The Slow Drag

MCII is available now on Merge

MP3: Mikal Cronin - “Weight”

Junior Parker seized two hits during his brief stint on Sun Records: "Mystery Train" and "Feelin' Good" -- the later pacifies sinister feelings and goes full-tilt boogie. Here Jr. casts his velvet smooth vocals up and down this rock 'n roll landmark. Sit back, a wild ride awaits.

MP3: Little Junior's Blue Flames - “Feelin' Good”

MP3: Kanye West - “Black Skinhead”

Slim brings the pain, handling The Man in Black's take on the big house with flawless justice. You don’t get the infectious boom-chick-a-boom from Johnny Cash's penitentiary shakedown, but this reworking delivers a dose of rousing stovepipe soul; a rave-up, complete with the Bayou state bluesman’s sly nasal drawl, creeping slide assault and horny squalls of Harpo’s trademark swamp groove. Jailhouse rock for your hips.

MP3: Slim Harpo - “Folsom Prison Blues”