MOKB Covers Project Redux : Dark End Of The Street

Written by Chips Moman and Dan Penn and originally sung by James Carr in 1966. Carr, born in Mississippi, recorded in Memphis for the Goldwax Label and is widely considered one of the best soul singers of his era, alongside Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin. He discovered music through the sound of gospel, listening to artists such as Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers. Along with Dark End Of The Street, Carr is best known for his other hit A Man Needs A Woman.

Carr battled drugs and alcohol, as well as stints with manic depression and was hospitalized in a mental health facility. This was sadly evident during a tour of Japan in the 1970s when he froze in front of an audience following an overdose of antidepressants and had to cancel the remainder of the tour. He had almost disappeared entirely, but started performing again on rare occasions in the early 1990s, often working with Tyrone Davis or Otis Clay. Carr had suffered from lung cancer for many years, and died at the age of 58 on January 7, 2001.

I know Eels, Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, Gregg Allman, Don Dixon, Eva Cassidy and Elvis Costello have also covered this classic tune. If you have these or any other version and could send them in, I'll get them up for everyone to enjoy.

James Carr - Dark End Of The Street

My Morning Jacket - Dark End Of The Street
Frank Black - Dark End Of The Street
Percy Sledge - Dark End Of The Street
The Afghan Whigs - Dark End Of The Street
Aretha Franklin - Dark End Of The Street
Diamanda Galas & John Paul Jones - Dark End Of The Street
Richard & Linda Thompson - Dark End Of The Street
The Commitments - Dark End Of The Street
The Flying Burrito Brothers - Dark End Of The Street
The Moving Hearts - Dark End Of The Street
J. Blackfoot - Dark End Of The Street
Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham - Dark End Of The Street
Charlie Wood - Dark End Of The Street
James Thunderbird Davis - Dark End Of The Street
Lee Hazelwood & Ann Margaret - Dark End Of The Street
Terry Evans - Dark End Of The Street
The New Standards - Dark End Of The Street
Rico Bell - Dark End Of The Street
Prince Buster - Dark End Of The Street
Billy Brag - Dark End Of The Street (Live)
Linda Ronstadt - Dark End Of The Street
Dolly Parton ft. Porter Wagoner - Dark End Of The Street
Eva Cassidy - Dark End Of The Street
Dorthy Moore - Dark End Of The Street
Elvis Costello - Dark End Of The Street