Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Much raw energy in this live clip of Husker Du doing "Ticket to Ride." No Rickenbackers in sight. But a nice post-punk reading of the Beatles classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9vCuxqBro4

Robert

Its amazing how a great song can somehow find its way to the front even when butchered by these maniacs.

Something weird there...like they've enhanced the vocals? They sound almost double tracked.

I meant no disrespect to all you Beatles traditionalists out there when I posted this thread of Husker Du playing "Ticket to Ride." I just wanted to show how broad an influence the Beatles have had. I think it's testimony to the Beatles' lasting legacy that even a hardcore punk band, like Husker Du, found the inspiration to cover their songs. The classic Beatles catalog transcends all stylistic boundaries and will last as long as people continue to listen to music.

Robert

Yeah, I got your point, Robert. And I agree with your assessment of the Beatles' influence and artistic longevity.
JimK

I loved Husker Du- they wrote some great pop songs, and I owe them a huge thanks because their version of Eight Miles High led me to The Byrds. It was the early '80s, and to a college rock kid who worshipped the 'Mats and Huskers, The Byrds were that old hippie band that used to have fat, drug addled David Crosby. Because I loved Husker Du's version so much I bought a Byrds album... and another, and another. Thanks boys.

There was some real magic about the Huskers. Their legacy hasn't aged as well as I'd thought it would but some brilliant tracks like Green Eyes, Diane, and Flexible Flyer, to name a few. I wore out my copy of New Day Rising. Let's show the Huskers some love!

Chuck,

It's great to find a kindred spirit who appreciates Husker Du's pop sensibility. In many ways their songs (starting with the album "Flip Your Wig") echoed the Beatles, albeit with amped up guitars and a much darker side. They remain one of the most underrated bands to emerge from the 1980's indie-rock scene.

I've recently rediscovered "Flip Your Wig," which, to me, was their finest moment: a collection of pop songs with enticing hooks played at a very high decibel level. I've also returned to "Warehouse: Songs and Stories," which one reviewer compared to Derek and the Dominos' "Layla." "New Day Rising" is a little too hardcore for me, with the exception of "I Apologize," which is one of their most catchy songs. Both Bob Mould and Grant Hart were wonderful songwriters, who never received the attention they deserved.

Robert

Flip Your Wig is the album for me too! I liked the stuff before and after but that was the last album by them I really dug. Same with the 'Mats- the first 'big label' album (Tim) was excellent and after that never really the same appeal.
I'm going back to all that stuff with my 16 year old son- he loves The Pixies and we have been playing the hell out of The Breeders Last Splash CD and Television's Marquee Moon (I know, about 10 years earlier than the rest of those bands!). His favourite Beatles track is Happiness is a Warm Gun, which makes sense to me now (just to get things back on the Beatle track).

Both versions possess momentous beauty! I remember playing the Byrds 5D album one day and Mr. Spaceman came on. It was one of my son's favourite songs at the time (he was around five).
'Who's singing this song, dad?'
'His name is Roger.'
'Do you play in a band with him?'