Song of the Day 5/31: Nazareth, “Guilty”
Yes, that’s Scottish rockers Nazareth covering Randy Newman on their breakthrough 1975 LP, “Hair of the Dog.” The tune, from Newman’s controversial “Rednecks” album of the year before, got lots of blues covers back then, notably by Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker.
Though Nazareth is lumped into the hard rock genre, it covered lots of material by writers you wouldn’t expect early on, the better to show off Dan McCafferty’s vocals; you can hear why Axl Rose and AC/DC’s Brian Johnson cite him as an influence. The band had a big hit with the Everly Brothers chestnut “Love Hurts” from the same album, and a hit in Canada with Joni Mitchell’s “This Flight Tonight.” It’s not quite the way Joni did it.
the Everly Brothers chestnut “Love Hurts”
I’ll be damned. I first heard the Nazareth version incessantly on the radio, and as a teenager I thought it was dreary dreck, and still sorta do. Much later I found it on Gram Parson’s “Grievous Angel” album with Emmylou Harris and I assumed that was the original. By that time my ear had changed and I found that version sublime. But still not the kind of thing you want to listen to on repeat. Now I’ll have to go listen to the Everly Brothers version.
It probably resonates more with the lovelorn. Written for the Everlys by the husband-wife songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFE2SnliiV0