I don't understand why everyone is on him about doing a Jorma Kaukonen tune? Every artist is inspired by someone else's stuff & most do other's tunes they enjoy playing, at least he doesn't lie & call it something else & say he wrote it like some do.
Wow, have listened to this song from Kotke since it first came out and I also remember when Surrealistic Pillow came out with this tune on it. I LOVED the Jorma version, and to be honest I NEVER put two and two together, that Kotke was actually doing a version of the original. I don't pay attention much to the tittles of songs, evidently. As much as I love Kotke, I like the 'song' that he plays, but I can't even compare it to the original, two different songs. He could have named his tune a different title and I don't think anyone would have caught on. I've loved both versions for multiple decades, since I was a kid....when I was into bothe musicians and I NEVER would have guessed that Kotke was doing a version of the original....yeah, he could have gotten away with calling his version something completely different and I don't think any copyright attys would have come after him since the 2 versions, to my ears bear no resemblance to mention.
I don't see any comparison....and if he wanted to not have to pay royalties to Jorma he could have named his version of Embryonic anything he wanted because to me it's an entirely different song from Jorma's. I saw Kotke in the 90's after I missed him by a hair in VT many years earlier. I was SO disappointed when I saw him in a very small NH town in an outdoor venue under a tent like thing. I was so hoping he would play a lot of songs from his original album and don't remember him playing one....was so disappointed in his performance. I think he was just winging it to such a small crowd in the sticks of NH. My hero lost his stripes that day....though I still love his albums....wouldn't see him in person today...or maybe I would....he's getting a lot, lot older now so doubt he will be performing for much longer if at all now since he already had issues with some type of arthritic issue with one or both hands which made him change his way of playing even many years ago.
My uncle showed me this tune - we share the same birthday - he brought a guitar to me when I was little - I still think this is an awesome tune - I'm 43 and my uncle is older!
I was just watching 'The Rookie' for a lack of anything better to watch while multi-tasking, low and behold and what did my wandering mind and ears see and hear, but a version of this tune in the background... and I said to myself, that sounds like my wandering minstrel friend, Leo... love to you, wherever you may be.
Wow man! A total polarization of opinion. Yes, this song is Embryonic Journey. Leo could easily go on stage with Jorma and there would be a solid performance of the song. Jorma's own approach to the song has shifted over the years.
I agree with the nay sayers. He buries the melody and misses the mood of the original entirely. While the original is light and soars this version is rhythmically stiff. And the machine drums are simply awful.
Sherri-Lynn White hahaha love that one. I was just driving home from working night shift playing Leo & pondering how much it would cost to fly the man himself out here to Australia for the annual family hootenanny. If I could I would.
Kotke is either really honest by nature or is just paranoid about copy right infringement because Jorma's version and Kotke's aren't remotely identified with one another. He could have easily called this tune, blow fish tomorrow or Tuesday...or pick one of his inane titles that he typically uses for his song titles.
