Special Feature – “China Grove”
I am doing this special feature for three reasons. 1. I happen to really like this song; 2. The group covering it Hindley Street Country Club (HSCC), which I have already featured in (DUTC#17) is, in my mind, one of the best cover bands out there right now; and 3. Everything about this performance, the staging, arrangement, filming, mixing, audio clarity, musicianship, lead and backup vocals, and the harmonies are simply amazing. The lead singer and guitarist, Dusty Lee Stephensen, gets an extra shout-out, as he is simply stellar taking on the role of The Doobie Brothers lead singer and guitarist Tom Johnston.
The original Doobie Brothers lineup changed over the years from it’s original start as a quartet, and when they recorded “China Grove,” it included the aforementioned Tom Johnston (lead guitar and vocal), Patrick Simmons (guitar, vocals), Tiran Porter (bass), John Hartban (drums), and Keith Knudsen (drums). On the original recording of the song, the band played together with tracking in the studio, instead of overdubbing the instrumental elements. There were additional percussion (tambourine) and hand clapping overdubbed later. The song uses what is known as the Latin Clave Rhythm. The music was composed before the lyrics were added, and it started with a guitar riff that Johnston and drummer John Hartman developed into a jam chord structure. According to Johnston, the lyrics were influenced by a piano part in the performance. They were also supposed to be about a fictional town near San Antonio, Texas, which is evident in the song’s first two lines: “When the sun comes up on a sleepy little town/
Down around San Antone.” There is actually a town by that name east of San Antonio, Texas, but there are also ones in North Carolina and Alabama. A popular name it would appear, but not as popular as Franklin (31), Washington and Clinton (29). Now you know!
HSCC’s version also features two guitars sharing lead duties (with Stephensen the featured, guest guitarist and lead vocalist), and George Klironomos; drummer (Brad Polain also backup vocals); percussionist (Steve Todd); keyboards (Dave Ross); bass and backup vocals (Constantine Delo), who also provides the arrangement. There are also two featured backup singers: Pina Del Re and Lesley Williams, both of whom have provided lead vocals on other covers the ensemble has done. The song was mixed by Dave Ross, who in my humble opinion deserves a medal, and it was filmed and edited by Dan Donato. Enjoy the trip down memory lane.
HSCC “China Grove” cover. August 5, 2021
The Doobie Brothers “China Grove” Album Captain and Me, 1973.
Los Angeles 2023
That’s a song that needs the straight forward approach if you’re brave enough to tackle it. That’s one tight band. I always assumed San Antone was substituted for San Antonio because it flows better in the song.
It sure does, and as you say, they are one tight band. Ha, that is exactly right. I think the city should change to San Antone!
They so great justice to this classic!