Joe, Billy, et al

I spotted a video at youtube that touted the original version of Hey Joe, which I’d assumed was either written by Jimi Hendrix or adapted by him from one of the masters of the blues. Turns out a young white boy, Billy Roberts, wrote and recorded it in 1962, although it’s likely he was influenced by similar songs. Fortunately, he copyrighted it. In the years that followed several artists claimed to have composed it. I doubt many folks would argue that Hendrix’s is not the definitive version. I’d never heard any other until today. A Wiki page is dedicated to the song. Here are highlights, edited by yours truly: The Hendrix take did not crack the U.S. charts but rose to #6 in the UK. Dino Valenti and David Crosby have been reported as helping to popularize it before it was recorded by the Leaves in December 1965. Cher did it in late 1966, peaking at #94 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was included on her 1967 album With Love, Chér. Wilson Pickett released a version that reached #59 on the U.S. Hot 100 in August 1969. Deep Purple included a seven-and-a-half minute track on their 1968 debut album, Shades of Deep Purple. Marmalade recorded a version in 1968, needing a B-side to their single Lovin’ Things. Believing it was a traditional song, the band received songwriting royalties for it, and were miffed when the composer “crawled out of the woodwork.” Frank Zappa did a parody, Flower Punk, on the Mothers of Invention album We’re Only in It for the Money in 1968. Lyrics included “Hey Punk, where you goin’ with that flower in your hand?” Patti Smith released a cover as the A-side of her first single, b/w Piss Factory in 1974. The arrangement is based on a recording by blues guitarist Roy Buchanan released the previous year. Smith’s includes a brief, salacious monologue about fugitive heiress Patty Hearst and her kidnapping and participation with the Symbionese Liberation Army. The Who occasionally performed it during their 1989 tour. Their version was influenced by Hendrix’s arrangement and was dedicated to him. Willy DeVille recorded a mariachi version that was a hit in Europe in 1992, going to #1 in Spain. It also appears on DeVille’s Backstreets of Desire album. Type O Negative re-titled the song Hey Pete, in reference to frontman Peter Steele, on their 1992 The Origin of the Feces album, and changed the protagonist to an axe-murderer. Body Count recorded a version for their album Born Dead in 1994. Brazilian group O Rappa did it in Portuguese about a poor man who lives in a ghetto and takes to crime to survive. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were recorded in 2006 rehearsing the song for the program Live From Abbey Road. 7273 guitarists played it simultaneously in the town square of Wrocław, Poland on May 1, 2012, a Guinness record. Johnny Hallyday did it in French in 1966, reaching #2 in Wallonia, French-speaking Belgium. Roberts had a long career on the fringes of the music industry, playing mostly in night clubs. As a member of the folk trio The Driftwood Singers he opened for the likes of Bill Cosby, Carmen McRae, Godfrey Cambridge and Joan Rivers. He passed away at 81 in 2017. Here’s a link to the original track, which runs about two-and-a-half minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PziiNzFWZog

Since I was unable to get the car close to my usual nook I decided to do a limited version of the floating book shop on this hot day. About 90% of the wares were in Russian. I considered leaving my own books in the car. What a mistake that would have been. My thanks to the young woman with the lovely islands accent who purchased Rising Star, Exchanges and A Hitch in Twilight, and to Marina, who bought three books in Russian; and to the gentleman who selected one; and to Barry, who went home with the DVD of Kingpin (1996), one of my favorite comedies, despite its vulgarity. Anyone who’s seen it remembers Lin Shaye’s brief but memorable role. Here she is in character:

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