More about: Jeff Buckley

Arguably one of music’s biggest tragedies, Jeff Buckley burnt bright and died young, leaving behind a rich back catalogue that never gets enough praise. The estranged son of folk legend Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley’s soulful voice, incredible range and masterful covers prove that the craft was in his blood.

After the announcement that an official biopic about Buckley’s life and career is in the making, we’re diving into his discography to talk about some underrated gems..

'Morning Theft'

As one of the fully polished tracks Buckley left behind that were released on the posthumous Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk, 'Morning Theft' is an absolute wonder of lyricism. Stripped back and rejecting the traditional song form that demands choruses and climaxes, 'Morning Theft' lets the words take centre stage with phrasing that should cement Buckley’s position as one of music’s greatest lyricists. So tender and vulnerable with a simple but perfected backing, this song - and the whole of the album - shows the lyric-heavy direction Buckley probably would’ve gone in, that we sadly never got to see. And honestly, "there's no relief in this / I miss my beautiful friend" might be one of the most bittersweet breakup lyrics ever written.

'What Will You Say?'

Only a couple of live versions of this track exist, with a 1995 version from Germany being included on the 2009 live compilation Grace Around The World. But if you listen back through other recordings, you can actually hear the development of the song, written while on tour. Demonstrating Buckley’s signature range and rattling guitar climaxes with a bluesy edge, this recording captures his effortless intensity as it boils to this big pleading finish that doesn’t compromise his vocals for a second.

'I Want Someone Badly'

With the same kind of effortless sex appeal as his track 'Everybody Here Wants You', 'I Want Someone Badly' is a perfect example of Buckley’s unique voice mix of rock, blues and soul. The fullness of his voice against the horns on this track shows how a boy from California managed to pull off doing Nina Simone covers with the same ease that he tackled The Smiths.

'If You Knew'

...and talking of Ms Simone, Buckley’s cover of 'If You Knew' brings a tear to the eye. Managing to perfectly translate the classic piano ballad into a stripped back finger-picked guitar track, the cover brings out the tender, almost femininity, in his voice. The simplicity of the cover, from the You and I compilation of demos and outtakes, also feels so charged with his love of music: easy and authentic like something you’d hear coming from a heartbroken crooner in a dingy pub corner.

'Calling You'

'Calling You' is one of those songs that’s been passed around so many artists, originally written by composer Bob Telson for the film Café Bagdad. Previously performed by Céline Dion, Jeff Buckley manages to take this dramatic, soundtrack song and turn it into something bluesy, using his genes to tie it into the folk narrative tradition. This is one of the many, many covers Buckley did that feel completely indistinguishable from his original tracks, showcasing his ability to put his stamp on any song he touches. This track especially, with its long, wailing notes, feels very firmly Buckley’s as his talent snatches its original context away. Sorry Céline…

'Dream Brother'

One of the lesser talked about tracks from the iconic Grace album, 'Dream Brother' sees Buckley dip his toes into a more psychedelic pond with hypnotic guitar and dazed lyrics. Even without the context, this track deserves more attention as the spiralling lyrics of the verse climax into a punchy and confrontational chorus. But for a whole other experience, listen of Tim Buckley’s 'Dream Letter' for the full story. While Tim asks "How're you and my child?", 'Dream Brother' is Jeff’s response, written for a friend that was planning to leave his pregnant girlfriend just as Tim left him and his mother. With the context, this track becomes so powerful and heart-breaking.

'Mama, You've Been On My Mind'

Another of Buckley’s covers, this version of Bob Dylan’s 'Mama, You’ve Been On My Mind' feels so natural that it may as well be his. With his velvety smooth voice, Buckley’s version lets you focus fully on the song's sweet lyrics without the marmite factor of Dylan’s husky tone. The perfect demonstration of their mutual genius.

'Forget Her'

The final track off Grace, 'Forget Her' encapsulates that whole record. Full of anguish, the simplicity of the lyrics on this one and the way the guitar seems to trace the emotions of the song up and up to the climax is amazing. Especially if you’re listening through headphones, the intensity in the bridge when he near-screams "Well my tears falling down as I try to forget / Her love was a joke from the day that we met"...goosebump inducing.

'Sweet Thing'

There’s something about the intro to this Van Morrison cover that feels so modern, instantly transporting you to an open mic night at your local when someone gets up and the whole room is captivated. Just another incredible cover from the Live at Sin-é album, Buckley’s version of 'Sweet Thing' is almost unrecognisable from the original as he adds a kind of angst and darkness to the track.

'Yard of Blonde Girls'

Something a little different, 'Yard of Blonde Girls' strays closer to Nirvana territory with some real 90s grunge vibes. This track feels like it should be the soundtrack to the scene in a 90s movie when the girl meets the bad boy, with a steady beat topped with a more classic rock guitar tone. When we think of music’s favourite guitarists, no one ever thinks Buckley and that’s a crime, with 'Yard of Blonde Girls' displaying a whole other side of his skill. 

'Hallelujah'

Okay, hear us out. Yes, 'Hallelujah' is Buckley’s most popular song, but its power and significance is still so underrated. The Cohen cover is so beautiful that is was actually Buckley’s version that brought global success to the original after achieving little acclaim upon release. We’re so quick to skip over the well-known track, but every time you stop and listen you can’t help but fall in love over again with the simplicity of the cover, bringing so much feeling to Cohen’s deeper, more spoken-word original. 

So powerful of a cover, the hundreds of versions since Buckley’s release have adopted his style over the original, managing to seemingly eclipse Cohen with nothing but an electric guitar. Even though it’s a huge track, Buckley’s 'Hallelujah' has never quite been given the hype and respect that it continues to deserve, coming to symbolise his remarkable talent of taking songs from all genres and making them feel uniquely his in that effortless Buckley way.

A biopic featuring Reeve Carney as Buckley is currently in the works.

More about: Jeff Buckley