When Jack White and Brendan Benson’s band The Raconteurs announced their first album in 11 years, one track name immediately jumped out at us: 07. Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness) (Donovan Cover). It’s not only that White is a master of the cover song (he’s appeared on our year-end lists more than anyone else I believe), but also…Donovan?? Definitely a surprising choice, especially for a man who’s literally performed with Bob Dylan. Maybe he watched Don’t Look Back recently.
Though the album doesn’t drop until June, the cover just landed courtesy of Third Man’s new Bandcamp page. It does not disappoint. And not surprisingly, it sounds nothing like Donovan. Drummer Patrick Keeler’s Cajun beat offset White’s distorted hollering and, naturally, some furious guitar. It takes its cues slightly more from The Animals’ great cover, but amps it even further than Eric Burdon and co. ever did. Looks like White’s gunning for yet another best-covers-of-the-year appearance.
Listen to the Raconteurs’ “Hey Gyp” cover below, the preorder their comeback album Help Us Stranger (out June 21) at Bandcamp.
Check out many, many more Jack White-related covers here.
