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Up The Chain covers the Lawsuits "You Won't Love Me If You Don't" for #CoverClub - A special brand of Philly covers

The final #CoverClub entry from Nomad Recording Studios session 2.0 is here at last.  We're proud to present Up The Chain covering The Lawsuits.  Rounding out an intense line-up of Sean Hoots covering Boyz II Men 'It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday', DRGN KING's Dominic Angelella covering the iconic Dead Milkmen, and The Bernhardt Family Band covering Toy Soldiers, Up The Chain takes on the most challenging cover of the session.

Originally known as "Walk You Home", the song was originally a track by the Lawsuits frontman Brian Dale Allen Strouse on his solo release Peace, Turkey!, "Walk You Home" is one of many love songs written by Brian Strouse through the years and featuring Brian on piano with a little harmonica.  Unfortunately, the song was not well-known as the album was overshadowed by the more successful Lawsuits release Darleen, put out in the same time period.  

Here's the original track by Brian Dale Allen Strouse

Last fall the song emerged re-born and re-titled as "You Won't Love Me If You Don't", the final track on the Lawsuits LP Cool Cool CoolVanessa Winters handles the vocals, turning in a dominant effort that is only improved upon when taken in live in-concert.   (Although the best recorded version found so far is from their Daytrotter session)

Check out the Lawsuits version on Cool Cool Cool


When the Up The Chain session was scheduled, The Lawsuits had already been featured with Ron Gallo covering "Anybody's Girl" and Chelsea Mitchell covering "Fine Quality (Coffee Flour Sugar Tea).  And of course, we had Brian Strouse & Vanessa Winters covering Ween.  For some folks that might be a little bit of overkill.  The original plan was to have a temporary ban on The Lawsuits songs, even if they were the reason Root Down In The Shadow started covering local bands in the first place.


Reed Kendall, the driving force behind Up The Chain, initially took it in stride thinking of other songs.   A day or so later, Reed asked again about the Lawsuits, indicating we'd be remiss not to allow this cover.  Although it would be a challenge to even consider standing up against Vanessa's version, it was hard to argue against that kind of determination.  So, here we are after a two month break from any Lawsuits covers; Up The Chain with an impressive and beautiful version of "You Won't Love Me If You Don't"

Harkening back to the original with Brian Strouse on piano, Reed sat at the studio Wurlitzer and let the beauty of the song take over.  Ignoring the lyric sheet nearby,  Reed Kendall played the beautiful melody with an innate ease.  Taking the piano parts from the original and keeping the new lyrics and crescendo at the end of the recent version, Up The Chain makes a rendition that resonates all on its own. 

Cover Club | Up The Chain ' You Won't Love Me If You Don't' (The Lawsuits)

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