The original version was recorded by Little Richard backed by Johnny Otis in 1953 but not released until later.  It was covered by the Mothers of Invention led by Frank Zappa.  Their version featured Don “Sugarcane” Harris on violin and vocals.  It’s on the album Weasels Ripped My Flesh which has an amazing cover by Neon Park.  The album was released in 1970 but this track was recorded in 1969.

Little Richard (1953)

The Mothers of Invention (1970)

Here’s a much longer version of the Mothers cover with a long guitar solo. It was recently released on The Hot Rats Sessions.

The Dark End of the Street was written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman in 1966.  The original (and probably the best and most famous) version was released by James Carr in 1967.  Percy Sledge also released a version in 1967.  It has been covered numerous times and I have attached links to YouTube below.  It was used in the 1991 film The Commitments.  Co-author Dan Penn released a version in 1994.

James Carr (1967) with harmony vocal by Dan Penn 

Percy Sledge (1967)

The Flying Burrito Brothers (1969) 

Aretha Franklin (1970)  

Ry Cooder (instrumental) (1972) 

Linda Ronstadt (1974) 

Richard and Linda Thompson (1975) 

The Commitments (1991) 

Dan Penn (1994)

Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham live (date unknown)

‘Elvis was as pilled up as me!’ Dan Penn on writing hits for Aretha, Otis, Dolly and more https://t.co/YM2nEcU5cA

— Guardian US (@GuardianUS) March 4, 2024

Fiddlin’ John Carson recorded “Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Them All” in the early 1930s.  I first heard the song (as “Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All”) on Ry Cooder’s terrific 1972 album Into the Purple Valley.  Cooder moves the music into the electric age while preserving the Depression Era theme about mistreatment of the farmers.  While preparing this post, I also found a 1959 version by the New Lost City Ramblers which is much closer to Carson’s original.  Here are all three versions.

Fiddlin’ John Carson

New Lost City Ramblers

Ry Cooder