Hello Music4Life friends,
today I happened to listen to the CD Unplugged in New York by Nirvana, probably among the most Unplugged I have ever heard, and also among the last live of Kurt Cobain before his death, back in November 1993. I discovered Nirvana at the end of the 90 'and since then I have never abandoned them. Among the songs that I love most of the live there is Where did you sleep last night, the last track that closes the concert.
Many may not know it but the song is a traditional piece of American folk music probably composed in the 1870s. The identity of the author of the song is unknown, but there are numerous performances by other artists in various musical genres. Traditionally, the song is more associated with American bluesman Leadbelly, who recorded many versions of it in the 1940s, and with bluegrass musician Bill Monroe, who helped popularize the song in the 1950s.
Kurt sang it with a certain nostalgia, his scratchy and melancholy voice, the acoustic arrangement that emphasizes the delicacy of the text and the atmosphere with candles and soft lights ... all like that. But Leadbelly's version is so touching, the sound of the fifties puts a little chills on you. Wow what years these have been for music!
Which of the two versions do you prefer?