Sunday 8 June 2008

Higher & Higher by Bonnie Bramlett


I must admit I knew nothing about Bonnie Bramlett when I bought this single. I had a track of hers on an excellent compilation called 'Country Got Soul', but I never connected her name with the 70s country-rock outfit Delaney & Bonnie until I read a short biog piece on her tonight.

I simply took a chance on this record because the original is one of my eternal favourites, and I'm always interested to hear a new take on a great song. Bonnie pulls it off by following the golden rule of coverology: make it your own.

She does so by reinventing 'Higher…' as a good time Southern party track, complete with country licks and plenty of tambourines. The resulting single has the warmth and effortless spontaneity of an impromptu live performance — two and a half minutes well spent in my opinion.


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