Posted January 5, 200718 yr Driving home from work today I was listening to Johnny Cash's 'American IV: The Man Comes Around' album and it struck me how rarely I could say that I have heard a cover version of a song where I comfortably prefer the cover version to the original. On that one album alone I would say that there are at least three Cash cover versions that I prefer to the originals (Hurt, Personal Jesus and One) It got me thinking what other cases there are and the ones I could come up with are: Hendrix's - All Along the Watchtower and Hey Joe The Specials - Rudy: A Message to You Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah Sammy Davis Jnr - 'In the Ghetto' The Stranglers - Walk on By The Pogues - Dirty Old Town Wilson Pickett - Mustang Sally Rolling Stones - Time is on my Side David Bowie - China Girl (bit of a cheat as Bowie co-wrote it anyway but Iggy Pop released it first) The Who - Summertime Blues After that I struggle. OK it looks like a few but it isn't really when you consider how many thousands are released. There are probably a few others I have forgotten andf if I did a little research I would come up with them but these are the ones that spring to mind. Anyone suggest any others? p.s If anyone says the Scissors Sisters version of COmfortably Numb they are banned for life
January 5, 200718 yr Nirvana - The man who sold the world Los Lobos - La Bamba Johny Cash - Hurt Sid Vicious - My Way Eric Clapton - Cocaine Hendrix - All along the Watchtower, Hey Joe Pearl Jam - Last Kiss
January 5, 200718 yr Not a great fan of cover versions - especially nowadays as all you bleedin get is Westlife, Girls Aloud etc etc, murdering songs that were'nt even that good to begin with. From a very biased point of view, the only ones I can think of right now are both cover versions The Jam did. One being David Watts (originally The Kinks) & the other Heatwave (Martha Reeves & The Vandellas). I'll try and think of some more, but must admit, the original tracks are very rarely bettered.
January 5, 200718 yr Author Nirvana - The man who sold the world That one came very close for me but I am a huge Bowie fan and I just can't allow it to better in my biased mind - I will call it even Bowie actually did a superb version of a Jacques Brel song called 'Port of Amsterdam' but I didn't mention that as I think it wa sonly released on a BBC Sessions album (Bowie at the Beeb - mostly with John Peel) rather than a studio album And again with Nibs suggestions I am a huge Kinks fan and love their version of David Watts (as I do the Jam's version) so it was a clse call again.
January 5, 200718 yr Author Not a great fan of cover versions - especially nowadays as all you bleedin get is Westlife, Girls Aloud etc etc, murdering songs that were'nt even that good to begin with. It is that nmassive difference between an artist with integrity and a band being told what to do to make a quick bob isn't it. I have no time for cover versions which make no attempt to inject a different sound, angle and personality into the original song. That is probably why I like the Johnny Cash ones so much.
January 5, 200718 yr Anything by U.B.4.O.THE BEST BAND OF COVER LYRIC`S. Still prefer Mad World by T.F.F. than Gary Jule`s version. :( Good shout B.I.B..Sid Vicious.MY WAY.THE BEST.
January 6, 200718 yr Loz, once asked at a quiz What is the most covered song of all time,we thought of two at the time a) House of the Rising Sun or b)Yesterday, we went for Yesterday, the answer acc to the quizmaster was Love will Tear us Apart by Joy Division.What do u think.
January 6, 200718 yr Author I find that astonishingly hard to believe cloakey (bloody classic song and any cover would be a disgrace!). I would have thought 'My Way', or 'Yesterday' (as you said).
January 6, 200718 yr Author Just looked up the Wikipedia entry for 'Love Will tear us Apart' - the only cover version I know I have heard is The Cure one. It is a song that should never have been covered by anyone - there are osme things that are far too attached to the internal torture of the writer. I have the original 12" on vinyl and dust it down on a regular basis.
January 6, 200718 yr Always on my mind - Willie Nelson. Elvis version is good but Willies cover is much more emotional and better. I just love it
January 6, 200718 yr Loz Dear Friend, I have come to the conclusion that I am talking utter sh*te,I have (as they say in Ulster Scots) swallied too many Shhtella, I am off the Fags and the only comfort I can find is drink beer very quickly and listen to the Foo Fighters latest Skin and Bones,very very very good.
January 6, 200718 yr Author Loz Dear Friend, I have come to the conclusion that I am talking utter sh*te,I have (as they say in Ulster Scots) swallied too many Shhtella, Go on yersel' son, have a wee swallie fir me an aww the troops in the CSR young team!
January 6, 200718 yr O.K pop picker`s.Not arf. My question to all.Which is the best cover version (by group,male or female) you have seen live.?? Again,for me U.B.4.0. will stand out. M.K.BOWL Clash.Police & Thieve`s (Locarno Coventry) will alway`s be up there. Most recently.Bee Gee`s cover version by R.H.C.P @ The Ricoh.Amazing.
January 6, 200718 yr Author Hmmm I saw the Pogues do London Calling at the Town & Country Club (but they did have Joe Strummer singing instead of McGowan so not sure if that counts) On a par with that was seeing Neil Young in Toronto in 1993 doing a version of Dylan's Hurricane
January 6, 200718 yr Loz Dear Friend, I have come to the conclusion that I am talking utter sh*te,I have (as they say in Ulster Scots) swallied too many Shhtella, I am off the Fags Fancy a blowback Cloakey.To ease your nerve`s.?? and the only comfort I can find is drink beer very quickly and listen to the Foo Fighters latest Skin and Bones,very very very good.
January 6, 200718 yr Loz I never knew u were fluent in the mother tongue, fairye wel bigun,oohs ur balls.
January 6, 200718 yr Author Loz I never knew u were fluent in the mother tongue, fairye wel bigun,oohs ur balls. Aye, I ken the patter - enjoy getting blootered, jus dinne boak - that's pure bowfin!
January 6, 200718 yr Sid Vicious - My Way Brilliant track. I'm going to suggest: Muse - Feeling Good.
January 6, 200718 yr Author I'm going to suggest: Muse - Feeling Good. A very fine version and credit to Muse (see my earlier post) for stamping their mark on it....however better than Nina Simone - I'm not so sure. I almost feel that there is a chance I will go to hell if I say Nina Simone's classic has been bettered (and I am not religous!)
January 6, 200718 yr Joe Cocker's Came in Through the Bathroom Window Janis Joplin's Me and Bobby McGee (though the Dead also did a version) originally Kris Kristopherson. The Byrds did a lot of Dylan.
January 6, 200718 yr Rage Against the Machines cover of "renegades of funk" by afrika bambata(sp?) and Alien Ant Farms "smooth criminal" by MJ was rather goood, i never liked MJs music all that much so i will rate the Alien Ant Farm version better
