The Story of Another Riff

In September and December 2010, I presented a number of songs built over the same riff. This is quite a common phenomenon. Easy to come by just about sums it up. The good thing about that is that if you like one of the songs, you will probably like a few of the others. In this spirit, I'd like to present the story of another riff.

The Beatles - Blackbird

Written by Paul McCartney early one morning in 1966 in the back garden of his house at Cavendish Avenue.

Eva Cassidy - American Tune

Composed by Paul Simon in 1975 and sung by Eva Cassidy, it is difficult not to be moved by American Tune.

Keb' Mo' - I'll Be Your Water

From the 2005 album Suitcase, the song is an interesting mixture of the melodies of Blackbird and American Tune and the motif of Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water.