I'm notoriously a big fan of bootlegs (although definitely not on a jam-band level) and one that's been getting a lot of airplay around here is Robyn Hitchcock (& Heavy Friends)' tribute to Syd Barrett. The concert, much like their earlier tribute to the White Album, was a one-off gig in London - only this time exhaustively celebrating the works of Mr. Barrett. It's no surprise that this was especially splendid, as Robyn has been vocal about his love for Syd for years. One of my favorites is Love You, originally appearing on Barrett's 1969 debut solo album, The Madcap Laughs.
The song maintains the delightful sweetness of the original, sung as a duet with Isobel Campbell, who also features on cello. It's certainly not a song to take very seriously and indeed Robyn nearly breaks into laughter several times as he and Isobel attempt to navigate the track's tongue-twisting wordplay. Musically, the song is nothing special - a lightly strummed guitar and beautiful cello that lacks the tinkling piano of the original. Still, it's an admirable take on a ditty that often goes overlooked in favor of Barrett's more serious work.
[Robyn Hitchcock & Heavy Friends - Live at Queen Elizabeth Hall 2007-05-26]
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