My Top 2000 Songs #1061: Speeding Motorcycle

Much like Bob Dylan (or, as more recently noted on these pages, Richard Thompson), the late Daniel Johnston is an artist I generally prefer as covered by others. To be sure, there is a unique magic and sadness in the original, typically lo-fi recordings from Johnston himself, both his endless naivete and mental illness reflected in his brazenly outsider anti-art. But many artists have successfully unearthed small gems within the songwriting once the novelty act voyeurism is stripped away.

None have done this more so than Yo La Tengo, who, on 1990's Fakebook, comprised primarily of unplugged covers, convert Johnston's "Speeding Motorcycle"--originally included on Johnston's 1983 self-released cassette Yip/Jump Music--into something poignant and durable. (And, with all due respect to Johnston, listenable.) The toy organ of the original is swapped out for gentle acoustic guitar-picking, not far afield from Big Star's "Thirteen," and Johnston's metaphorical motorcycle of his heart is given room to roam.

Yo La Tengo:

Daniel Johnston original:

Johnston, with backing band, live in 2010:

Yo La Tengo, live on the radio with Johnston calling in:

Mary Lou Lord:

Ben Lee: