DCC Archive Cool cover versions

My votes for covers:

"The Loco-motion"-Grand Funk has THE best version, hands down.

"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds"-Sorry, I prefer Elton John's version.

"Got To Get You Into My Life"-I also prefer Earth Wind And Fire's cover. The Beatles were great but weren't perfect.

"We Can Work It Out"-Chaka Khan has the most powerful version i've ever heard. On her 1981 LP, "Whatcha Gonna Do For Me", produced by Arif Mardin.

"Respect"-Aretha wins this hands down!

"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do"-Neil Sedaka beat himself with his 1975 cover.

 

Joe Cocker - "The Letter" and "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window"

Hendrix - "Hey Joe" and "Watchtower"

Elvis - "My Way" (he really let his pipes rip on that one).

Sinatra - "New York, New York" - Liza who?

Creedence & Gladys Knight - "I Heard it Through the Grapevine", each in it's own way.

The Black Crows - "Hard to Handle" yesser 'am.

More as I think of 'em...

 

Could almost be true ...

Speaking of Fuller ... Marshall Crenshaw included a live take of "Julie" on his "Live ... My Truck is My Home" album that was pretty good. He also did a smokin' version of Richard Thompson's "Valerie" on "Good Evening" ...

 

The Clash did a fair version of "I Fought the Law" as well, and although never released, Bruce Springsteen used to do a rather ramped up version in his live sets.

Bobby Fuller version is the best, though.

[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: Uncle Al ]

 

For live versions, Blue Oyster Cult used to do Born To Be Wild at their concerts, complete with the Harley, straight pipe and all. Pretty cool.

 

Thanks Joe.

 

Buddy Guy - Mary Had A Little Lamb

Bonnie Raitt - Everybody's Cryin' Mercy

Allman Brothers - Trouble No More

Judas Priest - Green Manalishi (live version)

Good stuff!

Mike

I almost forgot: Britney Spears - Satisfaction

 

YES!!! The hot little redhead from Only In The 80' Vol.3.

What about Woodstock, both by CSN & Y and that cool am version by a female vocalist?

 

Hey Steve, which Fuller take on I Fought the Law? Ever hear the early home made version where Bobby's robbin' people with a ZIP gun? And for you trivia lovers, if you have the Mustang/Del-Fi version of that tune in STEREO, listen closely where the boys sing about "miss my baby and some good fun" - one side has our heroes singin' a slightly different word than fun on one channel! Dig up Sundazeds' Remains live in the studio Capitol audition tape and hear them shred All Day and All of the Night - whooo, those guys were on fire and make the Kinks sound like nancy boys in comparison! Punk kingpins the Sonics did some pounding covers - Keep A Knockin' is a crusher, and Louie, Louie gets pulverized...

 

Tiffany - coming to a mall near you. Here's some more:

Jeff Beck - Cause We've Ended As Lovers

Eric Clapton - County Jail Blues

Van Halen - You're No Good

Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night (now tell me Kurt ain't got soul)

Mike

I almost forgot:

Cher with Beavis and Butthead - I Got You Babe
Dread Zeppelin - Black Dog

 

Angel Of The Morning/ Juice Newton
You Really Got Me/ Van Halen
Cocaine/ Eric Clapton
Red Red Wine/ UB40
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/ Led Zepplin
Voodoo Chile/ Stevie Ray Vaughn
I'm A Man/ Chicago
Move It On Over/ George Thorogood

and...well...Proud Mary/ Ike & Tina

 

Er...who did Grapvine originally? I thought the Pips' version *was* the original.

I'm actually listening to the CCR version at the moment, but I think my money is still on the Marvin Gaye version.

 

Re: I Heard it Through the Grapevine:
Caught on a technicality!
Story from rather faulty memory (I am sure someone will help me remember):
Marvins version recorded first, rejected by the Motown suits. Gladys picked it up for the Motown "subsidary" label she was on (Tamla???) Afetr her hit Marvin's version was released.

So which was the cover?

[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: Uncle Al ]

[ October 25, 2001: Message edited by: Uncle Al ]

 

Re: Grapevine

Here is an old post in another group from Harry Weinger, who produces most Motown comps. Hopefully, he won't mind it being quoted here:

"As for the references to "GRAPEVINE," I just finished working on a Motown Rarities collection (due 9/22 -- this is NOT AN AD, just info for those who want to know). I've included the ORIGINAL "Grapevine" by...
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. Believe it. They did release it in '68 as an LP cut in the summer of '68, the same month as Marvin Gaye's, which BTW was also just an LP cut at the time. (Happy 30th Anniversary.) But I found the original lead vocal (same backing track) from August '66 and this version is like a rough outline of Marvin's, who cut it about 6-8 months later -- before Gladys' version. Marvin's and the Miracles'
versions both went on the shelf, Gladys had the hit, then the other 2 were dusted off to add name value to their respective albums. Smokey added a new lead vocal to his. Marvin's of course became the massive hit
while Smokey & The Miracles' version ended up sounding like they borrowed it fom him."

 

One of my favorite covers:
Border Song (Holy Moses) by Eric Clapton

 

How about her version of "I Saw Her (Him) Standing There"

Ya'know if you want to turn this board 180 degrees I can think of some pretty nausiating covers... Like say...
Leonard Nimoy's inept version of "Proud Mary"
or
William Shatners diembowelment of "Mr.Tambourine Man" complete with "kid chasing after an ice cream truck" scream at the end... Shall I continue?


[ October 26, 2001: Message edited by: Ian ]

 

Maybe you should start a Most Heinous Cover thread - someone's gonna get ticked off though. Here's some good and bad. I'm enjoying this thread a little too much.

Bad

Eric Clapton - Cocaine
Rob Zombie - I'm Your Boogie Man
Kansas - Bringing It Back
Grateful Dead - Any Motown song sung by the drunken biker Pigpen

Good

Rolling Stones - Shake Your Hips
Ry Cooder - Billy The Kid
Cry Of Love - On The Hunt
Ronnie Spector - You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory

Mike

 

How about Ronnie's version of "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" (with The E Street Band)? Infinitely better than Billy Joel's!

And nobody's mentioned "Friday On My Mind" by Earthquake!

Brad

 

I like Juice Newton's cover of "Queen of Hearts" as well as "Angel In The Morning," Marty Robbins's "Ribbon of Darkness," Peter, Paul & Mary's covers of Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot songs, Waylon Jennings's covers, Hank Williams, Jr's cover of "Can't You See," Anne Murray's covers, any cover that Linda Ronstadt ever recorded, Eddie Rabbitt's cover of "The Wanderer," Bing & The Andrews Sisters's covers (particularly "Pistol Packin' Mama", many of their duets are covers), Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons," any of Johnny Cash's covers, any of Willie's covers ("Stardust" is one of the greatest albums of all time), Glen Campbell's covers (after all he covered Jimmy Webb very often as we all know already. Also if you haven't heard Glen's Big Bluegrass Special album, you are in for a treat and there are lots of great covers of Louvin Brothers and Merle Travis songs) and many others including one more must mention: Junior Brown's cover of Red Simpson's "Highway Patrol" which is equally as great as the original.

[ October 26, 2001: Message edited by: Bradley Olson ]

 

Speaking of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and also speaking of William Shatner...enough said

 

i would recommend anything off elektra's now out of print "rubaiyat" collection, particularly john zorn's startling take on the stooges "TV eye".

later, chris

 

Has anybody mentioned:
Clash - I fought the law

 

Umm...WTF is bad about that version?!