Hey. Joe.

May 28, 2008 7:20 AM

Hey Joe -- Hey Joe -- Hey Joe -- Hey Joe -- Hey Joe -- [please see hoverovers for link descriptions]

One more for the road: this slamming clip from 1969 finds the Experience in fine form, and very nicely filmed by the BBC, doing Voodoo Child and, you guessed it, HeyJoe, this time with an adventurous opening arrangement that Noel Redding flubs... Hendrix actually cuts it off early, saying "we'd like to stop playing this rubbish and, uh, dedicate this next song to the Cream..." whereupon they dive into a bit of "Sunshine of Your Love", which very unfortunately gets truncated due to the show's time restrictions! Damn!

posted by flapjax at midnite (36 comments total)

I assume you omitted the execrable Bodycount version, featuring Ice-T, out of good taste.
posted by dobie at 7:34 AM on May 28

You probably left this one off for a good reason, but in the interests of completeness (and perhaps as a comparison piece): Body Count, featuring Ice T trying out life as a cop-killin' metal singer before becoming a cop-portrayin' TV actor.
posted by googly at 7:35 AM on May 28

Oh SNAP.
posted by dobie at 7:35 AM on May 28

Nick Cave, Charlie Haden, and Toots Thielemans in the same room doing Hey Joe blows my mind. Wow. I didn't even like this song until now.
posted by ardgedee at 7:39 AM on May 28

I can't find a good link, but, the Make Up cover this on their 1999 album "Save Yourself". It is awesome especially when Joe calls in on a cell phone and the song proceeds to blow up.
posted by trbrts at 7:52 AM on May 28

Cool thanks. That Franco Battiato version is a good interpretation (and I do like the Dreamers)
posted by patricio at 7:58 AM on May 28

I assume you omitted the execrable Bodycount version , featuring Ice-T, out of good taste.

Yup. Along with hundreds and hundreds of others on the 'Tube, which is a big place, after all! Still, I reckon there must be other versions there worth at least a listen... this one, for example, from Zydeco accordionist Dwayne Dopsie has got some of the burningest accordion soloing you're gonna hear, starting around the 3-minute mark.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:59 AM on May 28 [1 favorite]

((Oh and great post, flapjax, it's making my morning listening to these.))
posted by The Bellman at 8:01 AM on May 28

What, no Patti Smith? Though personally, I always preferred the B-side.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:15 AM on May 28 [1 favorite]

You forgot Japan!
posted by harmfulray at 8:18 AM on May 28 [2 favorites]

harmfulray... yeah! Nice one! The Golden Cups kick total ass.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:22 AM on May 28

nice call, trbrts. I remember that one, but couldn't find a link either. Love the song and Hendrix, which is probably why I only watched the second link. ;)
posted by mrgrimm at 8:23 AM on May 28

That Golden Cups bass player is killing me. I'm checking out more of their stuff.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:27 AM on May 28

The first version of Hey Joe I ever heard was on a mixtape of Seal b-sides and rarities made by my friend . . . Joe. I didn't even know it was Jimi's song.
posted by mad bomber what bombs at midnight at 8:36 AM on May 28

Thanks, flapjax at midnite. Too bad youtube took down the clip of Tim Rose performing Hey, Joe. It was the Rose version which inspired Hendrix to record the song.

For more on the curious and convulted history of Hey, Joe: wikipedia
posted by Mister Bijou at 8:37 AM on May 28

Previously :(
posted by bifter at 8:37 AM on May 28

I'm a Byrds and Dylan lover but both those suck! Of course the Hendrix version (and this performance) are the definitive renditions. The Leaves is cool just for the Beatle boots and mop tops but .. sucks too. : )

Its really amazing how creative and dynamic Jimi's bassist and drummer were.
Without them Jimi would have been a great and flamboyant perfomer/ artist.. but not as great.
Wonderful muscular emsemble playing.

now when's the "Gloria" versions thread coming? Im ready.
posted by celerystick at 8:46 AM on May 28

Previously :(

Well I'll be damned. Missed that one. Apparently none of the URLs from my FPP appeared in that post, though, so I don't think we're talking double here...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:46 AM on May 28

Wow - thanks once again Flapjacks! That BBC Experience bit made my morning.
1st Album purchase - at the tender age of twelve - SMASH HITS.
posted by readery at 8:53 AM on May 28

Weird Al Yankovic does "Hey Joe" in "Polkas on 45."
posted by kirkaracha at 9:54 AM on May 28

Hey trbrts - found it! I really like the Make Up, and I really like this cover. And I like covers of Hey Joe. Cool post.
posted by tiny crocodile at 10:12 AM on May 28

I like this Hungarian version quite a bit, from the Hobo Blues Band.
posted by spasm at 10:49 AM on May 28

hey flapjax, thanks for another great one. just got lost for an hour roaming through youtube.
posted by kitchenrat at 11:45 AM on May 28

Zappa's take on the tune... Flower Punk.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 12:03 PM on May 28

Is Hey Joe about misogyny?
posted by Xurando at 12:12 PM on May 28

I think I just broke a few strings on my air guitar...
posted by DreamerFi at 12:34 PM on May 28

Type O does it as "Hey, Pete".
posted by FatherDagon at 12:49 PM on May 28

Hey Flap, where you goin' with those links in your post. . . ?

Too bad youtube took down the clip of Tim Rose performing Hey, Joe.
It was the Rose version which inspired Hendrix to record the song.

You have but to ask:
Tim Rose -- Hey Joe Video (flv 9MB)
Tim Rose -- Hey Joe Video (avi 15MB)

Sorry, no streaming.

My Hey Joe folder include three different versions by The Leaves and one by Love. (sorry, no video). In Flapjax's link, The Leaves are miming to the 'single version' -- with its non-canonical instrumental bridge. There's also a 'demo' and 'album' version. Leaves, Love, and The Byrds -- all contemporaneous LA bands were scooped by The Surfaris by a matter of months.

Zappa's take on the tune... Flower Punk

Just to complete the circle, the bassist and co-lead singer for the Leaves, Jim Pons, later played with the Turtles. When the Turtles' singers joined Zappa/Mothers for the 'vaudeville band' era as Flo and Eddie, Pons joined too. Pons was with the Mothers for two of the most significant events in Zappa lore -- the fire at Casino de Montreux in Switzerland and the on-stage assault upon Zappa at the London Rainbow Theatre, both in December 1971.
posted by Herodios at 12:49 PM on May 28

Hey flapjax, where you goin' with that drum in yo' hand?

Here's the Paul Green School of Rock Music, Bucks County version.
Here's the Deep Purple version, off of Shades of Deep Purple.
Here's the wikipedia entry for "Hey Joe."

[+] Here's your post, favorited. Thanks!
posted by not_on_display at 1:22 PM on May 28

No love for Frank's version?

Hey, punk, where you goin' with that flower in your hand?
(Hey, punk, where you goin' with that flower in your hand?)
I'm goin' up to 'Frisco to join a psychedelic band.
(Well I'm goin' up to 'Frisco to join a psychedelic band.)

Hey, punk, what you doin with that button on yer shirt?
(Hey, punk, what you doin with that button on yer shirt?)
I'm goin' to the love-in to sit and play my bongos in the dirt.
(Yes I'm goin' to the love-in to sit and play my bongos in the dirt.)
posted by Meatbomb at 1:25 PM on May 28

Ach, should have previewed.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:26 PM on May 28

Is it worth pointing out that Deep Purple also did a song about the Montreaux fire?
Yah, I didn't think so.
posted by Herodios at 1:29 PM on May 28

WHAT? this gun? why I'm gonna shoot the next person who comes at me quoting that fucking song, that's where I'm going...
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:30 PM on May 28

So no links to Wah! Heat - Hey, Disco Joe?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 9:52 PM on May 28

Nick Cave picked the most perfect musicians and instruments for that song and it was amazing, Dang.

yeah, I have Arthur Lee's version, I'm thinking that was the original and Jimmy nicked it...damn right it sounds a lot like the Leaves' version. Fucking getting schooled here. Judging from Arthur Lee's prolific songwriting, the Leaves nicked it too. So many have used Arthur Lee covers:
Mazzy Star, [5 String Serenade],
Calexico [Alone Again Or],
David Bowie [Stephanie Knows Who],
the Who [Can't Explain] to name a few...and yo, what of The Rolling Stones [She Comes In Colors].

Excellent song, great post./
posted by alicesshoe at 10:09 PM on May 28

Roy Buchanan is gone and forgotten already?
posted by asusu at 12:36 AM on May 29