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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Obviously timed to try and get as much hype as possible for the CIN cover I was rather unimpressed with the argument that all cover versions are bad as implied on the JV show.

For one thing songs are not always written by a singer and far more often the songs are written by people who do not perform. What about all the songs that came out of the Brill Building in New York and the great American songwriters?

To me it's been thought up by producers who only know music from groups/bands who write there own stuff.

What does anyone else think?

H
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Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

Hello Aitch,
I agree, not all cover versions are bad when compared with the original (or, in some cases, the best known hit) version. One example for me is Smokie's take on 'Needles & Pins', I like Smokie's cover version better than the often heard Searchers hit.
Did you know that next year, it'll be 10 years since you read out the R2 strap-line on Jezza's show?! Shocked

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essexlady · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 348 Location: Essex

I prefer Jeff Buckley's cover of "Halleluiah" to the original by Leonard Cohen, but don't get me started on Alexandra Burke's offering ! Rolling Eyes

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I also agree Helen

For me Leona Lewis's cover version of 'Run' is far superior to the original by Snow Patrol and David Bowie's version of 'Let's Spend The Night Together' is far better than the Stones original- and what about The Flying Pickets cover of 'Only You'?

I think the Bangles cover of 'Hazy Shade of Winter' perhaps is at least as good as the S&G original and Tiffany's cover of 'I Think We're Alone Now' stands up very well compared to the original

Having said that I do think that most cover versions do not match up to the originals but as usual JV gets a 'bee in his bonnet' about some subject which he knows very little about and pushes it in an obviously non intelligent way - he should stick to news presenting rather than straying into areas where his ignorance is patently obvious Rolling Eyes

- I just wonder what he thinks of Robert Wyatt's cover of the classic Elvis Costello track 'Shipbuilding' - or for that matter Tasmin Archer's 1994 cover of the same track - bet he's never even heard of Tasmin Archer

Oh and by the way contrary to what was said by Mr Vine Bowie's 'Pin Ups' album is absolutely superb Very Happy

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becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I always like a cover if it's better than, and different from, the original. As Becky says, Joe Cocker's 'With A Little Help...' is a good example, though the Beatles' original is also good. There are many examples of Dylan songs being really well covered: Mr Tambourine Man, All Along The Watchtower, Just Like A Woman.

Ruddles, I liked Bowie's cover of 'Let's Spend The Night Together' too.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Seeing Helen's post about Golden Slumbers in the Richard Allinson thread reminded me of a cover of that that I really like ...it's by Ben Folds......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU8luUZsuLc

....which leads me on to 2 covers of another song,Across The Universe, from the Fab Four that I like... one by Rufus Wainwright and the other by Fiona Apple.

undiscovered · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 650 Location: Peterborough

Hi All, not been around for a bit, hope you are all as well as possible

Carter the Unstoppable Sex machine, probably the single most important band in my life, they were my first real favourite band and very political in their lyrics. Anyway they are about to have their last ever show and because of that I have been listening to their stuff again. They always had a cover on their B sides, a couple of my favourites

Pet Shop Boys Rent

Soft Cells Bedsitter
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becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Two more covers that are (imo) better than the originals...Walk Away Renee by The Four Tops and Go Now by The Moody Blues.... the latter remembered after hearing it today and being mentioned on Angela's Manx thread.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I actually prefer the original recording of 'Don't Walk Away Renee' but I do agree that the Moodies cover is far superior to the Bessie Banks original Smile

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Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

That's funny Becky, on the other thread you didn't know Sailing by Rod Stewart was a cover. Well, I didn't know The Four Tops' Walk Away Renee was a cover! The things you learn. Although I do vaguely remember Don't Walk Away Renee was played recently on SOTS.

childprufe · Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 212 Location: lincolnshire

Schiz,
As usual you hit various nails on the head - Dylan covers in particular - Manfred Mann's "Mighty Quinn" and Julie Driscoll/Brian Auger Trinity's "This wheels on fire" spring to mind
and in response to your earlier post re "Lets spend the night together" by Bowie, please, if you can, catch a glimpse at Humble Pie's "Honky Tonk Women."
Mind you, I also prefer Melanie's "Ruby Tuesday" to the Strolling Bones version.
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Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I will give Humble Pie's version a listen.

I too much prefer Melanie's cover of Ruby Tuesday. Jagger isn't exactly the world's best vocalist!

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

Anyone see Annie Lennox on The One Show explaining how her latest album isn't 'covers', I think she said they are interpretations Rolling Eyes

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Some records are just perfect and should NEVER be covered ....Waterloo Sunset is one example. I've just heard Kathy Dennis singing it on Graham's programme ...my first response is why? and my second is why would Graham, or whoever chooses the records on his programme, play this version over that of The Kinks??? Cool

Ian Robinson · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 10:08 am Post subject:

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Becky - I completely agree which is why I never listen to that annoying twerp who calls himself Graham Norton Rolling Eyes

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Schizoidman · Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Posts: 1140 Location: Rural West Sussex

I agree with Becky that some songs are so good that they should never be covered, eg A Whiter Shade Of Pale, which Bonnie Tyler and the appalling Annie Lennox both ruined, and Waterloo Sunset is of course a very good song.
However, I really liked Kathy Dennis' cover. As Ian says, it's light and breezy and just nice.

On a related topic, the Annoying Little Twerp always plays a (not always very good) 60s song third record in and then makes a snide comment about how he doesn't like 60s music. Well, why didn't he play The Kinks' song then? (Because he's an Annoying Little Twerp, that's why).

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Think it's pretty much agreed that Joe Cocker did a great cover of A Little Help With My Friends - me included - but oh Joe you should (imo) have stayed away from the perfect little pop song The Letter by The Box Tops.

Heard Joe's version of it for the first time (and last I hope) this morning on Owen Money's programme.

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

I've never noticed this before. And now I've read every post.

Needles and Pins is a funny one, as the writer credit is in dispute. Sonny Bono claimed that he wrote it with Jack Nitzsche and Jackie De Shannon says that she co-wrote it with them. I'd be inclined to side with her. She recorded it first, in any case. So The Searchers version is also a cover. It'll always be the best version for me, probably because of the time and place it holds within it. Anyway, here's her original.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSbM_Zmx9kA

I was listening to Boom this morning, when Such A Night by Johnnie Ray was played. I know it was originally recorded by The Drifters when Clyde McPhatter was lead. For me, the best version is the Elvis one, but then it's all about personal taste. I grew up with it, being in my eldest brother's record collection.

Another Elvis cover isn't that well known, is Tomorrow Is A Long Time, a Bob Dylan original. I quite like Rod Stewart's version, on Every Picture Tells A Story and have done since 1971, but Presley's version, I've only known for a few years. It's really good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_HzZrOGlRk

I think the only Stones song I know, that I rate better than the orignal, is Out Of Time by Chris Farlowe.

There are many more great covers I love but just one more, in case anyone else posts it!

Dedicated To The One I Love, originally The Five Royales, I think. Something like that. But by far the best ever version, has to be The Mamas and Papas
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oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Make that two more..sorry!

Only discovered this by chance, a couple of weeks ago. The original never really got to me and the last bit of music always has me singing 'sausages' to it.

It is, of course, Stevie Wonder's I Just Called To Say I Love You.

The late, great John Prine recorded and bettered it (imo). It's lovely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jylCc-fD-wo
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oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

I heard a great original earlier. I didn't even know of it's existence. But thanks to Roger Day's Saturday 60's show - which is miles better than Tony B's offering, in my ever so humble - I do now.

The McCoys - Sorrow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y9A7AVtAFE
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RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

There are a couple of Ace Records CD compilations, entitled "You Heard It Here First" which pulled together 50 original versions of tracks which were subsequently hits by someone else. Some (eg Bessie Banks "Go Now") are better known than others (Johnny Darrell "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town"). Most, if not all, appear to be available on the usual streaming/download services.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heard-Here-First-Various-Artists/dp/B001CDF040/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29AXDUTSG4RDJ&dchild=1&keywords=you+heard+it+here+first&qid=1624200270&s=music&sprefix=you+heard+it+h%2Caps%2C157&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Heard-Here-First-2/dp/B0030BEU52/ref=sr_1_2?crid=29AXDUTSG4RDJ&dchild=1&keywords=you+heard+it+here+first&qid=1624200270&s=music&sprefix=you+heard+it+h%2Caps%2C157&sr=1-2
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oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

Damn! I have the first one and will have to have a rummage around for Vol 2.
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becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6814

Looking on the Boom website the other day, among the pictures of recently played records, saw a picture of Phoebe Snow with Every Night.

Wondered (as I don't remember hearing it) if it was a cover of Paul McCartney's song.

Found out YouTube that it was.

And what a great cover - great voice - love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uShtB_hIgmE