Boy, I was in the music zone last night after playing a gig and having much post-gig fun, eventually settling down on the couch to wind down with some music DVDs.
I was primed to watch the Wilco film "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" but wanted a little Derek first, so I popped in "Midnight in Harlem" from the Crossroads 2010 DVD, as I have always thought this was the best version of the song I have heard.
This performance just utterly crushes me. I think it's a great song in EVERY version I have heard, mind you - it lands in Susan's sweet range, the band really grooves wonderfully, and Derek gets nice room to move at the end. However, this one is filmed and recorded so very well - the whole DVD is great like that - and the band absolutely knocks it out of the park. Derek's solo spot before the song kicks in is a spiritual meditation. When the drums and organ enter, it is such a soulful sound. Susan caresses the words, and Oteil really gets nimble on the bottom end. The backing vocals are really sweet too.
The whole thing builds and builds; it carries me away every time. But that solo that Derek takes just moves the whole thing to another level. It is just a great example of his channeling all of his influences and OWNING them, wielding them to create something that none of them would have put together. Stellar.
I watched the song 3 times in a row, utterly unwilling to stop watching it. Freaking great. Having it on a large screen TV and playing LOUD certainly helps too!
LOVE that version Jim. I have had the same experience watching that version - over and over and over. I also think that the Don't Keep ME Wonderin is awesome off that disc as well.
I thought this was the definitive version of MIH until I heard the version on the live disc from TTB - that is the one for me! Wish they videotaped that one!
I'm in agreement about the Crossroads version of Midnight in Harlem. It is a masterpiece.
I saw it broadcast in the movie theatre when Crossroads highlights were shown in advance of the DVD's release. It was amazing on the big screen with high end sound. There is a cool version uploaded that includes some comments from Susan & Derek from the DVD afterward:
I need to listen to the live album version because it never grabbed me like the Crossroad rendition. I wish the TTB had just released the Crossroad version on their debut album instead of recording a new, more mellow version.
And on a different but related note, that debut album could have included this amazing version of Don't Drift Away from Wanee 2010 and it would have elevated the whole affair....somehow this gem just got buried as a .mp3 bonus to their second disc (and listen to the two dTb lead singers, Javier & Mike harmonizing together):
if we can stay on this crossroads fest and let me repeat myself, i think the groove for this DKMW is smooth. warren looks a little jealous that he's not playing.
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axsTV channel has a TTB show on rotation. On this morning followed by GAB at Sturgis.
It's interesting, but everyone in my family and in my band absolutely LOVES this song and they ALL state that Crossroads 2010 is their favorite version (and their favorite TTB song, too)! My girlfiend's daughter even keeps asking me how to play it- I'm gonna have to relearn it now!
Several versions of the song have touched me deeply. Love the tune.
Let's here it for Bill Murray also what a riot 
IMO what separates that version of 'Midnight In Harlem' from all recent ones is the tempo that they play it at. They have slowed the pace of that song down since then and I think the Crossroads version's tempo is the perfect tempo for that song. IMO they have slowed it down too much.
