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Martha and the Muffins
For What It's Worth (download single)
Popguru - 2024
Michael Panontin
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Stephen Stills' iconic 'For What It's Worth' was recorded on Dec. 5, 1966 in response to protests on the Sunset Strip the previous month and rush-released just five days later while the memories were still fresh. It has often been misinterpreted to have been written about the Vietnam War or even the Kent State shootings (which is really strange given that the latter didn't take place until 1970).
Perhaps that's why so many people have covered it - the SecondHandSongs site lists 144 - and in so many different ways. The Staple Singers charted a soulful rendition in 1967 (#46CAN), Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 scored a top-10 hit three years later with their tropical jazz interpretation, and the UK dance group Oui 3 sent their rap version all the way to #3 in 1993. (For those inclined to do some YouTube digging, check out the Litter's late-psych burner from their 1969 LP Emerge or the Voice of East Harlem's rousing gospel send-up from their debut Right On Be Free.)
Now Mark Gane and Martha Johnson have upped the total to 145 with their own dark and brooding interpretation. Gane had this to say: "Stephen Stills' poignant lyrics are more relevant than ever. Gun violence is an ongoing societal blight, a perverse virus perpetuated by hypocrites mouthing their meaningless recitations of 'thoughts and prayers'."
'For What It's Worth' was recorded at the Web in Toronto and released in Jan. '24. Especially unsettling is Jason Cipparrone's black-and-white video showing a man and a woman nonchalantly walking around Toronto with giant revolvers as heads. Astute Torontonians will recognize The Only Cafe and Kop's Records in the city's east end. And equally astute listeners would do well to give this new Martha and the Muffins record a listen.
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Martha and the Muffins
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