Be My Husband
Joy Jones
Unreleased, 2009
(I highly recommend that you check her album Godchild here on iTunes)
I almost posted this song a few weeks ago but I didn’t know why it wasn’t on Joy’s album and whether or not she wanted it circulated. After last night’s interview I know it’s “something for the people” so I am more than happy to spread the love.
This is a stellar cover of one of this Nina Simone song I posted a couple years back. To my very pleasant surprise, Joy produced this song herself. Nina’s version consists of just voice and one hand clap/cymbol combo at the end of each bar. Joy keeps that clap and builds a full song’s instrumentation around it complete with layers and layers of vocals and yet manages to keep the song sounding stripped down and simple.
I am kicking myself for missing her show at S.O.B.’s on Saturday night because she did this song live and apparently it was out of control.
Be sure to check my interview with her on The Main Ingredient last night (the Sept. 22nd show). I think you will be able to tell we had a lot of fun together in the studio.
I have one other cover of this song that I have no artist info for. Can anyone ID the artist on this version?
Shout to Trees for Breakfast for putting me onto this song.
Songs are available for two weeks.
September 26th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
I’m hearing Rene Marie, but I seriously doubt it’s her because she doesn’t record with background vocals. I’ve also never heard her perform with heavy funk-sounding drums like that.
Of course, the drums could’ve been dubbed on. And if that’s the case, we could be talking Sweet Honey In The Rock (or members thereof). The vocal arrangement sounds like them, but the drums most certainly don’t.
In any case, I forwarded the track to my Dad. If anyone can nail it, he can. I’ll let you know….
-Mtume.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:29 am
i don’t know rene marie. thanks for the suggestion. if your dad has any further thoughts let me know
May 11th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
I know Dianne Reeves did a version of this but I think hers was almost acappella. But it’s been a long time since I heard it.