Los Angeles, California: Taken from Led Zeppelin’s epochal fourth album, and a Billboard Top 15 hit in 1971, “Black Dog” is one of the foundation stones of 70s metal, a classic Jimmy Page riff that flagellates the rhythm section, while Robert Plant’s vocal shakes and shimmies on its own course entirely. 
Yet “Black Dog” is also a song that lends itself to some utterly unexpected covers, from as far afield as Debbie Harry and jazz master Ido Kurdhi… not to mention Keith Emerson, whose contribution to a Zeppelin tribute back in 2008 transformed it into an orchestrated slice of piano-whipped madness, at least until vocals and band kicked in.
But the late king of the keys also released an instrumental version of the same song as a digital single in 2012, and when Hawkestrel mainstay Alan Davey (Hawkwind, Gunslinger, Ace of Spades) was considering his own version of the track, for the upcoming Cover Ya Tracks album, it was that performance that he looked towards.
Alan says, "When Brian [CEO of Cleopatra Records] asked if I’d like Keith Emerson’s organ and synths parts for Black Dog to do my own version, I said 'Oh yeah that’ll be a real challenge,' and boy it was!"
Emerson’s piano does not dominate the performance - there’s far too much going on elsewhere in the mix for anyone to stand out… anyone, that is, beyond Psychedelic Warlords singer Zoie Green, her impassioned vocal effortlessly recapturing the energies of Plant’s original recording, but taking them in a wholly new direction.
Alan continues, "Getting Zoie to sing it was the right choice! It’s an interesting take on a classic complex piece of music!"
It certainly is! A breathtaking performance, multi-instrumentalist Davey weaves a solid web of sound around “Black Dog”’s native stomp. But it’s also just one of 11 vivacious visitations to be found on Cover Ya Tracks.
SINGLE: https://orcd.co/hawkestrel_blackdog
Davey’s love of old Hawkwind shines through, of course - “Brainstorm," “Hall Of The Mountain Grill” and “Children Of The Sun” all spin out of that band’s past with a solidly futuristic sheen. And the team, which also includes contributions from fellow Hawkwind vets Nik Turner, Huw Lloyd Langton, Del Dettmar, Simon House and Robert Calvert keep it in the family with Calvert’s “The Greenfly and the Rose," featuring vocals from author and poet Michael Moorcock - himself as much as part of the Hawkwind legend as any of the official band members.
And let’s not forget Ginger Baker, who enjoyed his own stint on the Hawkwind bus back in the early 1980s, and who can be heard here helping Hawkestrel reprise Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love."
Elsewhere, Uriah Heep’s “Rainbow Demon” draws magnificent guitar from former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor, Michael Moorcock reappears across “Starcruiser” and “The Cairene Purse,” and the whole package wraps up with a glorious (and gloriously unexpected) take on “Good Vibrations.”
The Beach Boys in Space? Why not?
Cover Ya Tracks is released on CD, purple marble vinyl and cassette on July 10.
CD/VINYL/CASS: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=hawkestrel+cover+ya+tracks
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/hawkestrel_coveryatracks
Track listing
1. Hall of The Mountain Grill feat. Simon House
2. Brainstorm feat. Nik Turner, Simon House & Del Dettmar
3. Rainbow Demon feat. Mick Taylor
4. Sunshine Of Your Love feat. Ginger Baker
5. Children Of The Sun feat. Nik Turner, Simon House and Del Dettmar
6. Subterraneans feat. Robert Calvert & Huw Lloyd-Langton
7. Black Dog feat. Keith Emerson
8. Starcruiser feat. Michael Moorcock
9. The Greenfly And The Rose feat. Michael Moorcock
10. The Cairene Purse feat. Michael Moorcock
11. Good Vibrations
