Songs that sound nothing like the artists?

I thought of an interesting compilation idea..... songs by famous artists that make you SERIOUSLY question what artist they are. Some inclusions that come to mind right away:

* Madonna - "Laugh To Keep From Crying" (a very not-Madonna-ish 1980 punk rock track)
* ABBA - "Watch Out" or, even better, "Intermezzo No. 1"
* Simon and Garfunkel (technically) - "Hey Schoolgirl"
* 'The Country Hams' - "Walking In The Park With Eloise" (seriously - Chet Atkins is instantly recognizable, you'd never guess the backing band!)
* Neil Young - "Sample and Hold"
* The Beach Boys - "Here She Comes" or the superior "Hard Times"
* Robin Gibb - "In And Out Of Love" (the ELO track that wasn't!)

If it weren't from a highly-recognizable album, I'd opt to include "Yet Another Movie" by Pink Floyd. That sounds like a Mr. Mister reject.

 

Maybe not exactly the same, but when first hearing "Can't Get it Out of My Head" from ELO's El Dorado album back when it was first released, I seriously thought it was John Lennon!

 

I remember a radio DJ wanted his listeners to guess who these guys were when this first debuted in 1996.

 

Lay Lady Lay - Bob Dylan. Had no idea it was him.

Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits. Reminded me of Dylan.

 

"Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)" by The Hollies.

 

I think "Beth" by Kiss qualifies. Of course, it is not an obscure song or anything.

 

"When You Were Mine" by Prince sounds like something The Cars wrote. "Do It All Night" has a somewhat similar vibe with its janky bass guitar and tempered synth jabs.

 

He does his best David Bowie imitation here...

 

U2 - Zoostation

 

Oh! I forgot a biggie for me - "Live It Up" by CSN.

Sounds like the Phil Collins track that wasn't.

 

Village People goes L.A. punk. No, really.

 

I think the album Discipline by King Crimson sounds nothing like their earlier stuff. Sounds more like a Talking Heads record.

 

"My Ding A Ling"

 

The Hollies heavily channeling CCR!

 

Oh, I forgot this one! I have this album!

I see they've long since changed the cover, though - my LP still has that ridiculous "new wave" cover art where their faces are painted.

 

I think Claptons Easy Now doesn't sound like a Clapton song

 

Distorted, heavy metal Kraftwerk!


Well, okay, the future NEU! standing in for Kraftwerk, but Florian was still there. :-D

 

....just as Jeff Lynne intended.

 

Don't Let Me Down by the Beatles sounds nothing like them ( Preston and live certainly help but to me this and I Want You (she's so heavy) are 2 songs that sound like a wholly different band

Wigwam by Dylan (plus any of his amazing crooner voiced tunes and of course All the tired horses sound anything but Dylan...

Drowning Mam by U2, voice sounds nothing like Bono, guitars sound heavier and more echo-like...

 

Fleetwood Mac, "This Is the Rock," from the album Kiln House.

 

... and I'd add "Hard Luck Woman" to that. Neither song sounds like Kiss (to me, anyway) but I mean that in a good way.

 

"Take 'Em as They Come" and " I Wanna Be Where the Bands Are", two Springsteen River out-takes. Some serious sped-up or pitch-shifted vocals on both tracks that really don't sound like him.

 

"Lookin' Out for #1" - Bachman-Turner Overdrive

 

Bruce's vocal on Hungry Heart - didn't used to think he sounded like himself.

 

Love's "Alone Again Or" - First time I heard it, I was sure it was The Moody Blues.