Cortez The Killer

I've been into this song for the past couple days since seeing Jennifer's mention of the DMB/Warren Haynes cover in Central Park on that amazing comment thread at newcritics.

Here's Dave and Warren doing their thing. I watched this on the DVD and as great as YouTube is, watch it on the DVD if you can.

And after seeing that, I had to go check out the real thing on YouTube. My favorite is this rendition from the Rust Never Sleeps tour. I saw that tour at the Boston Garden and it's in my top ten shows ever. Neil does this little reggae thing with the "he comes dancing across the water, Cortez Cortez" line. It's great.

Comments (13) | Posted March 14, 2007 in My Music

Comments

Built to Spill has a great version on its live album.

Posted by: scott partee | Mar 14, 2007 5:35:05 AM

I'm sure you already know Amy Winehouse but I love this song (Rehab) so much, I had to post it just in case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD5sahXoj0U

Posted by: David | Mar 14, 2007 6:57:18 AM

Too funny, I just came back to that song after a bit of an absence. I've always been partial to the version from Weld.

Posted by: Derek | Mar 14, 2007 8:54:08 AM

best song in the entire concert.

Posted by: jeremy | Mar 14, 2007 9:27:50 AM

One of my favourite Neil Young tracks ever - almost never heard here in Oz ... you know it was banned in Spain (obviously offended at the thought that Cortez may NOT have been universally well-liked)

Posted by: Ric | Mar 14, 2007 9:47:00 AM

I love this jam!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: preston | Mar 14, 2007 9:56:05 AM

Finally, some DMB on A VC! Here's another great version of Cortez the band played with Warren this year at Randall's Island.

Posted by: Martin Gordon | Mar 14, 2007 10:02:26 AM

Dave also performed Cortez at Neil's Bridge School Benefit back in 2000 ... with Neil joining him onstage. Amazing!!

Posted by: Dave Hyndman | Mar 14, 2007 10:05:39 AM

I saw the same Neil Young / Crazy Horse tour at the Nassau Coliseum. I believe the reggae riff was "dancing across de water, mon." In my top 3 shows.

Posted by: JayR | Mar 14, 2007 12:12:16 PM

absolutely must second the comment about the Built to Spill version of this Neil classic...

Posted by: Matt Robinson | Mar 14, 2007 12:42:05 PM

I too saw the Rust Never Sleeps show at the old Boston Garden and it is one of my top 5 concerts. This song is always great, but it seemed better during this show. I could listen all night long to Neil do this and Hurricane, with a little Pocohnontas thrown in.

Posted by: Mel | Mar 14, 2007 11:03:54 PM

Second Dave's comment on the Neil / Dave version at the '06 Bridge School. That was the highlight of the show for me. Couldn't find a full version on YouTube but this is about 90 seconds of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCi-7LP_SVw

Posted by: Neil Berkman | Mar 15, 2007 4:01:47 AM

I second the Built to Spill version. It's awesome.

-beach

Posted by: David Beach | Mar 15, 2007 7:28:20 PM

A VC

Musings of a VC in NYC