I didn’t realize Steve was covering this; thought it was his original. I really like the soul and funk of Paul’s original. I can feel his ownership of the lyrics as well. Still love Steve’s cover, but this is a great piece of work.
From Wiki Paul Pena had a respectable career with a few bumps in the road. Recorded with Jerry Garcia, Bonnie Raitt and others. Played with T-Bone Walker in the seventies. Blind at 20 years old. He received royalties for Jet Air Liner continuously for years.
Wow, I didn’t know about this guy, I’d only heard the Steve Miller version. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. He gives the song some subtle differences that make it stand out from Steve’s. I like both but I can see how Paul’s version stands on it’s own. 👍👍😄
I’ve heard Steve Miller’s version many times and didn’t know it was a cover. I actually like this version better. Great choice! Thanks John and Harri 🌺✌️
Paul Pena had some sort of conflict with the head of his label that resulted in this album not being released until 2000, even though it was recorded in '73. The producer of Pena's (then unreleased) album was Ben Sidran, and he had been a keyboard player in the Steve Miller Band. That's how Steve Miller became aware of this amazing song. The songwriting royalties that Pena earned from the Steve Miller Band version didn't keep him in mansions and super cars, but it kept him in food and rent money and at least a little bit of health care for most of the remainder of his life.
I get a little bit more out of the songs lyrics in this version than the Steve Miller Band version. Essentially, because the song is sung slower, I can hear the lyrics better. Like many others, I hadn't realized that the SMB version was a cover. Great selection!
Finally !! Now, maybe some will see why a few of us old timers were not impressed with Steve Miller's version. Miller's cover was undeniably excellently produced, for a fact. But hearing this blind blues artist, sing it the way he wrote it and felt it, surpasses Miller's technical studio production. Well, and the ole, "I heard the original first" also is a factor. PAUL PENA was bogged down in legal issues and couldn't release the recording for 30 years, that is how Miller got the unpublished recording of it.
Another Black singer/performer relegated to the back door of history because no one acknowledges their contributions to rock and roll. Sad. Thank you for kicking open the door, Hari.
Having listened to a lot of things in music, over time you realize how difficult it is to write a hit, it’s even more difficult to come up with something original in your style so that your music would fill stadiums, if you take the hall of fame, there are not many such groups that have many hits and a zest in performance that catches you.
Steve Miller recorded his version with the intention of Paul being able to make some money off of it because he had gotten a really bad deal and was pretty much broke.
You're welcome, Cynthia. I'm a big Steve Miller fan but you have to give it to Paul on this one. Pena was a an overlooked figure on the San Francisco scene in the late '60s/early '70s. He was a favorite of the Grateful Dead as well as Steve.
So glad to see the original finally get some love from the reaction people. R.I.P. Paul!!!
WOW. I have never heard this. This is sooooo GOOD. Thanks.
I didn’t realize Steve was covering this; thought it was his original. I really like the soul and funk of Paul’s original. I can feel his ownership of the lyrics as well. Still love Steve’s cover, but this is a great piece of work.
From Wiki Paul Pena had a respectable career with a few bumps in the road. Recorded with Jerry Garcia, Bonnie Raitt and others. Played with T-Bone Walker in the seventies. Blind at 20 years old. He received royalties for Jet Air Liner continuously for years.
This is great, nobody ever reacts to this.....best version
I can see why Steve Miller covered it! So bluesy! Great request, John, and great reaction, Harri!
Great ❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤
I have been begging for someone to react to this. Thank you so much, Paul was one of the greats for sure, has so many kick ass songs.
First time heard the original today.
Incredible. I thought it was a Steve Miller original. I'm learning stuff. LOL
Wow. Props for doing this one. Not a ton of people have heard it.
Wow, I didn’t know about this guy, I’d only heard the Steve Miller version. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. He gives the song some subtle differences that make it stand out from Steve’s. I like both but I can see how Paul’s version stands on it’s own. 👍👍😄
i didn't know this was a cover
It's about him making the leap from family and friends to try the big time
I’ve heard Steve Miller’s version many times and didn’t know it was a cover. I actually like this version better. Great choice! Thanks John and Harri 🌺✌️
Thanks Debbie. I first saw Paul on The Letterman Show sometime in the '90s. And he performed this with Paul Shaffer's band.
Fantastic! I like it better than the cover. Soulful vocals.
Paul was also a master of Tuvan throat singing. As you can see in the documentary mentioned below.
So funky. Love Paul. Not thrilled with that throat singing or whatever. This is the best. Thanks.
Paul Pena had some sort of conflict with the head of his label that resulted in this album not being released until 2000, even though it was recorded in '73.
The producer of Pena's (then unreleased) album was Ben Sidran, and he had been a keyboard player in the Steve Miller Band. That's how Steve Miller became aware of this amazing song.
The songwriting royalties that Pena earned from the Steve Miller Band version didn't keep him in mansions and super cars, but it kept him in food and rent money and at least a little bit of health care for most of the remainder of his life.
I get a little bit more out of the songs lyrics in this version than the Steve Miller Band version. Essentially, because the song is sung slower, I can hear the lyrics better. Like many others, I hadn't realized that the SMB version was a cover. Great selection!
This whole album is great. There's a documentary about Paul Pena called Genghis Blues - I can highly recommend it to music lovers!
Absolutely!
This song never had a chance, it was shelved by the label due to differences between the two it was not released until 2000.
Finally !! Now, maybe some will see why a few of us old timers were not impressed with Steve Miller's version. Miller's cover was undeniably excellently produced, for a fact. But hearing this blind blues artist, sing it the way he wrote it and felt it, surpasses Miller's technical studio production. Well, and the ole, "I heard the original first" also is a factor. PAUL PENA was bogged down in legal issues and couldn't release the recording for 30 years, that is how Miller got the unpublished recording of it.
Another Black singer/performer relegated to the back door of history because no one acknowledges their contributions to rock and roll. Sad. Thank you for kicking open the door, Hari.
Having listened to a lot of things in music, over time you realize how difficult it is to write a hit, it’s even more difficult to come up with something original in your style so that your music would fill stadiums, if you take the hall of fame, there are not many such groups that have many hits and a zest in performance that catches you.
Steve Miller recorded his version with the intention of Paul being able to make some money off of it because he had gotten a really bad deal and was pretty much broke.
I have to say that I prefer this version also. Just a different vibe. Thanks John and Harri.
You're welcome, Cynthia. I'm a big Steve Miller fan but you have to give it to Paul on this one. Pena was a an overlooked figure on the San Francisco scene in the late '60s/early '70s. He was a favorite of the Grateful Dead as well as Steve.