As both Stevie Nicks‘ most famous duet and, unofficially, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers‘ biggest hit, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” might have inspired more than a few covers. But it’s only in the 21st century that people have taken it on, and only occasionally.
Bluegrass singer-songwriter Molly Tuttle is a regular at Cover Me, her covers featuring in a number of our Best-Of lists since the pandemic started. Her album but I’d rather be with you was a highlight of 2020 and it she has a sequel, the new EP but I’d rather be with you, too. It’s for this new EP that she’s taken on the Nicks/Petty classic.
Tuttle and singer-songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff take on the respective male and female roles, going in a country-soul direction. The band takes the song almost as a blues and Tuttle gets to show off her considerable chops on multiple solos. But despite the soul in their voices and the blues in the vibe, what this new take reveals is that, all along, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” is a classic country tune someone being trapped in a relationship that doesn’t make her happy.
F A B spells fab
Very nice. I think I like it better than the original.