Exclusive Premiere: Leslie Mendelson Shares ‘Blue Bayou’ Cover Featuring Bob Weir

Singer-songwriter Leslie Mendelson will issue a new album entitled Love & Murder on April 14 via Royal Potato Family. JamBase is pleased to premiere a cover of “Blue Bayou” featured on the LP, which was recorded with special guest Bob Weir.

Produced by Mark Howard, Love & Murder marks the long-awaited follow-up to Mendelson’s 2009 debut album Swan Feathers. The 10-track sophomore LP features seven originals co-written with Steve McEwan, alongside Mendelson’s arrangements of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like A Woman,” Jimmy C. Newman’s “Cry, Cry Darlin’” and Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou.”

Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir was recruited for the cover of “Blue Bayou.” Here’s how Mendelson detailed the recording process:

The collaboration came about the week that Dead & Company started rehearsing at TRI. I had been working there a lot over that period and they made me an Artist in Residence. While Dead & Co. was wrapping up I was hanging out in my studio and just messing around with the old Roy Orbison song, “Blue Bayou.” I sang it for AJ [Santella], who is Bob’s guitar tech, and he said that was one of his favorite songs. Shortly after, Bob came in and sat down. He loved it and suggested that we record it in the main studio. We took our guitars, set up a couple mics and sang it live. I love the spontaneity of the track. I’m glad it found a home on my record.

Follow this link to pre-order Love & Murder and listen to Leslie and Bobby’s cover of “Blue Bayou” exclusively below:

Love & Murder Tracklist

1. Jericho
2. Coney Island
3. Murder Me
4. Chasing The Thrill
5. Crazy
6. Blue Bayou (Feat. Bob Weir)
7. Love You Tonight
8. Just Like A Woman
9. The Circus Is Coming
10. Cry, Cry Darlin’