ABWÄRTS “MOON OF ALABAMA” (1979)
written by Bertolt Brecht; set to music by Kurt Weill (1927); popularized by The Doors as “Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)” (s/t, 1967) and David Bowie (b/w “Space Oddity (Acoustic Version), 1982)
cover version available on Computerstaat (Zick Zack, 1979)
Abwärts are (still ?!) a German Neue Deutsche Welle (new wave)/post-punk band. Members later went on to join Einstürzende Neubauten. I just heard the Doors’ version of this song for the first time earlier today, and while both version have their charm, I’d have to say the Doors’ cover is infinitely better.
That said, Computerstaat is an incredible record—really, anything from Zick Zack’s catalogue is (personal picks: Palais Schaumburg, Geisterfahrer, Die Tödliche Doris, Front, Die Raderer, Ti-Tho, so on and so forth until infinity). Do yourself a favor and find EVERYTHING you can from this era.
more on Abwärts at Abwärts’ official website (in German)
