Need this on streaming services ASAP.
On a star-studded night featuring the likes of Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, Megan Moroney and many more during CBS’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville, Eric Church may have single-handedly stolen the show with a killer medley of “Take Me To The River” and his 2009 hit, “Smoke A Little Smoke” live from his Nashville bar, Chiefs.
If you’re a fan of Church, you’ll know that the “Springsteen” singer is no stranger to covers. Whether it’s his knockout covers of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “The Ballad of Curtis Loew,” Willie Nelson’s “Me and Paul” or Guess Who’s “American Woman,” Church has covered a ton of ground musically over the decades.
For those unfamiliar with the track, “Take Me To The River” was originally recorded by soul singer, Al Green, back in 1974, earning a placement on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2004 as well as a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. It would later become a Top 30 hit for the rock band, Talking Heads four years later in 1974.
In typical Church fashion, he absolutely crushed the cover, putting his signature soulful vocals to good use. Despite both songs having such striking differences in the studio, he blends them together expertly here. It’s nothing short of a must-listen.
He would later follow the medley up with a slowed-down, acoustic rendition of “Springsteen,” which seemed to be a theme throughout 2024 for the North Carolina singer/songwriter.
Watch “Take Me To The River/Smoke A Little Smoke,” as well as “Springsteen” here: