Email letters@uncut.co.uk. Or tweet us at twitter.com/uncutmagazine FABGEAR
Imagine my reaction when your recent issue landed on my doormat… The Beatles! Again! Haven’t they been done to death? I mean, great band and all – but what on earth is there left to say about them? Well, that’s what I thought until I actually bothered to read the cover story. Richard Williams’ elegant introduction teed me up perfectly for this fresh take on such a famous album. I enjoyed reading what the likes of Johnny Marr, Roger McGuinn, Wayne Coyne and others had to say about their favourite tracks. But the most interesting comments to me came from Sean Ono Lennon and Dhani Harrison – who presumably know their fathers’ works inside out. Initial misgivings aside, this was a brilliant cover story! Pete Jordan, Dorset Thanks, Pete. In the grand scheme of things, we’ve not done that many Beatles covers. But, yes, regardless: finding fresh treatments for old favourites is an incredibly important part of what we do here. (MB)
RONHOWARD/REDFERNS;GRAHAMTOLBERT
SUMMERLOVIN’
Great to read the article on The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Summer In The City” in the September issue, one of the most atmospheric singles of the era. The article mentions Quincy Jones’ 1973 cover version of the track, however you missed mentioning the best cover of the song – BB King’s version issued as a 45 in 1972 on ABC in the USA and Probe Records in the UK – and taken from his Guess Who album. BB’s powerful vocals and stinging guitar licks turned the song into a blues classic. Tony Burke, Bedford Hey, Tony. That’s a great call. We could be wrong, but there’s not many songs that have been
Toppermost:The BeatlesattheTop OfThePopsstudio, June16,1966
recorded by Butthole Surfers, Isaac Hayes and David Essex…. Quincy and BB’s versions are a cut above.
DEUSEXMACHINA
Laura Barton’s Big Red Machine piece in your September issue was a fine read. I’ve discovered so many of the artists involved – The National, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes – through Uncut so it was great to find them all in one place. Like Michael in his welcome letter, I was also surprised to learn that Robin Pecknold and Justin Vernon had only met once before. Maybe it’s my innocent ideas about how aligned bands relate with one another, but I assumed it was all BBQs at Long Pond. But anyway, thanks for a great piece and another great issue. Sam Pearce, Cornwall Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner of Big Red Machine: heading to a BBQ at Long Pond?
112 • UNCUT • OCTOBER 2021
SUPERFLY GUY
Thanks to Graeme Thomson for his excellent profile of Curtis Mayfield. Generally, I’ve really appreciated the recent improved focus on black artists in the magazine – Steel Pulse, Stevie Wonder, Sonny Rollins, Prince, Gary Bartz, Sly Stone, Leon Bridges – but the Mayfield piece felt especially timely. I was particularly moved by Paul Weller’s comments about Mayfield, citing his spirituality and humanity. In this current climate, full of division and rancour, we need artists like Mayfield more than ever – positive forces whose music is unifying and spiritually enriching. Move on up, indeed. Mick Sharp, London
KURT COMMENTS
Ah, great Nirvana cover story [August issue]. I saw the band a few times on their 1991 tour: at Reading, at the Kilburn National Ballroom and also on The Word. The gigs were amazing – it was great to see Nirvana rule both outside on a festival bill and inside at their own headline show. My friend Nick and I had never been to a TV studio before but despite the artificial setting – enhanced by lots of enthusiastic rallying from the director – Kurt and co came on and tore
the place apart. Most people remember Kurt’s opening comments about Courtney Love, but what sticks out in my memory is the gleeful, anarchic energy of their brief performance. Pete Nixon, Eastbourne …Enjoyable cover story of Nirvana. I like three or four songs. I tend to think they are a tad overrated; their exalted legacy having to do more with being a powerful and important cultural touchstone during a specific moment along the pop culture timeline. And yet... what could have been. Bo Hopkins, USA
SKIES ARE BLAU
I've been buying your magazine on and off for many years. My best source for music inspiration here in Norway. Circa 2015 there was a song on your monthly CD with Karl Blau, “Fallin Rain”. Me and my wife were driving when that song started playing, the skies opened and the sun shone through. It was kind of a life changer moment that we think fondly of, even today. So I had to get the album, Introducing Karl Blau. Karl Blau personally sent it signed in the mail. I couldn’t believe it! I think of Karl Blau as one of those
