California, a current sonic vehicle driven so deftly by Les Fradkin, is on a roll. Having recently put their own spin on iconic songs such as “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Good Vibrations,” they continue with the reimagining of classics with the Fradkinization of Bob Dylan’s “The Mighty Quinn.”
Many music fans will be more familiar with the Manfred Mann reworking rather than the rawer, folkier Basement Tapes original, and it is that, poppier version that this new release seems to use as its reference point.
California’s take feels warmer, partly due to the benefits of modern production, but perhaps mainly because of the band’s more West Coast sonic sensibilities. This sunny, slightly psychedelic vibe, which worked perfectly for their earlier take on arguably the Beach Boys‘ most famous song, also adds a perfect sonic sheen here.
It’s a balancing act between capturing the authenticity of the original and bringing something new to the table, something that California has always been good at, and something that they excel at here.
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