Great Cover Versions - Page 2

Top Cat · November 26th, 2007, 05:04 PM

Johnny Rivers, IMO a highly underrated talent, has done several great covers.

Here are a few...

Tracks of my tears
Poor Side of town.
Mountain of Love
Maybellene
Memphis
Seventh Son
Summer Rain
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
Hey Joe
Whiter Shade of Pale
Positively 4th Street
Baby I need your Lovin

jtur88 · November 26th, 2007, 05:21 PM

There are certain classics in which the song is secondary, and the rendition is the classic, particularly in country. Try to picture covers of Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee", or Wynette's "Stand by Your Man", or Ray Price's "For the Good Times" or Webb Pierce's "There Stands the Glass" or Patsy's "I Fall to Pieces" or Orbison's "Only the Lonely". Ordinary songs, but dynamite renditions.

It really bugs me when somebody comes along and does a "tribute" to Ray Charles. The only way to do a tribute to Ray is NOT mess up his songs.

DiamondDave · November 26th, 2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

4.) Another Brick In the Wall - Korn (Pink Floyd)

Sacrilege

A few that have not been mentioned.. that probably deserve to be mentioned...

Aretha Franklin - Respect (Otis Redding)
Red Hot Chili Peppers-Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder)
White Lion - Radar Love (Golden Earring)
James Taylor - You've Got a Friend (Carole King)
David Lee Roth - California Girls (Beach Boys)
The Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter (Simon and Garfunkel)

John F · November 26th, 2007, 07:05 PM

DAVID LEE ROTH'S CALIFORNIA GIRLS?!? And you called Korn's cover Sacrilege?

Speaking of Beach boy covers -- go to YouTube everyone and look for "I get around" by the Chilli Peppers. They performed this at a Brian Wilson tribute. Outside a little pelvic thrusting by Flea, the cover is pretty good

Oh, I'm not sure if I should post this or not because it's a cover of a folk song... but "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals?

DiamondDave · November 27th, 2007, 03:48 AM

If DLR did Wouldn't It Be Nice or God Only Knows, I would not have nominated it... and I don't exactly know why I put California Girls instead of his cover of Louis Prima's Just a Gigolo

And yeah... there's just certain specific songs from certain groups, and a very few groups in all that you just do not cover commercially on a record release... and IMHO Pink Floyd is one group you just don't mess with

TexasSports22 · November 27th, 2007, 05:33 AM

Ten bucks DD hasn't even listened to the Korn cover of that song.

TexasSports22 · November 27th, 2007, 05:46 AM

Just finished listening to it. It has a different, darker feel to it, but I'm really not a fan, I just don't think that style goes well with the song. However, I cam to this conclusion after actually listening to it, as opposed to DD who believes Pink Floyd ****s gold, and Korn are a bunch of untalented hacks. Besides, lets not pretend that Another Brick in the Wall is some great song. Mediocre at best.

Speaking of Korn covers, I can't think of one I thought they did well, from this to Metallica's one, their remix with Linkin Park's One Step Closer, or any others.

DiamondDave · November 27th, 2007, 06:41 AM

Nobody is saying that ABITW is Pink Floyd's opus... it is their most recognizable song by the masses.... But Floyd is one of those very rare groups that above covers... their stuff is so complex, unique, and signature, that no cover will truly do justice

Kind of like you don't cover the master works of the Beatles...

And as for Korn... yes.. untalented hacks about sums it up just right

Top Cat · November 27th, 2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondDave

Kind of like you don't cover the master works of the Beatles...

Oh i don't know. I can think of several really good covers.

Richie Havens' Here Comes the Sun for starters

dlb · November 27th, 2007, 09:17 AM

I'd say that, generally speaking, one should expect almost any cover to be better than almost any original. This is because songwriting and performing are entirely separate talents, rarely found together in one individual. There are, of course, many exceptions, but as a general rule, the best version of a song will not be by the person who wrote it.

This revelation first came to me when I heard a b-grade jazz vocalist performing Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" in a smoky bar in a small city. She and her band took that tune to places Joel may have imagined, but could not reach.

After this, I listened to Joel's Greatest Hits album and realized that every song on it would be better in someone else's hands. Imagine, for example, what a reall rock & roll band could do with "Pressure."

As time went on, I noticed that this was true of just about every song from just about every singer/songwriter. Unfortunately, we're cursed to be living in the era of the singer/songwriter; thus, there are probably thousands of great songs out there that we'll never hear performed well.

Grandstander · November 27th, 2007, 09:29 AM

Most everyone I know seemed to think that it was overproduced, but I really liked Juice Newton's cover of the Zombies "Tell Her No." My reaction was the opposite, I thought that the original was underproduced and tinny sounding, the Newton version had a lot more power.

Twisted Sister's cover of "Leader of the Pack" was a slight musical improvement over the Shangri-Las original, but vaults way up there on my list because it came with one of the funniest videos ever produced.

vtred · November 27th, 2007, 10:17 AM

The Drifters doing "White Christmas" is very nice...

Wiggen · November 27th, 2007, 12:05 PM

I have to confess to disliking Juice Newton covers generally. I thought Dave Edmunds' original of 'Queen of Hearts' and Merilee Rush's original of 'Angel of the Morning' were much better.

About 90% of Dylan covers are better than the Dylan version - and yes, I know that's sacrilege.

As far as the Beatles, I think there are people who have done very good versions of Beatle songs - Richie Havens and Joe Cocker are two that come to mind - but the originals are generally superior, mainly because most of them were written for two part - and sometimes three part - harmonies.

AlexdeLarge · November 27th, 2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiggen

About 90% of Dylan covers are better than the Dylan version - and yes, I know that's sacrilege.

I'd say flip that around to 10% would be more accurate. But if you think it's more like 90% then you my friend obviously don't listen to or understand much of Dylan's work

Wiggen · November 27th, 2007, 12:38 PM

Whatever. I'd venture to guess I listen to and understand Dylan's music as well as you do. He's a great song writer. He's a marginal/mediocre singer (and getting worse).

I do find it interesting that apparently, in your opinion, anybody who disagrees with you obviously just doesn't understand Dylan as well as you. People simply cannot reach different conclusions. A little arrogant, wouldn't you say?

.

November 26th, 2007, 05:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 7,857	There are certain classics in which the song is secondary, and the rendition is the classic, particularly in country. Try to picture covers of Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee", or Wynette's "Stand by Your Man", or Ray Price's "For the Good Times" or Webb Pierce's "There Stands the Glass" or Patsy's "I Fall to Pieces" or Orbison's "Only the Lonely". Ordinary songs, but dynamite renditions. It really bugs me when somebody comes along and does a "tribute" to Ray Charles. The only way to do a tribute to Ray is NOT mess up his songs. __________________ ------------------ When people ask what I hope to see before I die, I answer that I've already seen too much.

November 26th, 2007, 07:05 PM	#19 (permalink)
John F Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, Florida Posts: 2,510	DAVID LEE ROTH'S CALIFORNIA GIRLS?!? And you called Korn's cover Sacrilege? Speaking of Beach boy covers -- go to YouTube everyone and look for "I get around" by the Chilli Peppers. They performed this at a Brian Wilson tribute. Outside a little pelvic thrusting by Flea, the cover is pretty good Oh, I'm not sure if I should post this or not because it's a cover of a folk song... but "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals? __________________ The more they over think the plumbing, the easier to stop up the drain. Last edited by John F; November 26th, 2007 at 07:09 PM.

November 27th, 2007, 05:33 AM	#21 (permalink)
TexasSports22 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 293	Ten bucks DD hasn't even listened to the Korn cover of that song. __________________ In Internet terminology, a Fanhomer is one who has an irrational love for his team/genre of music/political views and an irrational hate for the rival team/other genre of music/differing political views and shares these thoughts in an established online community such as an online discussion forum to kill time at work. They may also talk about their job, food, wine, and coffee, and ask a mysterious "Grandstander" the answers to life most important questions. Don't feed the Fanhomers!

November 27th, 2007, 05:46 AM	#22 (permalink)
TexasSports22 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 293	Just finished listening to it. It has a different, darker feel to it, but I'm really not a fan, I just don't think that style goes well with the song. However, I cam to this conclusion after actually listening to it, as opposed to DD who believes Pink Floyd ****s gold, and Korn are a bunch of untalented hacks. Besides, lets not pretend that Another Brick in the Wall is some great song. Mediocre at best. Speaking of Korn covers, I can't think of one I thought they did well, from this to Metallica's one, their remix with Linkin Park's One Step Closer, or any others. __________________ In Internet terminology, a Fanhomer is one who has an irrational love for his team/genre of music/political views and an irrational hate for the rival team/other genre of music/differing political views and shares these thoughts in an established online community such as an online discussion forum to kill time at work. They may also talk about their job, food, wine, and coffee, and ask a mysterious "Grandstander" the answers to life most important questions. Don't feed the Fanhomers!

November 27th, 2007, 10:17 AM	#27 (permalink)
vtred Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 400	The Drifters doing "White Christmas" is very nice... Last edited by vtred; November 27th, 2007 at 10:20 AM.

November 26th, 2007, 05:04 PM	#16 (permalink)
Top Cat Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bellingham Posts: 2,309	Johnny Rivers, IMO a highly underrated talent, has done several great covers. Here are a few... Tracks of my tears Poor Side of town. Mountain of Love Maybellene Memphis Seventh Son Summer Rain Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Hey Joe Whiter Shade of Pale Positively 4th Street Baby I need your Lovin

November 27th, 2007, 03:48 AM	#20 (permalink)
DiamondDave Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MD, on the Potomac River Posts: 5,390	If DLR did Wouldn't It Be Nice or God Only Knows, I would not have nominated it... and I don't exactly know why I put California Girls instead of his cover of Louis Prima's Just a Gigolo And yeah... there's just certain specific songs from certain groups, and a very few groups in all that you just do not cover commercially on a record release... and IMHO Pink Floyd is one group you just don't mess with

November 27th, 2007, 06:41 AM	#23 (permalink)
DiamondDave Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MD, on the Potomac River Posts: 5,390	Nobody is saying that ABITW is Pink Floyd's opus... it is their most recognizable song by the masses.... But Floyd is one of those very rare groups that above covers... their stuff is so complex, unique, and signature, that no cover will truly do justice Kind of like you don't cover the master works of the Beatles... And as for Korn... yes.. untalented hacks about sums it up just right

November 27th, 2007, 09:17 AM	#25 (permalink)
dlb Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,514	I'd say that, generally speaking, one should expect almost any cover to be better than almost any original. This is because songwriting and performing are entirely separate talents, rarely found together in one individual. There are, of course, many exceptions, but as a general rule, the best version of a song will not be by the person who wrote it. This revelation first came to me when I heard a b-grade jazz vocalist performing Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" in a smoky bar in a small city. She and her band took that tune to places Joel may have imagined, but could not reach. After this, I listened to Joel's Greatest Hits album and realized that every song on it would be better in someone else's hands. Imagine, for example, what a reall rock & roll band could do with "Pressure." As time went on, I noticed that this was true of just about every song from just about every singer/songwriter. Unfortunately, we're cursed to be living in the era of the singer/songwriter; thus, there are probably thousands of great songs out there that we'll never hear performed well.

November 27th, 2007, 09:29 AM	#26 (permalink)
Grandstander Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Northern California Posts: 6,637	Most everyone I know seemed to think that it was overproduced, but I really liked Juice Newton's cover of the Zombies "Tell Her No." My reaction was the opposite, I thought that the original was underproduced and tinny sounding, the Newton version had a lot more power. Twisted Sister's cover of "Leader of the Pack" was a slight musical improvement over the Shangri-Las original, but vaults way up there on my list because it came with one of the funniest videos ever produced.

November 27th, 2007, 12:05 PM	#28 (permalink)
Wiggen Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,311	I have to confess to disliking Juice Newton covers generally. I thought Dave Edmunds' original of 'Queen of Hearts' and Merilee Rush's original of 'Angel of the Morning' were much better. About 90% of Dylan covers are better than the Dylan version - and yes, I know that's sacrilege. As far as the Beatles, I think there are people who have done very good versions of Beatle songs - Richie Havens and Joe Cocker are two that come to mind - but the originals are generally superior, mainly because most of them were written for two part - and sometimes three part - harmonies.

November 27th, 2007, 12:38 PM	#30 (permalink)
Wiggen Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,311	Whatever. I'd venture to guess I listen to and understand Dylan's music as well as you do. He's a great song writer. He's a marginal/mediocre singer (and getting worse). I do find it interesting that apparently, in your opinion, anybody who disagrees with you obviously just doesn't understand Dylan as well as you. People simply cannot reach different conclusions. A little arrogant, wouldn't you say? .