Jeff Beck and ZZ Top - Ernie Ford's SIXTEEN TONS
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- Опубліковано 28 кві 2012
- This song is dedicated to the other 98%. Let's go out and get the Vote!
GET YOUR MOJO WORKING • GET YOUR MOJO WORKING ...
SUSIE Q • SUSIE Q - John Fogerty...
JIMI HENDRIX 12 STRING BLUES • JIMI HENDRIX 12 STRING...
The Real Life • THE REAL LIFE - INDIVO...
![Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven (Live at Earls Court 1975) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ly6ZhQVnVow/mqdefault.jpg)
Tennessee Ernie Ford released this big hit in 1947, nearly 10 years before the birth of Rock and Roll.
It's fantastic not only to see ZZ Top's innovative cover, but the great respect, credit, and tribute they show to the talented man most of their audience likely never heard of.
And I believe the song was written by the great guitarist Merle Travis!
It was a favorite in our house growing up.
Uh...THAT'S NOT ZZ TOP!
Merle Travis, who wrote the song, released it in 1947. Tennessee Ernie's great cover was released in 1955!
@@longtallsambo Yes, first written and released by Merle Travis in 1947, Tennessee Ford did not cover it till 1955.
My grandfather Al Hepler was an underground coal miner, he died as a miner did ... of Black Lung.
His sacrifice powers our family to this day.
The true meaning of 16 tons and it’s cost; so embodied in this classic song is not lost on us.
Thanks for keeping this song and the work of miners in mind.
Thank You Grandpa Hepler with all my heart !
Never Forget !
One of my earliest and saddest memories is of watching my own grandfather die of black lung as well. He worked the mines from the time he was twelve years old right up until a few years before he died. He earned his living with a shovel in his hands and managed to support his family the only way he knew how. He passed on about sixty years ago but needless to say he will be with me until we meet again.
My grandfather was a coal miner. Never knew him. Died (black lung) before i was born.
James, I am very sorry you lost your father to that terrible disease. Thank you for your short tribute to him. My father was not a miner & he lived a full life. The 2 ways I honor him are through my dedication to baseball & my gratitude for our military. He served 22 years in the Army.
He was just a miner ,thousands of them died hacking up a lung . 🫁
Sorry for your loss, I lost my grandpa to black lung in 1998
We found a Bronze Star hidden in his drawer after he passed. He never mentioned it or the war. What a Generation
For the record the young lady playing bass is Tal Wikenfeld, she is well regarded session musician and bassist, she has played including Gibbons and Beck, but also Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Herbie Hancock, Todd Rundgren, and others
Thanks for the info.
Quite a talent
@@MrJohnnyDistortion And cute too!
Thanks for the info
Thanks for this. For a minute i thought that was kaitlin denver. Thats eve baxter from last man standing
Sublime. This is what rock is all about. Not mocking the old ones or trying to be better but paying tribute and moving it on.
Hell yeah!
100%
Just keep on keeping on, people!!!!
Fuck Covid
Screw Putin
Just live your life by the sermon on the mount...
Be kind
And love your Mom
The instrumentals fit ZZ Top. The tune and the tempo of the vocals stay pretty true to the original. I was on a bit of 'Sixteen Tons kick and came across this. I'm impressed. I also like the inclusion of Tennessee Ernie on the big screen.
Agree 100%!
I always considered '16 Tons' one of the ultimate blues songs. Love Ford's version, and I love this one, too. It's a song that should never become buried or forgotten.
Do you like Johnny Cashes version?
It was written and originally performed by Merle Travis. Ford covered it.
@@noahleek9696 I didn't know Johnny did a version now I'm going to have to look for that thanks for the info
I've got a 45 of Ernie's version.
@@stevendallman8938What it meant was the most important.
That's great that they had Tennessee Ernie on the screen behind them. It was his trademark song and I am old enough to have seen him sing in on his variety show! Great job by the band. Tal looks so good in green -- or anything (-:
Tal is beautiful.
Tal is great
Huh ? Tal looks better in nothing.
I didnt think Tennessee had a beard. Wow, there are a lot of prerecorded midi tracks sneaking through the console. I thought Billy was out of that stuff in the 80's with Sharp dressed man and fake drums and keyboards in the studio. I think the vocals are prerecorded too, but its hard to tell singing through a distortion box. Very cool song.
+DucksDeLucks Before I was born I was listening to CW with Buck Owens Ernie & laughin' my butt off at Minnie Pearl's antics *in Beautiful black and white.*
Ernie Fords version is probably my earliest musical memory of my life. I am now 77. I must say I like this version sang with such grit.
I've always liked 16 tons but this takes it to a whole new level. This is, honestly, the best cover of the song that I've ever heard.
Try the Eric Burden version in the movie Joe vs the Volcano. Good stuff too.
I could not disagree more.
@@adameckard4591 very cool, thanks for the tip
It's ZZ Top, you know it's going to be legendary!!!
I wonder what they could do with 'Big John'...
Hey All. I'm Merle Travis's daughter and have to say this is a wonderful rendition of my Dad's song. Love it & love all the comments! If any of you knew him or met him. I would love to hear from you.
Cindy Travis
Tony2581 No, I live in So. Calif. where I was born, and where Merle lived when he was married to my mom, June Hayden, &was recording for Captiol records back in 1952. Thanks for the compliments on my Dad's music.
foda-se
cindy travis - Cindy, my dad always said that your dad was the best one-man band ever. My dad was a great guitar player but he always marveled at Merle's guitar work. Dad's been gone close to 40 years now but I still enjoy listening to the great songs from Merle Travis.
He's credited with the fingerstyle Travis picking. He played banjo too, didn't he? He's a Legend of Rock Country Pop and he influenced TONS of us. everyday.
cindy travis Much Love and Respect !!
i am so glad SOMEONE realized this song should not die!
great music never dies
Magnificent 😎🏇✌️ giddy up
MANY of them , EARNED BLOOD, SWEAT, SORO, TEARS-
Along with ROCK AND ROLL will never die
Minneapolis band "thw=e April Fools" cover it. ua-cam.com/video/lCVYW6EPivw/v-deo.html
Thanks to my Dad, I learned this song by heart, though I spoke no English. Now I speak English and am listening on my computer. The first time I heard this song was on my dad's record player in the early 50's. Love this rendition. Been coming back to it for a few years now.
Welcome proud immigrants who want to assimilate and prreserve their heritage. You're in short supply these days especially the last three.
@@davidanderson8469😂🇨🇦🇺🇸🌐🎶
Tennessee Ernie Ford! That took me back to the DAY! Jeff Beck and ZZTop . . . what a combo! 😁👍👍👏👏🥂🥂
Why are so many of you leaving out Tal in your compliments?
Now that was ONE HELL OF A TRIBUTE. Freaking awesome.
the working man's song...Rush did a good one too....
100% agree ❤
Isn't it amazing how good songs can be interpreted many ways while sounding fresh. Ernie might have liked that.
Ernie would be applauding the interpretation. This is brilliant.
Ernie would have bowed before Billy and thanked him!
Considering it wasn't Ernie's song to begin with, he would've enthusiastically agreed.
“Tennessee” Ernie would have LOVED that cover, trust me! 👍😁
OH YES HE WOULD !!!✌
It doesn’t get any better-Brother Billy and JB playing one of the most iconic songs ever recorded together.Thanks for posting.👍✌️
Brilliant! CAHG.
Two of the best guitarists in history playing a great song it doesn't get any better.
Oddly enough this works very well and I'm old enough to remember the original.
Me too
Nothing odd about it. Greatness works. I Liked Tennessee Ernie myself unashamedly.
Me, too. On both counts.
Yeah. I had my doubts but I clicked on it anyway. Mighty glad I did!
Yes it does I was amazed
Tennessee Ernie Ford stood in my front yard and sang this song for us in Mt Vernon IL in 1963-4. :)
Tennesee Ernie Ford's room mate in college was our neighbor, Dr George Waters of Mt Vernon IL. Ford came for a visit. No bologna here... :0
His college room mate was my next door neighbor, Dr Geo Waters, DDS. Doctor Waters arranged a meet and greet and admonished one and all to not ask him to sing. Naturally, my Mom said "sing 16 Tons" and he very graciously started patting his thigh ala Buck Owens and sang the chorus for us.
So there you have "the rest of the story"...
PS: He drove an Eldorado with steer horns that mooed, and passed out silver dollars to us kids.
:)
Ernie didn't make it to McLeansboro where I lived in 64/65 but, Jimmy Dean did and we were fans of the two. On a side note ,our family doctor was the infamous Dr. Cavaness and my grandmother worked at the Methodist Children's Home with Rev. Paul Motzer in Mount Vernon.
Moved to my. Vernon in 88. Didn't know Tennessee did that. What an Awesome memory. Way COOOL
someone poured a bottle of washer fluid on the snowman in my yard and he started singing I'll have a blue christmas. ☃️
Very cool that Ernie Ford himself was on the screen!
Loved this version.
Realized I've been intently listening to--and hearing music for fifty years. This rendition gave me chills, it was soooo good. They set the beat so, that Billy totally lip synced with Ernie, and he never looked backward to even see it. These are professionals, at the top of their game.
This made the hair stand up on my neck. I watched Tennessee Ernie Ford sing this on his daytime show years and years ago. They did it just right.
Billy is quite possibly the coolest man to ever walk the Earth.
if you see me comin' better step aside...
Keith is
Cool, yes. Cooler than Jeff (or Keef)?
Agreed
Earth?
I never thought I would live to see Ernie's song this way. Love it, and was pleased to see the screen with Ernie.
Like others have said, they took a very good song, and made it even better. Two of the greatest guitarists in history, make it even greater
This version is top-notch folk rock but as for the song itself there's no way to "make it even greater." The thumbnail notwithstanding, it's Merle Travis's song not Tennessee Ernie's - and it's an awesome song whether it's performed by Ford, Travis, Doc Watson or ZZ Top & Beck.
EDIT: I think I heard a terrific rendition of it by Big Bill Broonzy too.
Giving away my age here, but I've had the good fortune of seeing Tennessee Ernie Ford, Jeff Beck and ZZ Top all perform live during my lifetime. Watching this brings a smile to face and a tear to the eye at the same time!
Do you have the t-shirts to prove it?
@@jamesbenedict7206 we don’t need no stinking t-shirts. We got grey hair and wrinkles. 😘
@@jamesbenedict7206 They didn't do t-shirts back then.
@@DLRyoung I was completely gray at 20. I was 17 in the photo by my name. It was taken over 50 years ago.
@@DLRyoung Amén. Preach it, brother.
Jeff Beck always looked like he was having such a good time when performing live! RIP my friend
I remember my mom listening to Ernie Ford sing this song by Merle Travis. She'd dance around the room clicking her fingers like she was all that! And now thanks to Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons I'm rockin' it around my living room snapping my fingers! This is by far one of THE best tune-ups of an already awesome song that I have ever heard! Ernie Ford singing it on the backdrop -perfecto!! It's now on every one of my playlists. Thank you all
I was born in 1954, and I remember watching Tennessee Ernie Ford on Canadian TV singing Sixteen Men so many times, always great, such a performer.
It is a real skill to make a song like that sound good coming out of a 1960 vintage 4" oval speaker. Tennessee, you're remembered fondly. (And your technicians did a great job too.)
This song is awesome to begin with. Telling the story of hard working miners way up in the hills who barely got enough pay to begin with and then had spend it in the stores owned by the mining companies. Hence “owe my soul to the company store”
Also works as a metaphor for postmodern capitalism.
Unions
Great tribute to "The old pea-picker" from beautiful Bristol, Tennessee. As everyone knows, this song was originally written AND recorded by the legendary guitarist Merle Travis ten years before Tennessee Ernie did it in 1955.🎸
It is still played on WSM once in a while.
I loved the original since I was a kid , heard some covers and this is the best one I’ve heard yet!
Agreed! 💯
don harrisson
Damn as a trucker for over 35 years and still listening to the old trucker music all I can say is Damn that was very satisfying. Smokin hot 🔥. Just might have to jam down the highway with that tonight. Com on
This just blew me away, I am old enough to remember the original and this rendition was simply great
Yep knew this was Tal, I’ve admired her for a while. Love listening to her play the blues. Incredibly talented!
I like the chugging, relentless groove, exactly the way to play it. Like a coal mine with its machines and miners, always going.
So cool, a masterpiece with the key Tennessee Ernie Ford on the screen singing it in sync with Billy! Classic act!! All class
what a great video!!!!!! such a class act showing ole Tennessee Ernie Ford doing the original on the big screen. SOOOOOO COOOLLLL!!!!!!
Fords version is not the original. Merle Travis wrote and sang it .. Ford had a hit with it.
Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons…what a concert that would have been! Love their version of 16 Tons! 🤘🤘
Not to mention Tal Wilkenfeld and I forget the drummers name.
Just saw them in Dallas on 9/24/22. JB was one of the opening acts, and came out and played a couple of songs with ZZTop at the end of the show. it was just magical!
@@dmeachy Vinnie Colauita
99% of the folks commenting here don’t realize that Ernie Ford’s recording of this song was a cover tune. Merle Travis wrote it in ‘46 and released it in ‘47. That’s 8 years before Ernie’s cut. Now… I get it. The 55 version is stellar and iconic as a vocal performance goes but can we give some props to the creator? The guitar wizard that was Chet Atkins’ hero? Mr Merle Travis.
Heart warming and touching to pay homage to a song created by Merle Travis, brought to fame (and iconic status) by Tennessee Ernie Ford, and kept alive for more generations by ZZ Top.
The immortal Sixteen Tons, great song from a great legendary songwriter Mr. Merle Travis!
A little useless trivia: Jimi Hendrix once said Billy Gibbons was the best guitarist he'd ever heard, and when Jimi first arrived in London the one guitarist he wanted to meet was Jeff Beck.
Well done, and thanks for your comment. Few people appreciate the Reverend Willy G’s greatness.
Rest In Peace , Jeff Beck - 24 June 1944 - 10 January 2023
Two of my favorite guitarists. What a pairing. Also never realized how this could easily be a ZZ Top song. Matches their style.
Wow. They did it. I was skeptical when I saw the title, but they did old Ernie's trademark proud!
I remember Tennessee E Ford everybody in the mines zzz top too coool
Amarrillo by morning
Really? You didn't think 2 of the finest guitar players in the world could pull off a simple 3 chord song?
J.Mark....
RoadRunner 69
Minneapolis, Minnesota
AH.......actually i think its a four chord song..........just sayin'
I watched Tennessee Ernie Ford with my grandma back in the 50's. I always love this song especially. ZZ Top was my favorite group in the late 60's as I graduated High School, I discovered the beautiful sounds of Jeff Beck while serving in the Army in the 70's, I'm 65 yrs.old in the 15's and I feel like I just discovered musical history, Gal-dang that tune rips me to pieces
Tal is AWESOME. R.I.P. Jeff. The greatest guitarist EVER. 🎸🎸🎸⚘⚘⚘🕊🕊🕊
Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, and ZZ Top, still killing it. I enjoyed the hell out of this. Awesome job. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍💣💣💣💣💣💣💣💣😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😎
Not ZZ Top. Just Billy Gibbons playing with Jeff Beck's band.
My grandpa was a miner in West Va. I know the reality of this song. John Henry Stout Sr. Thank you for your love to me your grandson Tony
I keep going back to this and blasting it in my truck. Great job. Jeff is a blessing to any stage he walks on. Can put on a show anywhere anytime and make you dread having to leave.
I first heard the original in 1955, I was thirteen and it probably set the scene for my taste in music from then on. This version is fantastic. I´ve never forgotten the words.
@Phillip Walker I very well remember the version they used to play on the American Forces Network radio in what should have been the year 1956. Of course, I did not get the meaning of lines such as "... another day older and deeper in debt" although I could translate the words. Only many years later did I learn what the company store system was all about. Nonetheless unforgotten song, perhaps exactly because its lyrics were so mysterious back then.
The Rev, Beck, and Tal. This kicks ass.
Playing, together. No dueling. Fantastic cover.
Wow I just came across this gem. Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons rocking it out with a very cool old classic song. Sometimes UA-cam can be surprising in a good way.
I bought Sixteen tons when I was 12 years in 1953…..I still play it to this day…All though I do not know who these people are playing this…THANK YOU…. x
Version of the song it really kicks butt. I love how Billy Gibbons is literally just growling it out I love his growling vocals
The way rock is supposed to be, thanks Billy. The old one's never get old no matter how you play them, well done 👏 👍.
After listening and watching at least a dozen times … I’ll enjoy another dozen or two more. This kicks ass!
You’ll not see two greater guitarists on stage together ever. Great rendition of great song.
Look up the UA-cam video with Glen Campbell and Roy Clark.
Tal on bass is quite the guitar player too
A beautiful tribute.
Song is older than the bass player and 99% of the audience and is still simply awesome.
bouncer71cp Their beards are older than that bass player.
@@mwm48 hahahahahahahaha!! 😂
@@mwm48 Now you made me laugh. LoL. Good shot.
The song is older than Billy Gibbons too.
@@Guitarplayer724 I was going to say that this song maybe be older than him and Beck.
If anybody could do that song proud it would be Billy,Jeff, & Tal. 3 of the greatest guitar players of all time. Each have their own claims to fame & play awesome together as well.
That was certainly a version of an old Ernie Ford classic hit I never expected to hear but being a big time ZZTOP and Jeff Beck fan , I got to say I loved it 😊😅😮😂❤😂😊
Great version of this classic!!! Never tire of this song. Thanks for posting.
excellent song written by Merle Travis ,made famous by Tenesse Erne i Ford but this Billy Gibbons version is great!
Man that was amazing. I have never heard ZZ Top do anything bad
Fan as I am about Billy. Was this not a Beck production? And possibly best pick up ever? Who is the bass player? Not to mention the drummer? This was next level.
Yes, this is Billy doing a guest spot with Jeff Beck's band (Tal Wilkenfeld on bass, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums)
A bunch of musical monsters together on that stage.
Who is the bass player in the green top . Talented musician
@@randybeeman7823: Tal somebody. Scroll up to see discussion about her hotness.
Awesome, incredible, mind blowing, I bow down to Jeff Beck for his inspirational arrangement of this song who after hearing Pete Gibbons from ZZ Top perform it with Jeff Beck and his amazing band - and no-one better could have done this song so proud - best version ever - love it and it will have it in my play list forever - my body just wants to dance and groove every time I play it - should be more of this - Go ZZ Top and Jeff Beck
The Tennessee Ernie Ford version was the very first song I heard in my life as a kid in 1963. This new version kicks ass.
Many don't know that, while Tennessee Ernie Ford got the HIT and the Gold Record for it, the song was originally Written by Merle Travis in 1947, "...which included a recitation explaining the premise of the song." (Wiki..) “KjierstenSedDat!!!!” ❤
How could 40 people not like this. They are either brain dead or in the Walton family. Powerful song. I remember when Ernie sang it. I guess that's 'cause I'm an old fart. It seems like every few generations, at least in the US, people need to pay heed to that song.
one awesome version! This is bad to the bone! rest in peace Tenn. Ernie Ford!
This is badass
Yassss 🎸🪄⛏️🎩🎯Last time I saw ZzT, my belt and his guitar strap were matchymatch. I'm easily thrilled. TEFord rocks. Double entandra! 🎼🎶🎶🎶🎶🤜🤛
16 Tons -- One of the first soulish songs I ever liked as a child. From a 45rpm that belonged to my father.
Along with Bid Bad John
@@kenhoyer8601 also the legend of John henry
Wow that blew me away!,
RIP Jeff Beck you kicked ass!
Such a wealth of music from the past to reinterpret and bring alive. And, it should be kept alive. Great job!
For me personally this is awesome Tennessee Ernie Ford still being honored decades later. From Bristol TN pass by his home a lot. About 15 minutes from my house.
And love the song father was a coal miner and relate a lot.
As a kid I remember Ernie singing this. Loved it then, and hearing Billy and Jeff do it here I love it just a little bit more.
That was awesome! I love the single high note repeated on the guitar throughout most of it, like this menacing beeping. Really creative take on Sixteen Tons.
I think of it more like a sledge hammer hitting rock in a coal mine ie, the 16 tons of coal.
Gives it almost electronic feel!
Don't know how I missed this until now absolutely great and through it all they are having such a lovely time gonna have to have this on repeat always liked the song very cool to have the screen showing Tennessee Ernie Ford singing it as the backdrop RIP Jeff
I unload trucks at walmart n this is our anthem
+dsfeltman468134 This an anthem to everyone who works like a dog for a living.
+dsfeltman468134 FORM A UNION DUMMY!!!!
+The Infinity Frisbee You're screaming that he's a dummy merely because he has a job at Walmart. Try organizing a union yourself; its easier said than done, particularly at a giant corporation like Walmart. For all you know, the person you called a "DUMMY" might have been working on organizing for years; one doesn't just hold one meeting with a few friends and come out with an instant successful union for a huge anti-union employer.
In other words, for making your stupid assumption and screaming out an insult of a hard working employee based on it, you're the dummy.
The AMV TOP 50 Yes form a union, so they can take your money and "invest" it for you by paying their bloated administration, and get you no benefits that the law hasn't already got you
"Dummies" don't talk, and yous guys are just jabbering' away. If one makes too many assumptions, though, they could be "stupid" or perhaps "careless." I'm gonna send "Mother" (Mary Harris) Jones out to set you two straight.
This is one of those songs that cannot be played loud enough
This song has been around my whole life and it is one of my "comfort" songs in my play list when I am floating around home. Nice to hear a version that brings a smile to my face. Love it 😀😀😀😀😀😀
I had that treat a number of years ago, Jeff Beck playing with ZZ Top in South Florida! That was one of the most amazing shows I ever went to, Jeff Beck was a musical genius far ahead this time! We will miss him sorely! Safe Journeys Jeff!
More like Jeff Beck and band, backing Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top ~~ Great cut, thanks for posting !!
Great rock version, love how it matches up with TEF
That was just great to watch I seen these guys in concert and they rock the house. Proud to say I was there! All the young people tell me we had all the good rock and roll and they were right they still play it today.
My grandmother loved TEF. Her brother lived just a few miles from his birthplace and now I do as well. I also love this song and appreciate this tribute to show the heaviness of the song and especially the lyrics. BTW. I grew up in the coal country of WV and reside in TN.
27 years under ground retired coal miner , love it !!!
"BLESS YOUR PEA-PICKEN HEART!" Simply an Outstanding Arrangement of Tennessee Ernie Ford's Signature Song! LOVE IT!
This song never be an old.
Outstanding cover.
The first time I heard this version was 2 or 3 years ago. I had just waked up in the morning & found that a page I follow on FB had posted it. I was about half asleep so nothing distracted me from watching/listening. My comment on FB was W.O.W!
I was born in '56 and this was my first favorite song on the, then, AM radio. It's a true classic and this is a worthy tribute!
how badass is this!
What a great ode to a Tennessee Ernie Ford classic that was a huge hit for him back in the 50’s. Jeff and Billy did an awesome job bringing this song back again…just awesome 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Both a great song and a warning from history.
This is 16 Tons on steroids. I always liked the original version but this supercharged version is even better.
p Engle This version is hands down better!
Wow
Old enough to have grown up with Tennessee Ernie Ford....he'd be proud as hell!
Its supposed to be a durge.. and frankly was no closer to death before this performance than after..
However if you look up dirge you might understand the irony of your statement, and mine..
There are only a few that can remake these old songs and make them GOOD. George Thorogood did it with "Six Days on the road" The Stray Cats with "Lookin' out my back door" just to name a couple.
I'm one of the few people alive today, whom shoveled 3 tons a day. The day I quit I threw the shovel, and watched it fly thru the air with amazement. I had no idea I was that strong. I was memorized, watching that shovel fly. You keep working in a little 5xwhaterever space, and never realize you can just walk away, until you walk away..
Only 3 or is that a typo? I used to move 8 tons of shoes in an 8 hour shift.(distribution)
Hell when I was 14 I'd shovel 3 tons of dirt, gravel, or firewood per day as a mix of my usual home chores and paid landscaping, and I was pretty average size.
@@mytech6779 While I shoveled, it fell down the shoot. You had to walk away to breath.
Fantastic . I love it glad I ran across this!!!
Absolutely LOVE this rendition. The Rev. Billy Gibbons just brings that swampy blues tone that makes it even more hard hitting!