Electric Jed

When I first read that Levon Helm was going to cover the Grateful Dead’s “Tennessee Jed” on his new album, Electric Dirt, I couldn’t wait to hear what the Funky Drummer from Woodstock (via Arkansas) did with it. As described by Jerry Garcia, the feel of “Jed” comes out of his listening to and being influenced by the “rhythmically hip country and western style....Memphis more than Nashville.” Anyone who has listened for but a brief moment to The Band knows that Levon preaches “rhythmically hip” whenever he settles in behind the drum-kit. With the Levon Helm Band horns adding some extra spice, we get a fine version of a song whose main character could have easily come out of one of The Band’s albums.

Levon Helm - Tennessee Jed [buy]