When You Wish Upon A Star - Joe Henry

Heigh Ho, this is Boyhowdy from Cover Lay Down, the folk-themed cover song blog. Kurtis invited me over (thanks, Kurtis!) to bring y'all a folk cover of a Disney song, if I could find one; I found plenty, but our prolific and well-informed host had heard most of 'em. By process of elimination, then, the gift I bring today is JOE HENRY'S simple, elegant version of When You Wish Upon a Star.

Henry is one of those alt-americana artists; over a twenty year career, he's moved from the country camp through Jazz, and more recently into collaborations with Louden Wainwright III and production gigs for folk and blues artists from Bettye LaVette to Teddy Thompson. He has been compared to Tom Waits, though his voice is much clearer; both have found a cohesive sonic space with its own rules, and both tend to wrap lyrics around tempo to create a lush environment for even the simplest songs.

This version of When You Wish Upon A Star is a little ditty that clocks in at just over two minute long. But though it uses the same sweeping strings and bells we remember from the original, Henry's interpretation swings the vocals a little more, and this -- plus his great slightly raspy voice -- bring a subtlety and wistfulness to the song that really makes it shine.

I found today's cut -- plus Bonnie Raitt's wonderful version of Baby Mine -- on the kids album MARY HAD A LITTLE AMP. It's worth getting, especially if you're as sick of the Wiggles as I am.

(If you like Joe Henry, by the way, keep your eyes on Cover Lay Down for a great cover of Pale Blue Eyes I'm saving for a Lou Reed/Velvet Underground post in the next few months. Now how's THAT for a shameless plug, folks?)

When You Wish Upon A Star Joe Henry 2004