Yes, I posted Sahm recently, but here he is leading the way with Uncle Tupelo. What a great and natural combination. Running across this was just fantastic! I can’t put into words how much I love the down-home sound of this. One more legend is on this album that I will reveal at the bottom of the post…no skipping or peaking!
When Uncle Tupelo teamed up with Doug Sahm on this song, it felt less like a guest spot and more like a handoff between two generations. Sahm had already lived a lifetime in Texas blues, country, and rock and roll. Uncle Tupelo were still mapping out what roots rock could sound like in the early ’90s. The song sits right in the middle of that meeting point.
Sahm sounds relaxed, like he’s telling a story on a porch. Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy hang back just enough to let the song lead. I always liked Uncle Tupelo anyway, but add Doug Sahm? Oh hell yes! I could listen to this type of music all day and twice on Sunday, as the saying goes. It gives me a great feeling, and it just fits all together so well. The backup vocals are on target, but also riding around the edges; it’s such a lived-in sound that I love. There is no overdubbing or big production…just back porch sounding goodness.
This track shows what Uncle Tupelo were always good at, connecting past and present without making it sound like a museum piece. Doug Sahm doesn’t feel like a legend that was just dropped in for credibility. He feels like part of the band, which in this he is. Doug Sahm wrote this song, and it was on the Uncle Tupelo album called Anodyne, released in 1993. He first released it as Sir Doug and the Texas Tornados in 1976.
There is one more legend on this album doing some vocals…the one and only Joe Ely. He did the lead vocals on Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?
Give Back The Key To My Heart
Take my picture off the wallIt don’t matter to me at allSaid I was headed for a fallBut you wanted me to crawl
Give back my TVIt don’t mean that much to meWhile you’re giving back my thingsGive me back the key to my heart
Give back the key to my heartGive back the key to my heartAnd let my love flow like a riverStraight into your heart, dear
Well, you say I was the oneTo blame for the wrong that’s been doneWell, you got a friend named cocaineAnd to me, he is to blame
He has drained life from your faceHe has taken my placeWhile you’re alone in San AntoneGive me back the key to my heart
Give back the key to my heartGive back the key to my heartAnd let my love flow like a riverStraight into your heart, dear
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What a delightful alliance this marriage of Uncle Tupelo and Doug Sahm is, an artist I’m discovering thanks to you. Together they’re building a solid musical oeuvre on rock foundations tinged with a touch of Americana.
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Thank you for reading. I just discovered him not long ago and yes…these two go together so well. It’s so loose in the right ways and tight at the same time. ” they’re building a solid musical oeuvre on rock foundations tinged with a touch of Americana.” You summed it up perfectly!
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I am liking this combination quite a bit. Max. Haven’t listened to much Uncle T but this is great.
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Something about this music lifts me…it really does. Some of this music comes straight down from The Band.
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I remember that I borrowed this CD from the library in the ’90s. I don’t recall the songs, including this one, but I vaguely remember thinking ‘this is quite good’ but not going back to it. Maybe it’s time to listen again, see if it ‘sticks’ more, 30 years on
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When I first heard it…it just rang with me. I missed a lot of these bands real time and I wish I would have known more. A few I did catch but not in depth. I just love the looseness of it…it’s catchy without trying to be.
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I was a big UT fan and I remember being caught by surprise when I was paying the album and this song came on. Love it! Like the Band I like the different vocalists in a song.
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It really is…I told Randy something like that… a lot of it goes back to The Band. The Joe Ely was a surprise for me as well…I didn’t expect that.
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Most of the people i dig seem to be connected in some way. I kind of feel validated by that. I need all the validation i can get. UnT were great. I like Wicoas yo know but lean more towards Son Volt.
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This was not planned out when I wrote this one…but when I realized the UT post…yea it fit. I like Sun Volt as well.
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Well it worked out in a good way. Love this music max. Cant get enough
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Oh yeah that fiddle grabs me also. I guess I know what I’m listening to today. Thanks Max.
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Fine fine write-up Max, It’s based in Country for sure but it has a real world grit to it. Everyone needs a friendly Uncle to offer up a bit of backing and support.
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I just fell in love with the track as soon as I heard it. It sounds like you invited some good musicians over and they played this for you in your living room. I saw versions of this song live from Wilco, Sun Volt, and Tweedy… it stuck with them
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Excellent. I have this CD, but I don’t think I played it very much because I don’t remember this. I will have to go back again. The melody of the first couple of lines kind of reminds me of Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You”. Very nice.
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Oh….I hear that now! I love that song as well. I can’t explain why I love this so much…I guess it’s that open feel that they are not too tight…but loose enough to work perfectly.
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Never realized they collaborated. Ive had that Uncle Tupelo compilation for years, but i should go back and hear the original albums.
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Joe Ely does a nice cover as well with them…but lately it’s Sahm I’ve been searching out. I didn’t know they played together either.
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