Bettye LaVette — Love Reign O'er Me (Live)
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Length: 5:22
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Only love,
Can make it rain,
The way the beach is kissed by the sea.
Only love,
Can make it rain,
Like the sweat of lovers laying in the fields.
Love, Reign o'er me.
Love, Reign o'er me, Reign o'er me, Reign o'er me.
Only love,
Can bring the rain,
That makes you yearn to the sky.
Only love,
Can bring the rain,
That falls like tears from on high.
Love, Reign o'er me.
Love, Reign o'er me, o'er me.
On the dry and dusty road,
The nights we spend apart alone.
I need to get back home to cool, cool rain.
I can't sleep and I lay and I think,
The night is hot and black as ink.
Oh God, I need a drink of cool, cool rain
Can make it rain,
The way the beach is kissed by the sea.
Only love,
Can make it rain,
Like the sweat of lovers laying in the fields.
Love, Reign o'er me.
Love, Reign o'er me, Reign o'er me, Reign o'er me.
Only love,
Can bring the rain,
That makes you yearn to the sky.
Only love,
Can bring the rain,
That falls like tears from on high.
Love, Reign o'er me.
Love, Reign o'er me, o'er me.
On the dry and dusty road,
The nights we spend apart alone.
I need to get back home to cool, cool rain.
I can't sleep and I lay and I think,
The night is hot and black as ink.
Oh God, I need a drink of cool, cool rain
Comments (63)add comment
youtube'd Bettye LaVette, Love Reign O'er Me, Highline Ballroom, NYC 5-26-10
so strong and beautiful (gotta find out who the guitarist was ; ), still, this is so one of Daltrey's epic masterpieces
The fact that we all really like the RP, does not mean having ceased to be critical sense.
I refer to some of the extracts of music and musical styles, which are not properly appreciated and valued by the listeners. And here there is some responsibility for production, that is constantly "channel" the attention, too much, for so-called "soft-rock" (that is trendy screams), and then when you try to "inject" more authors who require hearing demanding, people are surprised. And then if they are not well known authors, there exists a "shock" on the assessments and ...... same time that the production tries to arouse people's attention to authors in the areas of folk, ethnic, african, latin, world music, celtic, country, jazz, blues, etc., the ears of the some listeners seem to suffer a panic attack and momentarily fade .....
Well, it seems that the programming "ideal" would be to give equal exposure proportional to all types of music (even at the expense of losing some listeners usual, but make many others).
As an author before composing a new song, has no guaranteed recipe for success, so the radio also does not know the right recipe.
Still, I have to acknowledge (and thank) for the RP is probably making more effort to the criterion that just spur, on the international radio stations.
And you have no illusions, the majority of interested listeners, are not even registered and have never written a single line in the comments on these pages and never given a score to a song. Listen, enjoy or "stand up" in silence the arrival of "their song" and never protest.
I refer to some of the extracts of music and musical styles, which are not properly appreciated and valued by the listeners. And here there is some responsibility for production, that is constantly "channel" the attention, too much, for so-called "soft-rock" (that is trendy screams), and then when you try to "inject" more authors who require hearing demanding, people are surprised. And then if they are not well known authors, there exists a "shock" on the assessments and ...... same time that the production tries to arouse people's attention to authors in the areas of folk, ethnic, african, latin, world music, celtic, country, jazz, blues, etc., the ears of the some listeners seem to suffer a panic attack and momentarily fade .....
Well, it seems that the programming "ideal" would be to give equal exposure proportional to all types of music (even at the expense of losing some listeners usual, but make many others).
As an author before composing a new song, has no guaranteed recipe for success, so the radio also does not know the right recipe.
Still, I have to acknowledge (and thank) for the RP is probably making more effort to the criterion that just spur, on the international radio stations.
And you have no illusions, the majority of interested listeners, are not even registered and have never written a single line in the comments on these pages and never given a score to a song. Listen, enjoy or "stand up" in silence the arrival of "their song" and never protest.
PhoenixArtDj wrote:
sometimes a cloudburst is just a minor antenna adjustment away from life...
No Good! There's just some stuff you shouldn't cover, unless... Check out Pearl Jam at VH1 tribute to The Who on youtube. They know how to cover The Who!
sometimes a cloudburst is just a minor antenna adjustment away from life...
No Good! There's just some stuff you shouldn't cover, unless... Check out Pearl Jam at VH1 tribute to The Who on youtube. They know how to cover The Who!
tinamarie wrote:
sometimes life is just a minor antenna adjustment away from a cloudburst...
First time I've ever understood the words - literally and figuratively. I like it.
sometimes life is just a minor antenna adjustment away from a cloudburst...
First time I've ever understood the words - literally and figuratively. I like it.
There's a long profile of LaVette in the New Yorker this week. She sang this song for her recent big break at 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, which honored, among others, the Who. Daltrey and Townsend were there and loved her performance. But according to the article, when she was first told that this was the song she was required to sing, she wept. "The highest opportunity I've ever been offered in my life, and this is the song I've been given", she said. "I felt completely defeated". Not that she didn't make the song her own ultimately (the article describes that nicely), but I'd rather hear her sing what she calls her genre, rhythm and blues.
Rafter101 wrote:
Well, come to think of it, I didn't really like the original much either. But somehow, this version the "energy" sounds forced and there's a mismatch between the style and the content. But that's just my ear.
Think about the original of this song—-Roger Daltrey is screaming his head off throughout the entire song. Overwrought white guy. No reason why the same amount of energy shouldn't go into this version.
Well, come to think of it, I didn't really like the original much either. But somehow, this version the "energy" sounds forced and there's a mismatch between the style and the content. But that's just my ear.
socalhol wrote:
Me too. I thought we had officially voted this album to the dump.
ugh, her again...... Haven't heard her in awhile, thought (hoped) she went away. Voting this from a 2 down to a 1 now. 
Me too. I thought we had officially voted this album to the dump.
If you had never heard the original, would you like this song? Judge it on that basis. I think it's cool!
Cynaera wrote:
I'm guilty of not liking this version. But - all I've ever known was the Who original, so anything other than that has been, for me - the eternal purist - verbotten. It's difficult for me to hear a favorite song tackled by someone else - it's almost like (I was gonna write "rape," but I think "sacrilege" is a better fit.) While I just can't bring myself to love this version, I can at least now appreciate it - and also appreciate the guts it takes to attempt a different take on a classic.
I'll give this a few more listens, with my newly-opened mind. And I WON'T think of the Who - I'll take this as a new creation and rate it (or not rate it) accordingly.
Did I ever mention that I love RadioParadise because of all this music? Oh. Never mind then...
Right on Cynaera, well put. That's all any of us can ask of any other person — a chance, just a chance. Like you, that's what thrills me about RP (and its supporters are part of the calculus too), and I often struggle with new takes on old standards thanks to the barrage approach of commercial radio. I certainly appreciate your open-mind.
I'm guilty of not liking this version. But - all I've ever known was the Who original, so anything other than that has been, for me - the eternal purist - verbotten. It's difficult for me to hear a favorite song tackled by someone else - it's almost like (I was gonna write "rape," but I think "sacrilege" is a better fit.) While I just can't bring myself to love this version, I can at least now appreciate it - and also appreciate the guts it takes to attempt a different take on a classic.
I'll give this a few more listens, with my newly-opened mind. And I WON'T think of the Who - I'll take this as a new creation and rate it (or not rate it) accordingly.
Did I ever mention that I love RadioParadise because of all this music? Oh. Never mind then...
Right on Cynaera, well put. That's all any of us can ask of any other person — a chance, just a chance. Like you, that's what thrills me about RP (and its supporters are part of the calculus too), and I often struggle with new takes on old standards thanks to the barrage approach of commercial radio. I certainly appreciate your open-mind.
FlatCat wrote:
Think about the original of this song—-Roger Daltrey is screaming his head off throughout the entire song. Overwrought white guy. No reason why the same amount of energy shouldn't go into this version.
listen_n_sf wrote:
"Overwrought Gospel." Perfect! It sounds completely fake to me. Trying WAY to hard.
The overwrought gospel style just doesn't work for everything.
"Overwrought Gospel." Perfect! It sounds completely fake to me. Trying WAY to hard.
Think about the original of this song—-Roger Daltrey is screaming his head off throughout the entire song. Overwrought white guy. No reason why the same amount of energy shouldn't go into this version.
Jelani wrote:
I have this CD, but it's the first time I've heard this song here and couldn't believe all the negative comments. I think it's an original, even ballsy interpretation.
In the first few bars I thought, "Ugh, how to kill a great song", then thought "no, it's just an intro and she's gonna burst out with something smolking, heartfelt and emotional".
But now, I'm back to "Ugh, how to(totally) kill a great song".
But now, I'm back to "Ugh, how to(totally) kill a great song".
I have this CD, but it's the first time I've heard this song here and couldn't believe all the negative comments. I think it's an original, even ballsy interpretation.
FlatCat wrote:
That's my reaction too. I'm not getting any real emotion from her performance — just a lot of screaming that's touching my ears but not my soul.
listen_n_sf wrote:
"Overwrought Gospel." Perfect! It sounds completely fake to me. Trying WAY to hard.
The overwrought gospel style just doesn't work for everything.
"Overwrought Gospel." Perfect! It sounds completely fake to me. Trying WAY to hard.
That's my reaction too. I'm not getting any real emotion from her performance — just a lot of screaming that's touching my ears but not my soul.
Gatlinburger wrote:
The original is spine tingling - this is spine wrenching - which it sounds as though is happening to her.
:).
Magnificent! Spine-tingling! A voice that will be legendary! WOW!
The original is spine tingling - this is spine wrenching - which it sounds as though is happening to her.
:).
In the first few bars I thought, "Ugh, how to kill a great song", then thought "no, it's just an intro and she's gonna burst out with something smoking powerful and emotional".
But now, I'm back to "Ugh, how to(totally) kill a great song".
But now, I'm back to "Ugh, how to(totally) kill a great song".
No thank you.
Magnificent! Spine-tingling! A voice that will be legendary! WOW!
A good (and different!) rendition of one of my favorite songs.
S-curvy wrote:
Well, I really enjoyed this version of the great rock classic, so I'm a little disappointed to see all the negative comments on this blog. Fortunately, for fans like us, we have 2 things going in our favor: 1) the internet, and 2) known and respected critics who also think well of it. Looky what I found on Bettye's Amazon page:
"Produced by BETTYE, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others, before concluding right where the very idea for INTERPRETATIONS started: BETTYE’s visceral show-stopping rendition of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” from the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, which appears here as a bonus track.
Hey neigh-sayers, have you ever heard of Pete Townsend? He's the guy who wrote the original song — if it's good enough for Pete, it's good enough for me.
I'm guilty of not liking this version. But - all I've ever known was the Who original, so anything other than that has been, for me - the eternal purist - verbotten. It's difficult for me to hear a favorite song tackled by someone else - it's almost like (I was gonna write "rape," but I think "sacrilege" is a better fit.) While I just can't bring myself to love this version, I can at least now appreciate it - and also appreciate the guts it takes to attempt a different take on a classic.
I'll give this a few more listens, with my newly-opened mind. And I WON'T think of the Who - I'll take this as a new creation and rate it (or not rate it) accordingly.
Did I ever mention that I love RadioParadise because of all this music? Oh. Never mind then...
Well, I really enjoyed this version of the great rock classic, so I'm a little disappointed to see all the negative comments on this blog. Fortunately, for fans like us, we have 2 things going in our favor: 1) the internet, and 2) known and respected critics who also think well of it. Looky what I found on Bettye's Amazon page:
"Produced by BETTYE, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others, before concluding right where the very idea for INTERPRETATIONS started: BETTYE’s visceral show-stopping rendition of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” from the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, which appears here as a bonus track.
That performance – which first brought BETTYE together with Stevens (the event’s producer) and Mathes (its musical director) – served notice that BETTYE is no mere singer. As an extraordinary interpreter of song, she doesn’t merely mold a piece of music to suit her tastes; she is a conjurer of deep, emotional truths:
“Bettye LaVette punched a hole right through her version of Pete Townshend’s ‘Love Reign O’er Me,’ letting all the song’s emotion pour out in a way that its creators never conceived,” observed the New York Daily News. Townshend himself came up to Bettye after her performance, took her hands into his and said, “You made me weep.”"
Hey neigh-sayers, have you ever heard of Pete Townsend? He's the guy who wrote the original song — if it's good enough for Pete, it's good enough for me.
I'm guilty of not liking this version. But - all I've ever known was the Who original, so anything other than that has been, for me - the eternal purist - verbotten. It's difficult for me to hear a favorite song tackled by someone else - it's almost like (I was gonna write "rape," but I think "sacrilege" is a better fit.) While I just can't bring myself to love this version, I can at least now appreciate it - and also appreciate the guts it takes to attempt a different take on a classic.
I'll give this a few more listens, with my newly-opened mind. And I WON'T think of the Who - I'll take this as a new creation and rate it (or not rate it) accordingly.
Did I ever mention that I love RadioParadise because of all this music? Oh. Never mind then...
listen_n_sf wrote:
"Overwrought Gospel." Perfect! It sounds completely fake to me. Trying WAY to hard.
The overwrought gospel style just doesn't work for everything.
"Overwrought Gospel." Perfect! It sounds completely fake to me. Trying WAY to hard.
This should not be compared, because it is so different.
It shows this song can be sing another way
And I really like it
It shows this song can be sing another way
And I really like it
lattalo wrote:
I agree this is fantastic! The basis for all rock and roll, blues!
Well, I really enjoyed this version of the great rock classic, so I'm a little disappointed to see all the negative comments on this blog. Fortunately, for fans like us, we have 2 things going in our favor: 1) the internet, and 2) known and respected critics who also think well of it. Looky what I found on Bettye's Amazon page:
"Produced by BETTYE, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others, before concluding right where the very idea for INTERPRETATIONS started: BETTYE’s visceral show-stopping rendition of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” from the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, which appears here as a bonus track.
Hey neigh-sayers, have you ever heard of Pete Townsend? He's the guy who wrote the original song — if it's good enough for Pete, it's good enough for me.
I agree this is fantastic! The basis for all rock and roll, blues!
Well, I really enjoyed this version of the great rock classic, so I'm a little disappointed to see all the negative comments on this blog. Fortunately, for fans like us, we have 2 things going in our favor: 1) the internet, and 2) known and respected critics who also think well of it. Looky what I found on Bettye's Amazon page:
"Produced by BETTYE, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others, before concluding right where the very idea for INTERPRETATIONS started: BETTYE’s visceral show-stopping rendition of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” from the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, which appears here as a bonus track.
That performance – which first brought BETTYE together with Stevens (the event’s producer) and Mathes (its musical director) – served notice that BETTYE is no mere singer. As an extraordinary interpreter of song, she doesn’t merely mold a piece of music to suit her tastes; she is a conjurer of deep, emotional truths:
“Bettye LaVette punched a hole right through her version of Pete Townshend’s ‘Love Reign O’er Me,’ letting all the song’s emotion pour out in a way that its creators never conceived,” observed the New York Daily News. Townshend himself came up to Bettye after her performance, took her hands into his and said, “You made me weep.”"
Hey neigh-sayers, have you ever heard of Pete Townsend? He's the guy who wrote the original song — if it's good enough for Pete, it's good enough for me.
Everything can be revisited and Roger is just an icon, not a deity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettye_LaVette
Its amazing to me that anyone would make the attempt to cover this song. I kind of like it, but now it is hard to go on without a rebuttal from Roger.
I appreciate the opportunity to hear this track by a musician unfamilar to me.
But I don't like it.
(eta: Then again, I'm not wild about the original, either)
But I don't like it.
(eta: Then again, I'm not wild about the original, either)
3rd times the charm I guess. 
YourNameHere wrote:
Precisely.
I appreciate the effort, but I can't listen to this.
By the way, can we add "Make It Stop" to the rating choices? (Maybe instead of "Sucko Barfo")?
By the way, can we add "Make It Stop" to the rating choices? (Maybe instead of "Sucko Barfo")?
Precisely.
ugh, her again...... Haven't heard her in awhile, thought (hoped) she went away. Voting this from a 2 down to a 1 now.
Zigi wrote:
Agree...The tough thing for her is, the original is so powerful I don't think I would be happy with anyone's cover. If she had done it originally with no Who version it would be very nice actually. Very soulful.
Not working for me at all, yearning for the Who original right now. In fact I may just have to put it one just to get this out of my head.
Agree...The tough thing for her is, the original is so powerful I don't think I would be happy with anyone's cover. If she had done it originally with no Who version it would be very nice actually. Very soulful.
So good and so fake.
Not working for me at all, yearning for the Who original right now. In fact I may just have to put it one just to get this out of my head.
I appreciate the effort, but I can't listen to this.
By the way, can we add "Make It Stop" to the rating choices? (Maybe instead of "Sucko Barfo")?
By the way, can we add "Make It Stop" to the rating choices? (Maybe instead of "Sucko Barfo")?
Ok, I'm in. . .
This is awesome... I love it more everytime that I hear it. And it's "live"? Wow!
Being a long time (30+years) 'Who' fan, I was all set to hate this rendition, but.....it's ok.....different, but ok.
akousa wrote:
I agree this is fantastic! The basis for all rock and roll, blues!
I'd bet my house that Townshend prefers this version to the Who's.
I agree this is fantastic! The basis for all rock and roll, blues!
I tried to like this; honestly. But, all the trying in the world cant make this anything i want to listen to again.
This is ok in small (very) doses but after a bit it just sounds like a bad night club act
Just glad to see some play for Betty LaV .... let's hear some more from this songstress before we wail on her wailing too much. Gotta find some play space for these soulful singers to add to the mix of Bjorks and Bushes and the like... Keep the CD handy Bill.
Wrong. Just plain wrong. Furthermore, If she DID sound like Tina (which she doesn't), it would be a major improvement. Probably still not good, but an improvement.
Cruzan wrote:
. . . or any celebrity singing the Star Spangled Banner: " . . . and the home of the . . . . . . . . . Bray-he-hay-he-hay-he . . . . HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY-VUH!!!"
. . . This seems waaaayy to "overstylized" and "oversung" to me.
It kind of reminds me of those horrible save the world "supergroup" songs where all those stars were trying to out sing each other and the result was crap that sold anyway because of the names involoved.
It kind of reminds me of those horrible save the world "supergroup" songs where all those stars were trying to out sing each other and the result was crap that sold anyway because of the names involoved.
. . . or any celebrity singing the Star Spangled Banner: " . . . and the home of the . . . . . . . . . Bray-he-hay-he-hay-he . . . . HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY-VUH!!!"
While I really enjoy crossover interpretations like this......
I am not feeling Bettye LaVette, This seems waaaayy to "overstylized" and "oversung" to me.
It kind of reminds me of those horrible save the world "supergroup" songs where all those stars were trying to out sing each other and the result was crap that sold anyway because of the names involoved.
Randy Crawford did a cd similar to this one called "naked and true"
some incredible remakes there that did not lose their integrity to "style"
I am not feeling Bettye LaVette, This seems waaaayy to "overstylized" and "oversung" to me.
It kind of reminds me of those horrible save the world "supergroup" songs where all those stars were trying to out sing each other and the result was crap that sold anyway because of the names involoved.
Randy Crawford did a cd similar to this one called "naked and true"
some incredible remakes there that did not lose their integrity to "style"
I'd bet my house that Townshend prefers this version to the Who's.
Love it - she was interviewed on 'Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me' this weekend and was delightful.
Play The Who's original. This is a HORRID remake 
...i totally thought this was marianne faithfull at first...
Sorry, I'll be a dissenter here. Something about the strained vocals that just doesn't work for me.
(edit - having seen the prior post, I'd have to agree)
(edit - having seen the prior post, I'd have to agree)
That there is some tortured wailing.
I thought it was Tina, too! I think this is great!
The overwrought gospel style just doesn't work for everything.
No thank you. It sounds like she's trying to sing it like William Shatner.
I would have bet cash money this was Tina Turner.
Hmmmm...I don't know if I love it, or if I hate it.
pass
jonahboo wrote:
So do people who write everything in caps.
Especially when they are so WRONG.
NOW THIS ALBUM SHOULD'VE ROCKED - BUT IT SUCKS!
So do people who write everything in caps.
Especially when they are so WRONG.
This is pretty dang good!
What an interesting take on a favorite song of mine. Manages to convey the same yearning that Daltrey has when he sings this.
Love it!
NOW THIS ALBUM SHOULD'VE ROCKED - BUT IT SUCKS!
Who would have guessed that a remarkable singer such as Ms. LaVette could turn this into a torch song? What an amazing talent.
Damn!
...that is all.
...that is all.
Tina, is that you?