Wilson Pickett Covers a Beatles Classic
With a little help from Duane Allman
The idea of an R&B singer teaming up with a relatively unknown session musician to cover The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” sounds as crazy now as it probably did back in 1968. The song may have been less than a year old at that point, but it was an instant hit and has since become ubiquitous in ‘Greatest Songs of All Time’ lists.
I am usually reluctant when great songs are covered. They are great for a reason, and should be left untouched. However, when supremely talented individuals are involved, sometimes the original can be transformed into something truly special. Such was the case when established singer Wilson Pickett and promising young guitarist Duane Allman got together to come up with a new take on “Hey Jude”.
Released in 1969, the cover is drastically shorter than the original at just over four minutes. That actually strengthens rather than weakens it, as Pickett’s soulful singing quickly builds to the explosive climax. And what a climax. The singer releases an earth-shattering shriek that sets in motion the most electrifying final eighty seconds of a song that I have ever heard.
Blasting horns, an insistent drumbeat, Pickett’s intense cries, and Allman soaring in with a spine-tingling guitar solo all combine to create an epic, otherworldly sound.
It is in moments like this when words don’t feel adequate enough to describe my feelings for music. This cover hits me on a visceral level that very few songs can. I feel bad even calling it a cover; it’s a work of art, and its only flaw is that it ends.
Duane Allman’s solo undoubtedly elevates it. It’s as if his electric guitar were plugged into his heart rather than an amplifier, such is the raw emotion that pours forth from the strings during those eighty seconds of heaven. As with all great guitarists he conveys such powerful emotions without trying too hard or overcomplicating things. Those emotions surge through us, and we are left marvelling at the power music has of taking us to places inside ourselves that we never knew existed.
The release of “Hey Jude” marked a crucial moment in Allman’s career. His contribution to the track helped enhance his reputation in the music world as an exceptional guitarist. The Allman Brothers Band’s debut album soon followed, as did Derek and the Dominos’ Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, on which Duane played throughout.
He became particularly famous for his outstanding ability as a slide guitarist, for which he has influenced many contemporary southern rock and blues-rock artists like Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, and Marcus King. The mesmerising sound that was truly his own soars throughout At Fillmore East, one of the best live rock albums ever. A standout track is the jam version of Willie Cobb’s “You Don’t Love Me”, where Allman’s telepathic understanding with fellow guitarist Dickey Betts is in full force.
Duane Allman’s sudden death at just twenty-four is one of the biggest tragedies in music history, but the legacy he continues to leave behind shows just how immense his talent was.
Skydog’s masterful playing on “Hey Jude” combined with Wilson Pickett’s unrestrained vocals creates a timeless version of a Beatles’ classic. I love both the cover and the original, but Duane’s solo grips me to the core in such a way that I am left with no choice but to immediately replay the track and savour it all over again. And again and again.
