Great Cover Versions - Page 3

Grandstander · November 27th, 2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiggen

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.
.

I agree with you concerning Merilee Rush, but I didn't even know that "Queen of Hearts" was a cover, I never heard any other versions.

Wiggen · November 27th, 2007, 01:33 PM

The Edmunds version is pretty obscure in the U.S., although it was a hit in England. It came out in 1979 and is on his 'Repeat when Necessary' album. Juice's version came out a couple of years later, and I will admit that her version is pretty close to Edmunds' in terms of my likability.

Not so with Merilee's 'Angel of the Morning', which I think is a superior version in almost every respect.

John F · November 27th, 2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat

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

Richie Havens' Here Comes the Sun for starters

There's nothing wrong with someone covering the Beatles. There is nothing wrong with changing the arrangement of a Beatles song to make it your own either. I've heard of violent reactions to it happening, though... Sorta like people getting all pissy when the Star Spangled Banner isn't played in the British-drinking-song version that it was written to mimic.

Ringo Starr said, during the Beatles Anthology videos, that Beatle songs were great because there were different ways to do them or everyone can make them there own. That's the truth. The problem is that Apple Corps LTD and Sony Music (Michael Jacksons lawyers) want every penny they can get if someone covers a Beatles song. It protects the "Beatles Myth"

I'm not saying I'm looking forward to some rap version of "She Loves You" with graphic lyrics inserted and such... But having the songs see the light of day for the classics they are... Go to it. Lennon/McCartney is one of the greatest writing tandems in music history - we shouldn't treat them like their music is untouchable though.

Wiggen · November 27th, 2007, 06:22 PM

Agreed. Although Michael Jackson should be severely punished for the commercialization of some of them.

I enjoy hearing different interpretations of those songs - I went to see the movie 'Across the Universe' and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I did not find those interpretations superior to the originals, however.

John F · November 27th, 2007, 06:37 PM

I've looked up a lot of covers of "Yesterday" in the past. While I love the original -- all the others tend to feel like they are dragging. Elvis covered it, Ray Charles covered it... George Harrison did a version of it too. All of them embellished too much.

Speaking of Elvis and speaking of making a song your own -- UB40, "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You".

Wiggen · November 27th, 2007, 08:37 PM

Speaking of Elvis, I really liked Dwight Yoakum's version of 'Little Sister'.

Grandstander · November 27th, 2007, 08:58 PM

Speaking of Elvis, some of his earliest smash hits were covers. "Hound Dog" was originally a Willie Mae Thornton recording in 1952, "Blue Suede Shoes" was Carl Perkins recording in 1955.

Wiggen · November 27th, 2007, 11:09 PM

That would be "Big Mama" Thornton, a fine blues singer. Suffice it to say her version of 'Hound Dog" was distinctively different from that of the King's.

As I recall the Carl Perkins story, he was badly injured in an automobile accident at about the time his version of Blue Suede Shoes came out. In fact he was in the hospital for a long time, and recalled laying in his bed watching Elvis perform his song on television.

Perkins was, of course, a big influence on the Beatles - especially George Harrison - and they recorded two of his songs and helped to resurrect his career.

Ahh, rock and roll trivia. Completely useless information that somehow just sticks in the mind.

TexasSports22 · November 28th, 2007, 12:03 AM

Metallica's Whiskey in the Jar, originally done by Thin Lizzy.

AlexdeLarge · November 28th, 2007, 04:48 AM

"People simply cannot reach different conclusions. A little arrogant, wouldn't you say?"

You could say that

Stevie Ray Vaughan doing Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - just as good as Jimi Hendrix

John Lennon's Stand by Me is far better then whoever did it first

heyterry · November 28th, 2007, 07:07 AM

I think that was Ben E. King.

If you like Red House by Hendrix, google "Red House Gary Morris video". You'll enjoy his version.

jtur88 · November 28th, 2007, 07:56 AM

Even the Beatles covered about a dozen prior rock hits. One of their singles was a cover on both sides: Motown's "Please Mr. Postman" b/w Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven". The latter was released in Canada between "She Loves You" and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand", but didn't come out in the US until several songs later.

Other Beatles covers included Wilbert Harrison's"Kansas CIty", the Shirelles "Baby It's You", Barrett Strong's "Money", Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day" and Ray Charles "Halleluja I Lover Her So".

Grandstander · November 28th, 2007, 09:23 AM

The Letterman took Little Anthony and the Imperials' "Hurts So Bad" and made it into something of a white's folks ballad which a lot of people scorned, but I liked better than the original.

What are the worst covers ever? I hated what Herman and the Hermits did with the Rays' "Two Silhouttes On The Shade". They speeded up the meter and turned it into a kiddie tune, one of the least sincere sounding presentations of lyrics ever.

And not once, not ever among at least a half dozen attempts that I have heard, has anyone ever come up with a version of "Feeling Good" which matches the power of the original as it was presented in Anthony Newley's "Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd." Gilbert Price sang it in the Broadway debut and it is a knock the walls down powerhouse soul ballad. All which have followed have churned out rinky-tink corruptions.

John F · November 28th, 2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandstander

Speaking of Elvis, some of his earliest smash hits were covers. "Hound Dog" was originally a Willie Mae Thornton recording in 1952, "Blue Suede Shoes" was Carl Perkins recording in 1955.

Yeah, this I've heard over and over again. Bill Haley and a few other more, ahem, marketable people in the racist south took songs from black artists and did their own versions to much acclaim. I've seen Little Richard and others harping about it on documentaries (I'm not sure if I saw this in "Hail Hail Rock and Roll" or another documentary... Wish I could recall)

John F · November 28th, 2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexdeLarge

John Lennon's Stand by Me is far better then whoever did it first

Ben E. King.

Not sure about that one... to each his own though.

November 27th, 2007, 06:37 PM	#35 (permalink)
John F Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, Florida Posts: 2,510	I've looked up a lot of covers of "Yesterday" in the past. While I love the original -- all the others tend to feel like they are dragging. Elvis covered it, Ray Charles covered it... George Harrison did a version of it too. All of them embellished too much. Speaking of Elvis and speaking of making a song your own -- UB40, "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You". __________________ The more they over think the plumbing, the easier to stop up the drain.

November 27th, 2007, 11:09 PM	#38 (permalink)
Wiggen Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,311	That would be "Big Mama" Thornton, a fine blues singer. Suffice it to say her version of 'Hound Dog" was distinctively different from that of the King's. As I recall the Carl Perkins story, he was badly injured in an automobile accident at about the time his version of Blue Suede Shoes came out. In fact he was in the hospital for a long time, and recalled laying in his bed watching Elvis perform his song on television. Perkins was, of course, a big influence on the Beatles - especially George Harrison - and they recorded two of his songs and helped to resurrect his career. Ahh, rock and roll trivia. Completely useless information that somehow just sticks in the mind. Last edited by Wiggen; November 27th, 2007 at 11:13 PM.

November 28th, 2007, 12:03 AM	#39 (permalink)
TexasSports22 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 293	Metallica's Whiskey in the Jar, originally done by Thin Lizzy. __________________ 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 28th, 2007, 04:48 AM	#40 (permalink)
AlexdeLarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,438	"People simply cannot reach different conclusions. A little arrogant, wouldn't you say?" You could say that Stevie Ray Vaughan doing Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - just as good as Jimi Hendrix John Lennon's Stand by Me is far better then whoever did it first __________________ I've been a bad boy again Now I've been a bad boy again And all the trouble that I'm in Makes me a bad boy again John Prine

November 27th, 2007, 01:33 PM	#32 (permalink)
Wiggen Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,311	The Edmunds version is pretty obscure in the U.S., although it was a hit in England. It came out in 1979 and is on his 'Repeat when Necessary' album. Juice's version came out a couple of years later, and I will admit that her version is pretty close to Edmunds' in terms of my likability. Not so with Merilee's 'Angel of the Morning', which I think is a superior version in almost every respect.

November 27th, 2007, 06:22 PM	#34 (permalink)
Wiggen Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,311	Agreed. Although Michael Jackson should be severely punished for the commercialization of some of them. I enjoy hearing different interpretations of those songs - I went to see the movie 'Across the Universe' and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I did not find those interpretations superior to the originals, however.

November 27th, 2007, 08:37 PM	#36 (permalink)
Wiggen Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,311	Speaking of Elvis, I really liked Dwight Yoakum's version of 'Little Sister'.

November 27th, 2007, 08:58 PM	#37 (permalink)
Grandstander Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Northern California Posts: 6,638	Speaking of Elvis, some of his earliest smash hits were covers. "Hound Dog" was originally a Willie Mae Thornton recording in 1952, "Blue Suede Shoes" was Carl Perkins recording in 1955.

November 28th, 2007, 07:07 AM	#41 (permalink)
heyterry Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 502	I think that was Ben E. King. If you like Red House by Hendrix, google "Red House Gary Morris video". You'll enjoy his version.

November 28th, 2007, 07:56 AM	#42 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 7,857	Even the Beatles covered about a dozen prior rock hits. One of their singles was a cover on both sides: Motown's "Please Mr. Postman" b/w Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven". The latter was released in Canada between "She Loves You" and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand", but didn't come out in the US until several songs later. Other Beatles covers included Wilbert Harrison's"Kansas CIty", the Shirelles "Baby It's You", Barrett Strong's "Money", Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day" and Ray Charles "Halleluja I Lover Her So".

November 28th, 2007, 09:23 AM	#43 (permalink)
Grandstander Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Northern California Posts: 6,638	The Letterman took Little Anthony and the Imperials' "Hurts So Bad" and made it into something of a white's folks ballad which a lot of people scorned, but I liked better than the original. What are the worst covers ever? I hated what Herman and the Hermits did with the Rays' "Two Silhouttes On The Shade". They speeded up the meter and turned it into a kiddie tune, one of the least sincere sounding presentations of lyrics ever. And not once, not ever among at least a half dozen attempts that I have heard, has anyone ever come up with a version of "Feeling Good" which matches the power of the original as it was presented in Anthony Newley's "Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd." Gilbert Price sang it in the Broadway debut and it is a knock the walls down powerhouse soul ballad. All which have followed have churned out rinky-tink corruptions.