Shouldn't have been covered (songs)

Subject: Should / Shouldn't have been covered
From: Hyperabid
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:12 AM

Carrying on from the "number of versions" thread I am a strong believer that there are certain covers that are better than original and thre are some that are to use a local saying utter pants!

E.G Faith No More's cover of Lionel Ritchie's - Easy = Good

Boyzone's cover of Cat Stevens' - Father and Son = Bad

Are there any other strong opionion's out there?

Regards

Hyp

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: alison
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:14 AM

Madonna's American Pie -BAD!!!

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Hyperabid
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:17 AM

Too right Alison - What was she playing at...?

Hyp

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Kelida
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:21 AM

I second that, alison. On the other hand, I prefer Weird Al's parody of that song, "The Saga Begins," to the original.

Metallica's butchering of "Turn the Page" and "Tuesday's Gone"=awful

Any cover of a song by the Doors--no one will ever beat Jim.

Hmmm. . . That's all I can think of that really piss me off. . . maybe some more later. . .

Peace--Keli

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: GMT
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:32 AM

I agree with Father and Son, saw absolutely no point in the cover at all. Or their version of Bee Gees Words.

I think new bands have an easy life picking up other peoples music and simply updating it. I don't mind us amateurs having a go but professional releases that don't add to or reinterpret are a rip-off.

That said ther are some great interpreters of songs out there. Off the top of my head :
Norma Waterson, her last two CDs had some wonderful covers.
June Tabor of course
Nanci Griffiths 'Other Voices' Cds I found kind of worthwhile too.

Just some thoughts ;) Gary

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: sophocleese
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:35 AM

Is that who did that awful American Pie I heard in a store recently? The next lady in line looked at me strangely when I groaned. A complete waste of time. Cheryl Crow did a cover a Led Zeppelin tune which I wondered about as it made no changes to the original, didn't bring anything new to the song, just kinda played it over not quite as well as Led Zeppelin did.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:41 AM

James Taylor covering Buddy Holly.........

Neil Young covering anything...........

Either of them covering their own material..........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Hyperabid
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:44 AM

I would have to add that All Saints version of Under the bridge truned a fiery song about recovering from the hell of heroin addiction into a banal pile of CENSORED!.

On the other hand The Black Crowes do a pretty mean version of the blues classic Hard to Handle....

Hyp

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: GUEST,Julie
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:17 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:19 PM

ELO kicks serious butt on "Rollover Beethoven" but then again, you already knew that....

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: GUEST,Julie
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:23 PM

Sorry pressed the wrong key

My favourite cover versions seem to be where the stype is changed completely

Travis's version of Baby one more time Dread Zepplin's Reggae versions of the Led Zepplin Classics De Dannan's instrumental version of Hey Jude Some of the Acid croft Scottish dance stuff I've got a soft spot for Rolf Harris's version of A Stairway to Heaven ( just to annoy the Purists)

Bad - Anthing that works on the principle that to update something all you need to do is add a beat and yes Madonna's American pie gets my vote as well

Julie

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:28 PM

Yes, also De Dannan's version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" RULES! As does Battlefied Band doing "Six Days on the Road" and "Bad Moon Rising." And the Poozies doing "Pancho & Lefty." Good stuff!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: annamill
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:36 PM

sophocleese, I don't think that was Sheryl Crow. I think it was The Black Crows AND it was Jimmy Page playing the song. That's why it sounded so much like the original. I thought they did a good job and it's gotten them into The New Jersey Art Center at Exit 116 Garden State Pky and I'm going to see them ALONG WITH The Whos!! Imagine Zeppelin and The Who on the same bill. I'm actually frightened. The pleasure may be too much!!

That is IF I can get tickets. I hope so!

Love, annap

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Hotspur
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:44 PM

I've never met a cover of a Zeppelin song that came anywhere near the original.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Gary T
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 12:45 PM

I like Ray Charles, but I always hated his version of the Beatles' "Lady Madonna".

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Melodeon
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:17 PM

Martin Carthy's cover of the Buddy Holly classic "Rave On" has become a classic in our house

Viv

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:24 PM

There's a Jerry Lee Lewis double LP of mostly or all covers with a million guests including Rory Gallagher (who was as true and honest a musician as any) that I think is fab and raw and steaming and honest.

Anything from Get Yer Ya-ya's Out by the Stones transcends all which went before, apologies to Chuck Berry.

Simon Mayor doing anything is better than before.

Madonna did "American Pie"? Bye bye. Geez, I'm glad I've missed that one. The idea gives me the creeps. Thread creeps.

Peace. Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:35 PM

I heard Shane McGowan singing "Tri Martolod" with Alan Stivell...Shane sounded like he was stoned on poteen.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: MK
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:39 PM

Anything ever recorded by Duran Duran, as well as any Prince tune ever covered by Prince or, Sinead O'Connor.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Willie-O
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 01:41 PM

A few weeks ago CBC radio played Aretha's (age 18) version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". The kind of moment that causes me to tear the living room apart looking for a blank tape. OH MY GOD!!!! Unbelievable! (No tape found. Arrrgh! Must get this recording.)

Then they played the Judy Garland version, which was kind of unfair to Judy--there was no comparison--Garland's wonderful rendition, (I don't think it was the same/as good as the movie version, which I love) and the bland arrangement, were utter whitebread by comparison.

Willie-O

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Grab
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 02:03 PM

Crap covers of "Baker Street" and "Wonderful tonight" were perpetrated by boy-bands a couple of years back.

Clapton version of "I shot the sheriff" - nowhere near as good as Marley.

And for good measure, the Don Maclean versions of "Everyday" and "Crying" make me skip tracks on the CD PDQ!

Mind you, it's quite amusing seeing this theme on a folk/blues site. I mean, if it's not been around for 100 years and doesn't relate to some historical incident no-one alive can remember, then it's not real folk music is it? ;-)

Grab.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: The Shambles
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 02:09 PM

You mean Rolf Harris's version is NOT the original of 'Stairway To Heaven'?

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Kim C
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 02:24 PM

Faith Hill doing "Piece of My Heart."

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 02:34 PM

Madona's American Pie is no better that the original, in fact I'd say it's equally bad.. talk about a song that's way too long for no reason... The Canadian song that hold's that title is Wreck of The E. Fitzgerald! YUCH!
So any cover of Wreck is bottom of my pile...

And well, any mocern band that is forced to reach into the late 60's or early 70's for a song to cover up their own lack of creativity.. passs.... This has been the plague of the Late 90's early Naughty's...

Any shmuck can do cover tunes.. i know I'm one of them!!

LOL!!!!!

{~`

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 02:52 PM

Funny how tastes vary Clinton. I would say that Madonna made a pretty good job of ruining a brilliant song.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 02:55 PM

Although I grew up with their recordings and have always loved them, Peter, Paul and Mary perverted a number of very singable songs, and made them so nobody can sing them together. I think the worst was "If I Had a Hammer," made even worse by Trini Lopez. Another is "This Land Is Your Land." People can sing along with the record or at a PP&M concert, but the damage PP&M did makes it very difficult for people to sing these songs together.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: SDShad
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 03:35 PM

Gram and Emmylou's cover of "Love Hurts": Good
Nazareth's cover of "Love Hurts": Bad (this needs to be emphasized)

Liam Clancy's version of "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda": Good
The Pogues' version of same: Okay at best (and this from a big Pogues fan)

The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's orginal of "Fairytale of New York": Sublime
No Use For A Name's cover of same: Huh?

Now, a more trad-sounding cover of "Turkish Song of the Damned" might be interesting.

And Meebs--De Dannan did a cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody"? The mind positively boggles at the concept. Must find it.

Oh, and doesn't Shane MacGowan always sound like he's stoned on poteen? I think there's a reason for that....

Chris

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Art Thieme
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 03:55 PM

North Carolina singer, Frank "Profit", did a cover of that Kingston Trio song about a guy that got hung for killing his girlfriend. (I think it was called "Tom Foolery" or something like that.) The Kingston Trio's version was surely the best one. Mr. "Profit" mispronounced half the words. Who ever heard of being stObbed with a knife? And what weird instrumental backup ! Sounded like some kind of a bizarre, primitive homemade banjo or something... Whew ! Why even bother?

Sandy, do you have any opinion on this???

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 04:11 PM

Don't know about stabbing the girl and all, Art, but I know people who would kill for a Frank Proffitt banjo....

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Amergin
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 04:19 PM

The song was Tom Dooley. Yes, the Battlefield Bands cover of Bad Moon Rising is one of the best of its kind. Yes, Madonna should be dragged out into the street and shot (very figuratively speaking people) for ruining such a good song. It's all right by me if she goes ahead and ruins her own songs (which she does on a regular basis, but when she ruins some one else's song....well you get the picture. What about Metallica butchering Whiskey in the Jar?

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: sophocleese
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 04:28 PM

Then there's Spinal Tap covering Boccherini.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Midchuck
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 04:59 PM

Good: Anyone else's cover of any Dylan song - except maybe "Idiot Wind" and a few like that that would sound stupid if they were sung instead of shrieked.

Good: Emmylou's cover of anything, by anyone, up until 4 or 5 years ago.

Classic: Haggard and Jones' cover of Willy's "Yesterday's Wine," with howls.

Awful: Dylan's rendition of "Jim Jones" (aka "Botany Bay.") Compare Ian Robb. Which reminds me:

Good: Finestkind's cover of anything at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Wesley S
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 05:15 PM

Joe Offer - I'm curious - in what way did Peter, Paul and Mary ruin "The Hammer Song" and "This Land Is Your Land" ? I haven't heard anyone having trouble singing them. Was it the key they recorded in, the arrangements, tempo, harmonies?? You've piqued my curiosity. Details please. Thanks - Wesley S

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: GUEST,Rich(stupidbodhranplayerwhodoesn't.....)
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 05:50 PM

The House Band's cover of "Shiver Me Timbers" by Tom Waits is brilliant!

Rich

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 05:52 PM

Actually, I kinda thought Metallica rocked on Whisky In The Jar, but then again, they were only doing a cover version of a cover themselves...Thin Lizzy originally did the rock version back in the 70's. SD, if you got an email, I can send you an MP3 of De Dannan doing Bohemian Rhapsody, except they call it "Hibernian Rhapsody"...it will give you goosebumps. People who don't like rock & roll can learn to appreciate it when it is translated into a form they can understand...and you can hear what a beautiful song "Bohemian Rhapsody" really is.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 06:10 PM

Art, I'm with you man - all those off-key, funny sounding old people singing songs that should be done by someone with a little skill. You'd think we were talking about folk music instead of ...er, wait a minute...

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 06:26 PM

Know what's cool? Richard Thompson doing a bluegrass/folk rendition of my favorite Duke Ellington tune, "Rockin' In Rhythm." Way cool!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Lanfranc
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 06:40 PM

When does interpretation become perversion?

The trouble with anyone trying to put a new slant on any song is that they are always up against someone's original conception of the way the song should be sung.

A sublime example of getting it right is Jennifer Warnes' "Famous Blue Raincoat" - Cohen for people who hate Cohen.

As for getting it wrong, try any version of "Seasons in the Sun" other than Brel's original sung in French - the English version isn't a translation, it's an abomination.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Caitrin
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 08:09 PM

One cover situation that I thought was interesting was Janis Joplin doing Bobby McGee. Kristofferson liked her version better.
Madonna's version of American Pie is awful. And I do mean AWFUL! Yech.
I thought Metallica's Whiskey in the Jar was interesting. I don't know if I like it or not. They never should have touched Turn the Page.
Kim, I second that vote for Faith Hill's utterly emotionless "Piece of My Heart."

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 08:27 PM

Don't think I'm weird, but I like Roger Miller singing "Me & Bobby McGee" the best...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Art Thieme
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 08:33 PM

Joe,

I had 2 different Profitt banjoes (and a chance on 2 others), but they all got away from me. As you know, the rent has a way of coming due. And that's where they went.

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Kelida
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 09:47 PM

The more I think about it, the more I realize that ALL covers by Metallica suck, esp. Whiskey in the Jar (which I sing rather well, actually).

Peace--Keli

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 10:01 PM

Asleep At The Wheel has covered some good ones but titles allude me. Anybody for Weird Al? Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: simon-pierre
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:11 PM

I think I heard a version of « Down and out» by Eric Clapton, a song that I know by Bessie Smith. What a shame.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: rangeroger
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:29 PM

I heard John Prine do "Me and Booby McGee" for a sound check at Strawberry one year. Completely blew me away.
rr

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Robo
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 11:34 PM

Rod Stewart's version of Van's "Have I Told You Lately that I Love You." Sacrilege!

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: KT
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 01:44 AM

Somebody tried to do "Young at Heart" (Can't remember who.) He shouldn't have. That one belongs to Jimmy Durante.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: alison
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 02:58 AM

Was it Judy Tzuke who did "Stay with me 'til dawn"? A lovely slowish ballad type of thing... well I don't know who did it but I have heard it recently with one of those awful techno drum tracks behind it... appalling!!!

mbo... I sent you my email for the mp3 of Hibernian Rhapsody.... I have played their version of Hey Jude, but rewrote the last bit as a reel with the Na na na nana nana bit as the basis for the tune....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Hyperabid
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:45 AM

I still am a great version of Thin Lizzy version of Whisky in the Jar - The guitar riff in between each verse brings a folk classic right up to date.

As for the creep of the thread into the issue of manufactured bands performing classic covers and mostly badly - well you could probably start another thread on just that. I take the view that it underlines a talent for being famous without a talent for songwriting.

Usually, these creative vacuums spawn new musical forms. Punk came from the manufactured pop of the mid 70s, new romanisism from the worst excesses of 80s. This is in fact probably a good thing because it should cause the birth of something new and exciting. Maybe even something older could be reborn and repacked - you know folk maybe?

Hyp

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Grab
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 08:44 AM

I'd forgotten until now, but Madonna's also responsible for butchering Peggy Lee's Fever a couple of years back.

Grab.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Marymac90
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 09:24 AM

Mbo-we all knew you were weird, but it's really fine-we love you anyway-maybe even more because of your weirdness.

Jeri-talk about funny-sounding old people, have you ever heard Nimrod Workman?

See y'all tonight on the radio! Max's birthday is coming!

Marymac

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: SDShad
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 09:46 AM

As for covers of "Bobbie McGee"--I've always thought Gordon Lightfoot did a pretty good job. Of course, whenever I put it on, my wife proclaims that only Janis can sing that one....

Shad

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 10:11 AM

Thanks alison! I've get the mp3 out to you later this afternoon! Right on Hyp! It was Thin Lizzy's version that Metallica was covering. BTW have you ever noticed that the guitar riff from "The Boys Are Back In Town" would sound GREAT on a fiddle? I can see a folk version of "The Boys Are Back In Town" styled as being about the boys of '98...BTW the lead singer of Thin Lizzy (who was half Black, half Irish, interestingly enough) had a obsession with Cuchullain...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Caitrin
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 10:18 AM

Mbo, you can't cover a cover. Though Metallica may have been influenced by Thin Lizzy's version, it's still is a cover of the original artist's song.
Shad, your wife is right. : )

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Hyperabid
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 10:27 AM

Errrrmm not wanting to start a semantic debate but I've deliberately done versions of:-

- Red Hot Chilli Peppers cover of Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
- The Superfly version of Superstition - Stevie Wonder

The direct intent was to do version of the covers - not the originals.

You can cover a cover!

Hyp

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: GUEST,Mbo_at_ECU
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 10:43 AM

You sure CAN cover a cover! The album that it came from is "Garage, Inc." which was a WHOLE album of covers by Metallica. I do covers of covers ALL the time...not merely influenced by them, but actually singing it like the folks who cover it.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 11:51 AM

I don't think that Leadbelly should cover Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. I don't think that Burl Ives could cover "The Best of Charlie Parker" and I don't think covers of songs are that uncommon in traditional folk music. "Covers" is a pop music term. In folk music, though, if you don't cover a folk song, it ain't folk.

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: annamill
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 12:32 PM

I have teb very best one! (I think ;-)

Ready? I once heard (no joke) a CD of a four-string quartet doing Metallica songs! If anyone really would like to know the name of this quartet just let me know.

Love, annap

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 12:32 PM

You ain't heard nothing yet till you've heard Radiohead sing "Rhinestone Cowboy". Sheer joy. Radiohead should do a whole acoustic album, they sound GREAT acoustic.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Peter T.
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 12:47 PM

What I can't figure out is how people got good songs out of Leonard Cohen's originals. You listen to the originals and they sound like nothing, and then you listen to Judy Collins, or Emmylou Harris, or Jennifer Warnes, or 20 other people, and you go -- wow, great song, and you find out it is something of Leonard Cohen's that seemed to have two, maybe three notes tops. And you go back to the Leonard Cohen originals, and now you hear why they are great songs, and they are great when he does them -- you just couldn't hear them before. It is completely weird.
He and Dylan have surely benefitted more than almost anyone from having gifted interpreters.
A few heresies:
Judy Collins' version of "In My Life" is better than the original.
Dave van Ronk's version of Joni Mitchell's "That Song About the Midway" is better than the original.
Holly Cole's version of Joni Mitchell's "River" is almost as good as the original. Nothing is that good. Holly also has a great album of Tom Waits songs.

The cover version of Martha and the Muffins' "Walking on Sunshine" that seems to have replaced the original, whoever did it, is a crime against humanity.
All of Paul McCartney's later covers of his Beatle songs are dreadful. What is with this guy? His Russian album covers of old rock and roll songs are mostly terrific, and better than John Lennon's similar escapade.
Anne Murray's best album ever is "Crooning", covers of 50s songs -- I have always hated "that bitch", but it is great. She has the style down cold. Joni Mitchell's new similar album of these covers is horrible, and Sinead O'Connor and Linda Ronstandt should also not do this kind of thing. They have no idea.

The worst cover ever? Easy. Rosalind Russell doing the film version of "Gypsy". Two words: Ethel Merman.

No strike that -- the film version of "Carousel". And then there was Marlon Brando in Guys and Dolls -- No, wait --- WORST TRAVESTY OF ALL: NECROPHILIAC SINGING WITH YOUR DEAD FATHER. TONY BENNETT (WHAT WERE YOU THINKING TONY?) SINGING WITH DEAD BILLIE HOLLIDAY. STOP THEM BEFORE THEY KILL AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yours, Peter T.

Subject: Peter, Paul and Mary
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:19 PM

Sorry I didn't respond earlier, Wesley S - Click the song title to play This Land Is Your Land from our database, and note the difference between this original version and the Peter, Paul and Mary version you're familiar with. I guess we don't have "If I Had a Hammer" in the database, but the differences between the original and PP&M versions are similar to what they did to "This Land." They add extra notes and sometimes an extra measure to the ending words of several lines, but not in a way that harmonizes with the original version. Since PP&M were so immensely popular, many people learned the PP&M versions of these songs and don't know the originals.

These two songs are particularly good for group singing - but when groups of people try to sing them, you invariably get dissonance, some people singing the original (i.e., Weavers version, I guess) and others singing the PP&M version.

So, yeah, I think that PP&M ruined more than a couple very good songs. Their recordings of the songs are fine - but they've made it so nobody else can sing them in a community singing situation.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Wesley S
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:41 PM

Joe - Thanks for your response. Your ideas are interesting and maybe this should be the start of another thread. But I think there are muliple versions of lots of songs out there - it's part of the folk process. I'm wondering what role the song leader has in all this - gently leading everyone in the same direction and leading by example? What do you think - has this really been a problem?

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 04:52 PM

Joe,

I had Pete Seeger as a guest on my radio program last May. He told me then that Peter, Paul & Mary's changes to "If I Had A Hammer" were an improvement to what he and Lee Hayes had originally come up with.

BTW, "The Hammer Song," as it was originally known was on the cover of the first issue of Sing Out! Magazine, 50 years ago next month.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Caitrin
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 07:06 PM

I KNOW the album, Mbo! And I don't like being patronized!
I suppose I was simply wondering where you got the information that they were covering the Thin Lizzy version, if we're going to say that one can cover a cover.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 07:24 PM

Watched the video for Madonna's (per)version of "American Pie". Stunning imagery playing in the background. Loved it. But where was the soul in the performance? Madonna's voice sounded great, although I do believe heavily processed; but what on earth was she thinking? That she was a go-go girl? I was left with the impression that she had no idea whatsoever what the song was about. D minus!

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Helen
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 07:47 PM

Alan F. and Peter T.

I agree with you both about Leonard Cohen. Can't stand him, or Bob Dylan singing their own songs but other people can make them into great songs.

I like a remixed version of one of Bob Marley's songs - very well done, adding a newer rhythm and using sampling from the original, very tastefully done. The name of it escapes me but it will come back to me - probably as soon as I go off-line.

The worst cover version I have heard was of Tainted Love a few years ago. The original was by Soft Cell. The cover might be the one used in the Coneheads movie.

Why take out all of that subtle musical brilliance and sanitise it into a boring little song?

Helen

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 08:07 PM

OH NO!!!! I'm sorry if I came off as patronizing....sorry again...
I really didn't know if you knew the album....I wasn't sure..
But the notes in the album tells you who did the originals that Metallica covers on the album...Whisky In The Jar was originally done my Thin Lizzy, and it says that it's their version Metallica covers.
Sorry again....

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Helen
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 08:14 PM

I forgot to mention the album & video of Red, Hot & Blue which is a whole lot of covers of old Noel Coward songs. Love 'em all. I hated the Tom Waits one to start with and now it is one of my favourites.

And talking of Tom Waits, another cover I love is Tim Buckley singing TW's song Martha on the Sefronia album.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Callie
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 08:34 PM

GOOD COVERS: 1. Luka Bloom singing the Prince song "When Doves Cry" 2. Johnny Cash singing Elvis Costello's song "Hidden Shame" 3. Chet Baker singing Elvis C's song "Almost Blue" 4. Elvis C singing anything, and especially Charles Mingus' song "weird Nightmare" 5. Weird Al Yankovic doing Accordion Polka versions of songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, and also "Eat It" and "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi" 6. Kate Bush singing Elton John's "Rocket Man" 7. Marianne Faithfull singing Van M's "Madame George"

BAD BAD BAD COVERS (besides the obvious Madonna) 1.Rod Stewart singing Van Morrison's "have I Told You..." and Tom Waites' "Downtown Train" 2. Whoever did that awful machine sounding cover of "Say A Little Prayer" where they took out the bar of 3/4 to make it all even. 3. Judy Collins doing "In My Life" and Leonard Cohen songs (now that will stir folks up!!) 4. Robert Palmer singing anything, and in particular Bob Dylan's song "I'll be Your Baby Tonight"

No real folk singers mentioned, coz they ALL do covers.

--Callie

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mooh
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 10:30 PM

Good covers of "Wishing Well" and "I Saw Her Standing There" by Maggie Bell. Whatever happened to her anyway?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: GUEST, Threadie
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 10:57 PM

Luciano Pavarotti and Marilyn Manson's little known version of The Shambles' "Such is the God"

The song doesn't do the singers any justice, IMHO.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Ely
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 11:30 PM

I had no idea Faith Hill attempted "Piece of my Heart" [wave of nausea coming on].

The guy next door to me has a disco version of "Rubber Ducky".

I once heard Beatles on hammered dulcimer in the Whataburger near my house. I love the hammered dulcimer but you gotta draw the line somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: hrodelbert
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 11:45 PM

Most have missed the point re Madonna and American Pie. Choreographed to emphasise Madonna's rather attractive Bosom, any tune would have sufficed and it usually does.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Crowhugger
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 12:00 AM

Callie, 'scuse me about getting all semantic, but maybe "they" don't all do covers, "we do."

Joe, didn't everyone learn This Land Is Your Land from a little blue softcover book edited or whatever by Pete Seeger, probably published in the 50s or early 60s? Vague pre-schooler notions of colour mixed with clearer recall of raiding Mom's music stash when I hijacked my brother's guitar and started learning.

Ooooops, retract that last one, or amend it: the words are different in Canada, and I haven't seen a lot of mix-up about that extra bar when done at campfires and such. Where Canucksters get all muddled is the last 2 lines of the chorus:

From the Arctic Circle [or: Ocean] to the Great Lakes' Waters
This land was...

Singing & dancing, CH

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Bugsy
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 12:15 AM

Ugly Kid Joe (Is that the name?) doing "Cat's In The Cradle"...OH DEAR!!!! they can't even get the words right!

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: TheOldMole
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 01:30 AM

There are those who are not crazy about Peggy Lee's cover of Little Willie John's "Fever."

The Doc Pomus tribute album is full of great covers, such as Lou Reed's "This Magic Moment," but the best thing on it -- and maybe the best cover I ever heard -- is Shawn Colvin's "Viva Las Vegas."

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Callie
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 01:50 AM

Beg your pardon, Crowhugger - you're absolutely right!!

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: mjm
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 02:21 AM

Amy Grant doing Big Yellow Taxi. m

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: SDShad
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 08:40 AM

Another good cover: The House Band doing Tom Waits' "Shiver Me Timbers"--not so sure about Bette Midler's version. The original, of course, is sublime.

Chris

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Caitrin
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 01:19 PM

Bugsy, I actually like UKJ's "Cat's in the Cradle." THough, you're right, they do get the words wrong.
Sorry, Mbo...I was having a bad day and overreacted a bit.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: GUEST,Mbo_at_ECU
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 01:31 PM

That's Ok. I didn't mean to make you mad. BTW you can smack the back o' my head anytime! **BG**

--Mbo (ouch!)

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 05:49 PM

I stick with my Judy Collins' pick -- She did some good Cohen -- "Bird on a Wire" is terrific (better than Jennifer Warnes' draggy version). She should have stayed away from certain songs, true. Her voice is too warm for the vast array of Cohen suicide songs. Her recent album of Dylan songs has some real clunkers too. Her version of Jacques Brel's "Chanson des Vieux Amants" is in severely bad French. But some fine stuff along the way....
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Homeless
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 06:11 PM

One group of covers I really like is Pat Boone's "In a Metal Mood" CD where he covered a whole bunch of heavy metal classics. WIDE depature of style, but he did the originals justice.

BTW, Sheryl Crow did do a Zep cover - it's on the Zep tribute album "Encomium"

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 06:17 PM

The Clash kick serious bootie on the classic "I Fought The Law"!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: zenduck
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 06:26 PM

I have never been able to understand the cult of "American Pie" - pretentious twaddle. Good for Madonna for messing with it. The best thing Don McLean ever recorded was his cover of Roy Orbison's "Crying," even though it couldn't hold a candle to the original.

Glad somebody pointed out the abomination that is Nazareth's butchery of "Love Hurts."

The new Joni Mitchell album raises the interesting case of someone covering her own material 30+ years on. The new version of "Both Sides Now" has a depth that the original couldn't get close to (the Judy Collins cover is guaranteed to induce insulin shock - dreck), but the remake of "A Case of You" fails utterly.

James Taylor's hyper-honky covers of R&B classics ("How Sweet It Is," "Mockingbird," etc.) are the greatest unintentional joke to ever ooze out of a radio.

The greatest cover of all time is Vivian Stanshall's version of "Suspicion."

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: vindelis
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 06:44 PM

NO I won't appologise. I LIKE Madonna's version of American Pie. OK it is different, but it grows on you, after a few plays, even if you don't know who the singer is at the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: The Lighthouse
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 10:47 PM

Dave Clark 5 did a lot of covers and they were ALL worse than the original!!!! I also heard on the "oldies" station a band doing "Ding Dong the Withch is Dead" from "....Oz". BAAAAAAAAADDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: zenduck
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 03:57 PM

Lighthouse, you're right about the DC5 covers, but they did some great originals - Tom Petty used to do a killer cover of "Any Way You Want It" live.

Since we're talking British Invasion bands, Herman's Hermits version of the doo-wop classic "Sihouettes" sucked . On the other hand, the Animals' version of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" was a monster, and the Beatles' covers went from the sublime ("Long Tall Sally," "I Call Your Name") to the ridiculously sublime ("Mr. Moonlight").

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: JenEllen
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 04:25 PM

Martin Carthy's 'Rave On' = good
Hindu Love God's 'Raspberry Beret' =great
The Maverick's 'Love Me' = good
Cake's 'I Will Survive' =kitchy but good

Sorry, seems I can think of more I'm glad that I've heard. when one of the dreadful covers comes on, I useually just scream and turn it off.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 04:36 PM

Most of the covers by Richie Havens were good ones. I love that mans voice.

One of my least favorite covers was Neilssons version of "Everybodys Talkin' At Me". The original by Fred Neil was SO much better. Even if it did have a line about "The echos of my mind"

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Kara
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 04:44 PM

Hey MBO everyone knows that shane drinks Martini

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 04:50 PM

On one of the Anthology albums, if I recall, or maybe the BBC radio set, there is finally a recording of Paul McCartney's stage version of "Lucille". John Lennon also does a great version of Chuck Berry's "Too Much Monkey Business." There are also some nice Arthur Alexander songs -- how is that for an unsung giant. Arthur Alexander!
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Kara
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 05:11 PM

and it is more likly to be the methadone than the martini that makes him sound like that. i did like the bit on the Nick cave video, when he was discussing a track video he had made with shane "he made a lot of effort with his hair" an awfull cover of" what a wonderful world"

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: zenduck
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 08:30 PM

Sorry - I must have had a bubble in my brain. "I Call Your Name" is, of course, a Lennon/McCartney orig. So let's substitute "Please Mr. Postman," or "Words of Love," or "Dizzy Miss Lizzie," or...

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: zenduck
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 08:35 PM

Dear Hyperabid:

"Utter pants" is great! Is it a violation of etiquette to ask where it's a "local expression"? Can't say I've ever heard it way out here in California.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Hyperabid
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 11:00 AM

Zenduck

Sorry it's taken me so long to answer your post - I thought this thread had run its course some time ago.

In answer to your question, it's an expression used over here in the UK all the time. Maybe it's about time it crossed the pond to the US.

And whilst I'm on the subject - who allowed Rolf Harris to cover Stairway to Heaven - Led Zepplin and Bohemeinam Rhapsody - Queen.

They should have tied Rolf down with his Kangaroo - sport!

Hyp.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Hyperabid
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 05:09 AM

Refresh for zenduck

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: Molly Malone
Date: 28 Apr 00 - 06:03 PM

Luka Bloom covered When Doves Cry???? Where do I find that one???

One album I expected to see on here and haven't yet. ..

Two Rooms.

Subject: RE: BS: Shouldn't have been covered
From: SDShad
Date: 01 May 00 - 10:51 AM

I mentioned "Fairytale of New York" much earlier in this thread. Well, I've now heard another cover of this song, Christy Moore's, and Christy's a marvelous singer and all, but his interpretation just butchers the soul of this song right out of it. It think it almost has to be a duet, for one thing.

Accept no substitutes.

And while I'm on the subject of Christy Moore:

Christy Moore singing "Raggle, Taggle Gypsy" with Planxty: incredible Christy Moore solo version of same, with synth and drum track: *shudder*

Chris

Subject: RE: Shouldn't have been covered (songs)
From: GUEST,Guest, Lash LaRue
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 07:47 PM

William Shatner's "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds"
Sebastian Cabot's "Blowin' in the Wind"

and, for sheer torture -
Jack Webb's "Try A Little Tenderness"

(Don't believe it exists? I own the LP.)

Lash LaRue