Led Zep's version Willie Dixons "you shook me"
Favorite cover?
As a (minor) film buff, I almost invariably prefer originals. But when it comes to audio, I have found more than a few covers that I prefer to the originals. So, to kick things off, and with all due respect to Boz Scaggs, I absolutely LOVE this live Incognito version of Lowdown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH%E2%80%A6
What's on the top of your lists?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH%E2%80%A6
What's on the top of your lists?
94 responses Add your response
I judge any cover by this: "If that was the original, would it have been a hit?" I like collections of covers, here, a bunch of Dylan Songs issued around his 60th bday https://www.amazon.com/Nod-Bob-Artists-Sixtieth-Birthday/dp/B00005BGGV/ref=pd_bxgy_15_img_2/140-2936319-4064762?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00005BGGV&pd_rd_r=052ed0b2-5027-435d-a781-e951ea314aca&pd_rd_w=xIcKE&pd_rd_wg=r0RbU&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=5HX25YMDB21ZXN5AEKF0&psc=1&refRID=5HX25YMDB21ZXN5AEKF0 I see they issued vol 2 for his 70th bday, I will have to get it https://www.amazon.com/Nod-Bob-Artists-Tribute-Birthday/dp/B004TB6GNQ/ref=pd_bxgy_15_img_2/140-2936319-4064762?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004TB6GNQ&pd_rd_r=98959c9a-9a60-492a-91ee-3cc3222e55e5&pd_rd_w=kbQAf&pd_rd_wg=3IQ8X&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=SGNYV6WXV39MHCW2WHZ9&psc=1&refRID=SGNYV6WXV39MHCW2WHZ9 another, various people covering Kate Wolf songs. https://www.amazon.com/Treasures-Left-Behind-Remembering-Kate/dp/B000009Q0P/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=kate+wolf+tribute&qid=1568647679&s=music&sr=1-1 here, Jennifer Warnes collection of Leonard Cohen songs https://www.amazon.com/Famous-Blue-Raincoat-Songs-Leonard/dp/B00FZ17AUC/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1M6ANJ5AAAIFD&keywords=jennifer+warnes+famous+blue+raincoat&qid=1568647794&s=music&sprefix=jennifer+warnes%2Cpopular%2C127&sr=1-2 this, some Beatles, some Dylan, by Richie Havens has some great ones, and not so great https://www.amazon.com/Richie-Havens-Sings-Beatles-Together/dp/B000008GFM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=richie+havens+dylan&qid=1568647859&s=music&sr=1-1 |
To me, Lou Reed falls into a category with Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits in that some of the best versions of their songs end up being done by other artists. Some of my favorite Lou Reed / Velvet Underground covers are: EVAN DANDO & KIRSTY MacColl: "Perfect Day" BRYAN FERRY: "All Tomorrow's Parties" MOTT THE HOOPLE: "Sweet Jane" THE PRIMITIVES: "I'll Be Your Mirror" MITCH RYDER & DETROIT WHEELS: "Rock N' Roll THE TELESCOPES: "Candy Says" In an ironic twist, I thought the best song on the Bob Dylan "30th Anniversary Concert Celebration" (aka BobFest) was Lou Reed's stomping cover of "Foot Of Pride." |
Them’s version of Big Joe Williams’ "Baby Please Don’t Go", though they model their version on that of John Lee Hooker. Wicked, tough, Them make The Stones sound like the p*ssies they are. Another is The Guess Who’s (the first line-up, without Burton Cummings) take on Johnny Kidd & The Pirates’ "Shakin’ All Over". I much prefer TGW’s version to that of The Who, whom I saw & heard perform the song live in ’68 and ’69. That opinion "may not" be shared by everyone ;-) . "Let Her Dance" by Phil Seymour, the drummer/singer on the two Dwight Twilley Band albums (after Phil left the group, "Band" was dropped from the name). The original is by The Bobby Fuller Four, written by Bobby. In contrast, TBFF’s recording of "I Fought The Law" (written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets) has never been equaled, certainly not by The Clash, whose version is dreadful, even worse than The Who’s take on "Shakin’ All Over", which I wouldn’t have thought possible. Hoary, bombastic, empty. |
great topic, first one from the recesses of my mind, Sophie Millman, Being Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeCpx5O8tJk actually anything she does. Her concert from Montreal Jazz Festival on DVD is one of my all time favorites you tube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kqj3Vv0KpQ&list=PLIdYuHiVV_9mIhmYGqv-XZk2XQ_2YzOsC Incidentally, I have Van Morrison, Hard Nose the Highway CD in my car, he covers Being Green, I love Van, but what a dud |
Created a Tidal playlist of covers. Some of my favorites include Because The Night by Bruce Springsteen Landslide by the Smashing Pumpkins Valerie by Amy Winehouse Easy by Faith No More Come Together by Gary Clark, Jr. Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley Billie Jean by Chris Cornell Will be adding to my playlist from suggestions in this thread. Much enjoyed. |
Big Log - Alison Krauss & Viktor Krauss https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iFg1vS7OXdU And hard to pick a favorite from Holly Cole's album - Temptation |
A bit off the beaten path, but one of my all-time favorite rock albums is "Projections" by The Blues Project, ca. 1967. While many of the songs on the album were written by members of the group (especially Al Kooper and Steve Katz, who later were co-founders of Blood, Sweat & Tears) a couple of songs on it are great covers IMO: "You Can't Catch Me," originally by Chuck Berry. "Cheryl's Going Home," originally by Bob Lind (as the flip side of "Elusive Butterfly"). Just about every song on "Projections" is terrific, IMO. Regards, -- Al |
Oops, it was of course Gregory Peck who played Nolte's character in the original Cape Fear, not Mitchum. Haven't had any coffee yet ;-) . @roberjerman, I well remember the cover of Realization---kind of psychedelic. Everybody was trying so hard around then to look "experienced". By the way, when Levon Helm left the Dylan/Hawks tour in late '65, it was Johnny Rivers' drummer Mickey Jones who was hired to take his place. |
@bdp24 Thanks, and a good point about Cape Fear. For some reason my original link to the Incognito video isn't working. Let's try again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHnsBZ_kL0I |
@roberjerman, Wow, I had no idea JR did "AWSOP". The original is a masterpiece, so I really gotta hear Johnny's version! @whipsaw, I so agree about original films vs. remakes, one exception being Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear. The added layer of ethical misconduct by Nick Nolte's character (played by Robert Mitchum in the original) really deepens the story. And Juliette Lewis' acting is about as fine as I've ever seen. |
