Swamp Dogg recorded a cover of "Rocky Raccoon" -- from the Beatles' self-titled 1968 double-LP commonly known as The White Album -- for his recently released album, Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St., only the track didn't make the album's final cut, Music Times can reveal.
However, a source tells Music Times that the recording may eventually be released on a deluxe version of the album or a B-side in the future. We've heard Swamp's version, and we can report that he does it justice.
In a strange coincidence, Beyoncé also famously covered a song from The White Album. Her version of "Blackbird," retitled "Blackbiird," was announced days before Cowboy Carter was released in March, and was praised by none other than Paul McCartney himself, who noted that he was inspired to write the song over the struggle for civil rights.
Swamp Dogg had no idea that Beyoncé had recorded -- or had plans to record -- a cover of the Beatles song from The White Album when he recorded "Rocky Raccoon," during the sessions for Blackgrass that occurred about two years ago.
Like Beyoncé, Swamp Dogg is receiving praise as a Black artist making country music, with NPR's Ken Tucker recently calling Blackgrass one of the best country albums of the year. Swamp has a long history tied to country music, as Music Times reported in its recent feature on the legendary singer, songwriter, producer and record company executive.
While the Beatles aren't usually associated with the genre, the band did dabble with country music. Aside from "Blackbird" (which is actually more of a folk song) and "Rocky Raccoon," the Fabs famously covered "Act Naturally," originally a hit for Buck Owens, with Ringo Star on vocals for the Help album in the U.K. and Yesterday and Today in the U.S.
Other Beatles recordings with a country influence include "Baby's in Black," their cover of Carl Perkins' "Honey Don't" (both from Beatles '65 in the U.S. and Beatles for Sale in the U.K.), "What Goes On" from 1965's Rubber Soul, and "Don't Pass Me By," a Ringo-penned tune also from The White Album.
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