Cover It Up: But Take Care

Rihanna and Drake. Not the usual Berri-suspects, but their track “I’ll Take Care Of You” from Drake’s 2011 album “Take Care” is, in this case, worth keeping in remand.

Rihanna & Drake – I’ll Take Care Of You

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Guilty of blasphemy? I will judge later.

First we’ll take a look at Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa’s version, also released in 2011. Actually a pretty decent take, even though, I’m not really in to Beth Hart’s semi-Winehouse AA-style. Oh and did I mention that Joe Bonamassa is buffing the banana at 3:20?

Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa – I’ll Take Care Of You

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Back to Rihanna and Drake’s version: You will probably recognize the production from last weeks cover spot-member Jamie XX. In January 2011, his remix of Gill Scott-Heron’s version of “I’ll Take Care Of You” set the way for the 13-track remix album entitled “We’re New Here”.

Gil Scott-Heron And Jamie XX – I’ll Take Care Of You

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And here, Gill Scott-Herons masterpiece, is inevitable. Released just a year earlier on his 13th and final studio album “I’m New Here”:

Gil Scott-Heron – I’ll Take Care Of You

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I like the work of Jamie XX, but I basically think it was a mistake to remix that album.

Back on track and a decade earlier, Etta James justifies her place in blues-history with twenty-third studio album Love & the Blues including today’s track “I’ll Take Care Of You”

Etta James – I’ll Take Care Of You

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Before hitting the original version, I’ll have to mention former Screaming Trees front man Mark Lanegan’s version from 1999, Crescent City soul queen Irma Thomas’ version from 1988 and the raw 69-version by O.V. Wright. All of them worth a listen, but I think Gill Scott-Heron’s version kind of summarizes those very well.

Finally it all ends up with Brook Benton and his writing of today’s song “I’ll Take Care Of You”.
Benton, however, seems to have never recorded the track. Instead, blues lion Bobby “Blue” Bland claimed it as his own, cutting it for Duke Records in 1959. What a twist….

Bobby “Blue” Bland – I’ll Take Care Of You

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Ending notes: I’m not very happy about either the Rihanna/Drake version or the Jamie XX Remix. I think the track’s essence lies in the blues. The pain of the original has been reinterpreted brilliantly by all of the above artists (including Van Morrison and Mick Hucknall) but I just can’t feel sorry for Jamie and his chart-darling friends, though you have to give them credit for actualizing today’s cover song.

//Theodor Clausen