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The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work: Cover by Ben Harper

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sodamnyeah
November 10, 2007

Ben Harper covers the Verve song "The Drugs Don't Work". The original song was inspired by the death of singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft's father, with vocals recorded in one take.
The video is made with footage from the Ben Harper DVD "Pleasure + Pain".

Californian born singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Ben Harper crosses boundaries in American music. Harper was born in 1969 to an African-American father and Russian Jewish mother; he grew up immersed in blues, folk, reggae and rock. Releasing his debut album Welcome To The Cruel World in 1992 found Harper offering a largely acoustic album. In sharp contrast Harper's next album Fight For Your Mind was a raging slice of blues-rock that recalled Jimi Hendrix at the height of his powers.

Harper's ability to blend the raw with the gentle, matched with his considerable guitar prowess (he is a master of the Weissenborn guitar that is played seated), has made him one of the world's top concert draws and in France and Australia his popularity approaches superstar status. Harper's never been content to rest on his laurels and his fluid musical abilities have found him exploring many areas of music -- the one that attracted the most acclaim was There Will Be A Light, his 2004 collaboration album with legendary gospel quartet The Blind Boys Of Alabama. There Will Be A Light pushed gospel into new areas while bringing Harper into contact with the very roots of his musical style. The album went on to win two Grammy awards and put Harper on a world tour with The Blind Boys -- their live prowess was captured on an exceptional DVD Live At The Apollo.

Harper returned in 2006 with a double CD of original material Both Sides Of The Gun. Harper claims he was so inspired by his experience of working with The Blind Boys that the songs flowed out of him -- none more so than Black Rain, which he wrote about Hurricane Katrina and its tragic aftermath.

"I had to make the picture as clear as the event," says Harper of the string-powered slice of soul. "Because if that can happen here - that disregard for human life - and we allow that to happen to the citizens of this country, then all bets are off. And if there's no justice in day-to-day living, there's for damn sure gonna be some justice in my music."

The Verve were a British rock and roll band of the 1990s, originally formed in 1989. Although they enjoyed their greatest success while the Britpop movement was at its height, they aren't considered such an act at all and their rise to success did not happen overnight - the band released LPs that were critically acclaimed and highly regarded, yet worldwide commercial success eluded them for most of their career. Anno 2007 they are touring again and a new album is expected.

TRIVIA
The 1997 Verve song "The Drugs Don't Work" is the saddest song ever according to a recent study. Dr Harry Witchel, an expert in physiology and music, has measured physical reactions to music -- heart rate, respiratory responses and skin temperatures to find song's "tune trigger quotient".

Category: Music

Tags:

Ben Harper The Drugs Don't Work Verve Cover Guitar Accoustic Creative Live Rock Soul Pleasure Pain Britpop Indie

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Nera2206 (4 days ago) Show Hide

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....l'originale di Richard Ashcroft e' inarrivabile, ma tutto cio' che canta Ben Harper diventa una poesia..

Talog999 (2 weeks ago) Show Hide

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i like both versions, this one just seems a bit more mellow wih the acoustic.

ciumbuleuit49 (3 weeks ago) Show Hide

-5

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what??this like ruin the song that richard ashcroft wrote for his dad

4Selah (3 weeks ago) Show Hide

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This is the best version I have ever heard of this song.

MrFubbels (1 month ago) Show Hide

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shocking rendition.

sneakykebab (1 month ago) Show Hide

-7

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85penjahat (1 month ago) Show Hide

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yayaya drugs very gud

12shane78 (1 month ago) Show Hide

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Ben Harper's version is way better IMO.

Bildo1989 (1 month ago) Show Hide

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I think Grinspoon does a better job than both of them - you can find their cover on Triple J's Like A Version.

DisposableHero187 (1 month ago) Show Hide

-6

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The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work: Cover by Ben Harper

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