Thread: Cover versions of records aren't always crap!

There are so many cover versions of so many songs nowadays, probably in the hope that what was once a success, will prove to be again. It's got so bad that folks tend to dismiss any cover versions from the get-go, but that wasn't always the automatic case.

Take a song with the title “I Can’t Stop Loving You� from way back when that was an absolute Country and Western standard. This is the way it was sung then from a real C&W stalwart by the name of Jim Reeves. Lovely voice, lovely song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymTx4BiOWp0

And then that incredible musical genius Ray Charles got hold of it and turned it into this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wattjJtPT80

Anthony Newley wrote and recorded a song called "Who can I turn to".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpKeRtEwTFw

It was also recorded by the marvellous Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett and Sammy Davies Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMHdC2Vh4is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdVgQxh9jW0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE4EoAPIOgU

The Stylistics had a huge hit in the 70s with a gorgeous song called “You Make Me Feel Brand New", and it wasn't until Micky Hucknall decided to air it that it again became a favourite all round, just with the difference that it was just the quite astonishing Micky Hucknall on vocals, and not the silky sounds of Arrion Love and the trademark falsetto of Russel Thompkins Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyD5tAGBP9U (Don’t mind the karaoke lyrics)

And this is Micky Hucknall with the same song (singing live, I might add):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gt23G2HvA4

Talking about standards: there was a song written in the mid-Fifties called "Unchained Melody�. Generic singers like Jimmy Young recorded it and had hits. This was his version and pretty unremarkable for the times:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIrFIZ1vqYs

It was only when the Righteous Brothers (and Phil Spector) re-jigged it that it became a “real standard� and the benchmark for all other versions. This is it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrK5u5W8afc&NR=1 (and just get the unbelievable falsetto highs that Bobby Hatfield reaches at the end!)

So! Is it fair to dismiss “standard songs� just because nobodies think they can record them and score cheap hits and make a bit of dosh, or are there infinite varieties of the same song and we should be happy that other folks are willing to experiment?

MsG

Fountains of Wayne - Baby one more time. Better than the original. Although to be I don't think they could outdo the Britney video :D

Woah...check fire.....Robson and Jerome....thats all Im adding, utter crap!!

another day in paradise , a phil collins track transformed by reel big fish


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBwF_XQ1vwM

All the Michael Jackson songs have sounded better as covers, esp Billy Jean by The Bates.

Google Boyce Avenue, some awesome acoustic covers there

The Foo Fighters version of Baker Street is well worth a look as is Elbows cover of Independent Woman, a version of which can be seen here:

http://www.rathergood.com/independent_woman

Rodrigo and Garbriella's version of Stairway to Heaven is pretty cool and I have always preferred Frank Sinatra's version of Girl from Ipanema to the original.

Jonny Cash doing the Nine Inch Nails song HURT

Originally Posted by mph1977

another day in paradise , a phil collins track transformed by reel big fish


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBwF_XQ1vwM

Seconded.

I also like their cover of Hungry like the wolf.

Try the Nirvana unplugged album a few covers on there Plateau is my fave but also the man who sold the world and Jesus dont want me for a sunbeam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX7f1iA2h-I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdyqX...rom=PL&index=2

Metallica's cover of Whiskey in the jar, may not be better than Thin Lizzy's or the original but definately no worse!

Johnny Cash version of Hurt is better than originl Nine Inch Nails (imho). What about SuBo "Cry me a river" Bloody excellent cover.

David Ford's Cover of Counting Crows is superb:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz7EF...rom=PL&index=6

But my discovery du jour are these guys:

Musica Nuda aka Petra Magoni & Ferruccio Spinetti

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...rch_type=&aq=f

just have a fliuck through they're stuff, quirky Italian brilliance, Speccy guy on a double bass n a pretty girl with a voice to die for :D

The Stranglers version os Walk On By is damned fine and is the favourite version of the original writer of the song, Mr. BB himself.