Elliott Smith - Between The Bars

Elliot Smith performing his song "Between The Bars," date unknown.

Much of the discussion about Elliott Smith concerns his unhappy demise - suicide or murder? It's good to remember what a phenomenal songwriter and guitarist this troubled man was. "Between The Bars" is a case in point, and this pared-down version, in my opinion, defines the song in a way that the full-band version from "Either/Or" (1997) does not.

The mark of a great song is whether or not it lends itself to a diversity of interpretation and arrangement. We need look no further than Madeline Peyroux's swirling, smoky version for confirmation. Smith's slightly awkward waltz is transformed into a dark, jazzy slow burner, and it's a perfect fit.