143. "The Hawk" by Tom Verlaine

Tom Verlaine is not just one of my favorite guitarists-- even people who have only heard Marquee Moon twice know they're supposed to say that-- but one of my very favorite overall artists as well. I'll make a stronger case for his deserving stature as a great songwriter than perhaps Mr. Miller himself ever would. So it's a bit of a disappointment that at this late date in 39-40, and with so very many Verlaine recordings ratting around in my library (quite a few more than are strictly meant to exist), The Machine hands me a performance of a Kris Kristofferson cover. It's a bit of an obscurity, and my making it available here is thus an accidental public service for which you're quite welcome.

In fact, I wasn't able to find a copy of Kristofferson's original, so this truly is a cover of a cover, although thanks to the Internet I believe I restored some lyrics that Tom got sideways.

I very rarely play guitar without a pick, but here I did, trying to both play and sing very, very softly for a change. The noise on the vocal track that sounds sort of like tape his that seems to rise and fall in volume at random is in fact the wind outside the open garage door here in Great Oak Valley. You may be able to hear some locusts in the background, too, if you listen dangerously closely.

Personnel: Rex

"The Hawk" performed by Tom Verlaine

"The Hawk" performed by Rex Broome