's original. He and his people get agitated about that sort of thing, and he is already highly agitated about Covid-19, lockdown and the like. I would not want to be responsible for tipping him over the edge.
So instead we'll kick things off with Jesse Ed Davis, a Native American session man who hung about Leon Russell, as you may be able to tell - his version has a certain Leon feel to it. It came out in 1970 and, as far as I can tell, may have been the first cover version to be released.
Also released in 1970 was Esther Phillips' version. Esther did Van's "Brand New Day" around the same time, and that is well worth checking out. I suspect whoever arranged Rita Coolidge's rendition in 1971 may have been listening to Esther judging by the guitar work on the two versions.
We follow Rita with two soul dudes, Nolan Porter and Eddie Floyd, and then we're off on a mini-tour of Europe - I'm clearly struggling to let go - which takes in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland and Italy. All four artists have appeared here previously, Helena Vondráčková as a member of The Golden Kids, the others in their own right.
We end as always with the Mandatory Reggae Version, but with a twist - it's Japanese reggae! You can find it along with many other gems on the evocatively titled compilation, Jap Jam International Volume 3.
"Crazy Love" - Jesse Ed Davis
"Crazy Love" - Esther Phillips
"Crazy Love" - Rita Coolidge
"Crazy Love" - Nolan Porter
"Crazy Love" - Eddie Floyd
"Život S Njim" - Josipa Lisac
"To Se Ti Pouze Zdá" - Helena Vondráčková
"Rakkauden Sain" - Kirka
"Amore Pazzo" - Furgone di Piufiglio
"Crazy Love" - Sister Kaya
I am pleased to see our favourite Italian Van-devotee is in the list. Not as good as the original though.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, of course, but he has a decent shot at it
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