Since 2023, new tracks have been released as part of a four LP tribute to Drivin N Cryin lead singer/songwriter Kevn Kinney. The project, eventually being released under the title of Let’s Go Dancing: A Celebration of Kevn Kinney just released its newest song, a cover by Mike Mills, formerly of R.E.M..
Mills takes on Kinney’s “Telling Stories,” from 1995’s Wrapped in Sky. This is one of Mills’ rare solo recordings. (He released a cover of Billy Bragg’s “Sing Their Souls Back Home” in 2010.) Mills’ version is pretty close to the original, but both have a lovely, warm feel to them. If you like one, you’ll like the other. What did Kinney himself make of the cover?
“Drivin n Cryin’s first mention in a major rock magazine was from Mike Mills years ago in a best of list for Rolling Stone,” says Kinney, “it was a big deal in our poncey highland apartment!! Over the years my respect and admiration grows for his nonstop pursuit of musical expansion. Classical compositions to garage rock songs about baseball and beyond. His Telling Stories is very special to me …a song about growing up and hopeful horizons.”
