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Raconteurs with Skaggs on CMT

John — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:35:00 +0000

We’ve posted a couple of times recently about the reworked acoustic version of Old Enough from alt-rock stalwarts The Raconteurs, featuring a guest appearance by Ricky Skaggs. The video, which also features Ashley Monroe on vocals, has become a staple on CMT.

The new version is not necessarily a bluegrass arrangement, but the song certainly has a grassy flavor.

If you haven’t caught it yet, here’s the extended cut of the video.

CMT also did an interview with Jack White and Brendan Benson of The Raconteurs, and Ashley Monroe, where they discuss how this new version came to be.

Raconteurs video with Skaggs

John — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:08:03 +0000

The video Brace told us about two weeks ago of rockers The Raconteurs performing an impromptu acoustic version of their song Old Enough with Ricky Skaggs on mandolin has been released by Warner Brothers.

It runs to just under seven minutes and shows the band with Skaggs and guest vocalist Ashley Monroe recording live to 2 inch analog tape in a large studio space. Ricky and his mandolin are featured prominently throughout.

The digital single of this new version of Old Enough is available as an Amazon.com exclusive until 12/9, when it will be offered through all digital resellers. Look for the track on 7” vinyl starting 12/16.

The Raconteurs retell Old Enough

Brance — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:05:09 +0000

Rock group The Raconteurs are retelling a recent single, Old Enough. The song is from their CD Consolers of the Lonely, released in March of 2008. Old Enough was released as a single barely a week ago. The release included a live version of the song recorded at Bonnaroo, as well as an acoustic version recorded backstage at the same festival. News has just dropped that the band will soon be releasing a third version of the tune, this time featuring Ricky Skaggs on mandolin.

The original version included acoustic guitars, mandolin, and fiddle, along with electric bass and drums. This new version is scheduled for release sometime in the next few weeks and will feature Skaggs on mandolin, and country singer Ashley Monroe joining the group vocally.

A photo album of the recording session is available on the group’s website.

Here is the original music video for the tune. It’ll be interesting to hear just how different it might sound with Skaggs on board. I like that Skaggs takes on projects like this one. He’s introducing himself, and bluegrass music by extension, to a whole new group of people who seem predisposed towards acoustic music, but may not have heard any good bluegrass before.

The Raconteurs “Old Enough”