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.