Daniel Johnston EXPERTS - Walking The Cow performance...

[dejected]

Okay - let's have some investigative fun.

http://www.hihowareyou.com/temp/wtc.mp3

Alternate versions of "Walking The Cow" are rare, and here is a recording of Daniel along on some cheap organ banging it out
My question to you who know a little about Daniel and the history of the early albums, what do you think?  Is this Daniel reminiscing the song and trying to remember the lyrics?    Or is it Daniel making up the lyrics and writing the song for the first time?   Is the organ the same chord organ used in the final version?   What do you think?.  Then tell us your reasons for your conclusion - that will be the most interesting part.

[Disfranchise]

first of all, when I listened to the song I was surprised by the sound quality. It sounds much more professional in this version and the "organ" he plays sounds more like a keyboard/synth than the organ thing he used to play on.  I know that Daniel have been playing on synths or somekind of electric piano for atleast 10 years (maybe more).
I also get the feeling that it's been a long time since he played the song and therefore can't remember all of the lyrics.
All this put togheter makes me pretty sure that it's been recorded sometime 1990 - 2004. Ofcourse I am just guessing but that's my conclusion.

[dbeefy]

Wow, first of all I liked that keyboard sound. Well I'm no expert, a slightly informed fan perhaps..

I'd say that it was definitely recorded after Hi How are you , maybe at a time when Daniel was preparing for some more pro-level recording (just since the keyboard does sound like a step up from that beloved chord organ..) -late 80s/early 90s? (during that first 'brush with fame' - that might make sense since he does seem to be 'trying to remember..')

Performance-wise, there are some lovely bits when he seems to 'get it back'.

[cheddarcat]

just from the sound quality of the keyboard i'd say it's gotta be post-Hi How are You--it's definitely not the little chord organ. & his voice sounds like somewhere around 1990 or Fun era, to me.

[Strest]

Have you tried asking Daniel?

JT

[dejected]

Oh, you want me to TELL you?   Why, and spoil the fun?

These are good comments, but inconclusive.    The use of an organ other than the famed chord organ means he wasn't in his brother's garage.

[Strest]

Oh, you want me to TELL you?   Why, and spoil the fun?

These are good comments, but inconclusive.    The use of an organ other than the famed chord organ means he wasn't in his brother's garage.

Ah okay I missunderstood and didn't realize you already knew..  Nevermind..  

[dsulpy]

Thanks for the brain teaser (and even more for the alternate WTC )... He's either playing an electric piano, or some kind of cheap keyboard that's imitating a Fender Rhodes ... more suggestive is the sound of the recording itself... the keyboard sounds "in-line" and the tape is in stereo... but his voice sounds relatively young still... something recorded during the sessions for "Artistic Vice" maybe?

Doug

[dejected]

Oooo.   I missed the STEREO part - is that right?   That seems like it must be very telling.

[favorhouseatlantic]

i voted AFTER, but on second thought, it might be someone else covering it or something. it's not hard to mimic his voice. yeah, i change my vote, i say it's not even him.