Favorite Tribute Albums?

@immatthewj 

Linda Ronstadt?

 

Can’t argue with that!

And of course, L.R. and Emmylou have been long-time friends and recording/performing partners.  

It's often enjoyable to hear a different approach to a song without judging whether it surpasses another performance in some way.

I like "Not Fade Away (Remembering Buddy Holly)". Notably the Los Lobos version of "Midnight Shift", which is deliciously ominous and completely different from the original.

I’m relatively new here and this topic caught my eye. I’m not really into tribute albums but last week I came across a tribute to the 1967 album that featured Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

This 2017 release is downloadable from Pro Studio Masters in 96-24 features Jobim’s grandson (who sings and it sounds a lot like his grandfather) and John Pizzarelli. The album is called Sinatra and Jobim @ 50. The tracks sound fantastic on my system. If you love Jobim’s work this is definitely worth checking out

How often does a cover truly equal an original performance, let alone surpass it?  Not that often, to my ears.

I can respect that point of view, @stuartk , and to some extent, although I find covers of songs I am familiar with to be interesting, I share it.  For me the notable exceptions include The Cowboy Junkies cover of Sweet Jane (and possibly Mr. State Trooper) and also Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson’s cover of Pancho And Lefty (you already mentioned Emmylou, and she also did a cover of that also that is simply beautiful).  I’d probably add Lucinda’s cover of Return Of The Grievous Angel.  I have read that many, including Bob Dylan himself, prefer the Jimmi Hendrix cover of All  Along The Watchtower, but I don’t feel that way about that one.  On a quick edit, I think that I might prefer Sinead O'Connor's cover of All Apologies to the original.  

As far as Linda Ronstadt, I bought the Simple Dreams 8-track shortly after I had graduated high school, and since radio stations were severely limited where I grew up, I grew up actually thinking that she was the original artist on most of those songs.  But now that my musical horizons have been expanded, I think that I still prefer her interpretations on many of the tracks.  Poor Poor Pitiful Me and Carmelita and Blue Bayou come to my mind immediately.  

@densely 

It’s often enjoyable to hear a different approach to a song without judging whether it surpasses another performance in some way.

Sure. But afterwards, for better or for worse, it’s my nature to compare and contrast. 

@immatthewj 

I’d agree there are instances where a cover version becomes the definitive interpretation. Poor Poor Pitiful Me and Blue Bayou are good examples.  

If memory serves, Willie Nelson did an album of Kris Kristofferson covers that was pretty good.  Have you heard Aretha Franklin’s cover of Eleanor Rigby?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8NQ8YJj8N8

OK. the more I think about it, the more examples of individual tracks are coming to mind.

Bonnie Raitt;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpuzE6t7_Js

Taj Mahal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp0lTFsolcQ

Ry Cooder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Mx9npkNlI&list=OLAK5uy_l7BVY9DP7fNU0KhCbuSY-GDTNURidBUX8

Whether these are definitive is open to interpretation. They're ones that I happen to like.