Cover of the Moment: Crazy Mary

[Leatherhead]

Hmm. Well okay then.

[Kevin Davis]

There are a number of fairly well-known Dylan tunes from his Basement Tapes session that were first heard in “cover” versions — “The Mighty Quinn” by Manfred Mann, “I Shall Be Released” (and several others) by the Band on Music From Big Pink, “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” by the Byrds on Sweetheart of the Rodeo. I don’t think of any of these as “originals” — not least because, if they are originals, then what are the actual originals? If PJ’s “Crazy Mary” is an original, then what is the Victoria Williams version? A cover of her own song?

[daft twat]

I’ve always loved this song BUT “saw some skid marks and followed them around” always takes me out. I’m sure it’s about tire tread, but does anyone not think of shit stains when they hear “skid marks”?

[E.H. Ruddock]

This same question was asked on the old board and it was settled then, I can't find the quote now because a) the old board done died and b) with the VS reissue there are a million new search results in google.

Anyway, Vedder had a tape of a demo of this song from Williams well before Pearl Jam ever recorded it.

here is what someone posted from that discussion:

1. From:

http://www.creekdipper.com/news.htm

"...Her first album, "Happy Come Home,'' came out during 1987, followed by "Swing the Statue'' in 1990. Sidetracked by multiple sclerosis in 1992, Williams came back strong with 1994's "Loose,'' while a group of fellow artists and songwriters -- including Pearl Jam, Lou Reed, Soul Asylum, Lucinda Williams and others -- rallied around for 1993's acclaimed "Sweet Relief: A Benefit For Victoria Williams,'' which began a series of albums dedicated to raising money for musicians who cannot afford health care."

2. From:

http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/SweetR ... liams.html

" ... The new album features original new versions of compositions drawn from Happy Come Home and Swing The Statue (Victoria's two albums), and two more songs, "Crazy Mary" and "This Moment," which have yet to be recorded by their author.

All label and artist royalties from the sales of SWEET RELIEF will be applied to Victoria Williams' medical expenses; at the same time, a portion will be paid to the Sweet Relief Musicians Trust Fund, which Williams has set up to aid other artists in similar predicaments."

3. And from:

http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/PearlJ ... ramex.html

"Sweet Relief (1993) - Pearl Jam does "Crazy Mary", an absolutely beautiful Victoria Williams song. This original Sweet Relief compilation helped to raise funds for Victoria's mounting medical bills after she was diagnosed with MS. All of the artists on it contributed their efforts to a friend in need."

So...

1987 Happy Come Home
1990 Swing The Statue
1992 (She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis)
1993 Sweet Relief: A Benefit For Victoria Williams
1994 Loose (with Crazy Mary, a release on Mammoth Records)

The Sweet Relief version has PJ and Williams on guitar and vocals. The Loose version just her. I think the song was written around 1992-1993 and decided to release it with Pearl Jam for the benefit album.

[guitar_davey]

Is this the first song they changed the key of when playing it live? I feel like they've always played it in a different key than the studio version.

[Birds in Hell]

Is this the first song they changed the key of when playing it live? I feel like they've always played it in a different key than the studio version.

Yes.

That said, they played it in the original key (B minor) in 1993:



It got moved down to a lower key (A minor) when it became a setlist staple in 2000.

[guitar_davey]

Is this the first song they changed the key of when playing it live? I feel like they've always played it in a different key than the studio version.

Yes.

That said, they played it in the original key (B minor) in 1993:



It got moved down to a lower key (A minor) when it became a setlist staple in 2000.

Nice! I'd never heard this before.