The Sonics kick the collective ass of all other versions, which comes as no surprise. Still, Paul Revere and the Raiders turned in a respectable one, it must be said... posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:59 AM on July 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
Fun vocal arrangement on the Berry original, of course. posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:00 AM on July 4, 2009
All well and good, but incomplete without this. posted by HuronBob at 6:12 AM on July 4, 2009
One of my favorite rock riffs by any band, but the Sonics version is pretty much untouchable. This is one of those songs that I can't imagine a bad version of, although I don't have the courage to click on any link with the words "Jim Belushi" in it. posted by Slack-a-gogo at 6:19 AM on July 4, 2009
The Sonics version is my favourite as well, but I have to say that that second ukulele version wasn't too shabby; it had a certain charm. posted by bjrn at 6:41 AM on July 4, 2009
I don't have the courage to click on any link with the words "Jim Belushi" in it.
I dunno - with the rash of celebrity deaths in the last few weeks there's a chance that clicking on a Jim Belushi link could be quite rewarding. posted by Item at 6:54 AM on July 4, 2009
The Headcoatees version was the first one I heard, so that one is my favorite. Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd? No thank you. posted by pinky at 7:17 AM on July 4, 2009
The title (which is also sixty percent of the lyrics) is undoubtedly from a very popular TV show at the time, Have Gun, Will Travel, starring Richard Boone as Paladin, a gunfighter who had the line on his business card. posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:03 AM on July 4, 2009
Same title, different song: Have Love, Will Travel by the talented Bill Kirchen. Plus on the cover of the album with the same name, Bill's wearing a jacket and carrying a suitcase that the Sonics just wouldn't be able to carry off. posted by Killick at 8:06 AM on July 4, 2009
I had never heard of the Sonics, but I thought: "They sound like a 1961 cover band."
Turns out that's exactly what they were! I thought I had entered a time warp. . .<a posted by rdone at 9:10 AM on July 4, 2009
The Sonics are the real thing, rdone... Interesting how on the Richard Berry original, the bass voice carries the riff. Hearing this, it occurs to me that this must where the Beach Boys got their arrangement of Louie Louie, which also features a bass voice (probably Mike Love) doing the riff, which in all other versions of the song, is carried by the guitar and organ. posted by Faze at 10:49 AM on July 4, 2009
Mojo Nixon did it too, on Here Ain't the Sonics - an above-average Sonics tribute record.
Did you go, Stinkycheese? How was it? I'm considering the Echo show in LA... posted by Bigfoot Mandala at 1:02 PM on July 4, 2009
I'm so excited about this Boss Tracks blog. Yay. posted by Miko at 2:52 PM on July 4, 2009
I ... er, love ... this song. Thanks for the post. posted by Amanojaku at 3:56 PM on July 4, 2009
I didn't make it, sadly. The friends who went said they were great, and that Gerry did in fact still scream. They sure look like they're still in pretty good shape. posted by stinkycheese at 4:20 PM on July 4, 2009
Have Love, Will Travel is a song with an instantly recognisable opening
This sound is right up my alley as far as what I like but.... nope, not recognizable. Never heard it before. posted by Doohickie at 5:13 PM on July 5, 2009
There's a cover done by a band out of Copenhagen called the The Blue Van that's pretty kick-ass too. Can't find a feed of it anywhere though. I sing in a cover band and we base our version of HLWT on the Blue Van version (minus the organ). Wicked song. posted by sharpener at 12:17 AM on July 6, 2009
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I'll stop now.
posted by slimepuppy at 5:58 AM on July 4, 2009