Off Topic Cover to Cover

if you live in the London area and listen to Robert Elms on BBC Radio London you will be familiar with his cover to cover spot , He plays the same song by 2 different artists and the listeners vote /discusss which is the better version , want to give it a try ? This weeks starter is Solitary man by Jonny Cash verses Chris Issak

 

...I'm off to Human Resources again, aren't I?

 

not quite what I had in mind

 

I'm a fan of both artists and both are good covers of a very decent song.

I prefer Cash's version. It has all the emotion of a man who's been there and done it, which Isaak doesn't wring out of it to the same extent.

That said, neither are better than the original...in my opinion.

I prefer the pacing and horns...and my mum adored Neil Diamond.

 

I pondered over the Neil Diamond version as it is the original but found the horns very dated but saying that this is the very point of this topic ,not everyone has the same reason to like or dislike a song

 

That's it. Taste is personal.

I love the kitsch 60's feel of the original...with the horns front and centre to that. Neil Diamond was a big part of my childhood. When my mum was in a good mood, very often it was accompanied by a record or tape of his...and she had a lot.

My favourite covers of his songs are... The Monkees - 'I'm a Believer'; Tony Tribe - 'Red Red Wine' and Urge Overkill - 'Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon'..but it's all personal.

The worst cover...?

You'd need to go a long way to better this...

 

Oh, yeah?

See also, any other song by William Shatner. Seriously. It's like he's never heard music or something.

 

That's the thing with Shatner's stuff. It's soooo bad, it's almost good...














Almost...and his stuff makes me laugh. Danny Baker used to play it occasionally.

The Specials one just makes me want to vomit

 

Interesting discussion ...

The merits of Cockney Rebel versus the original Beatles "Here Comes the Sun" or
The Stranglers version of "Walk On By".

But the one I'd love to nominate is "Walk Away Renee"

by the Four Tops

or by The Left Banke

The interesting thing being that a lot of people think the Left Bank version is the cover, but it's the original (1966 vs 1968). Written by the keyboard player at the age of 16! I wonder what else he might have written if he hadn't given up the music business after a few years.

Personally I think both versions are great. The cover is what a cover should be - a different take on the song. I hate covers that are virtually note for note remakes. Probably not as much though as covers of classic songs that should never be covered (yes you Madonna) among too many others.

 

Just because the concept itself sounds ludicrous, Tool v some kids:

It's all good, but the drumming near the end is both brilliant and hilarious!

Alternatively, the whole Bob Dylan Christmas album. Genuinely upsetting to some people, for some reason.
It's bloody awful, but inspires a visceral, violent reaction from some, which makes it much, much better.
Must Be Santa is relatively inoffensive:

Do You Hear What I Hear? is so bad that it appears to have been scrubbed from the internet!

 

Gosh,I must have lived a sheltered life. Never heard or seen a lot of your stuff you've mentioned.

 

He uses multiple beats but this takes some beating.

 

How about Roy Orbison v Linda Ronstadt Blue bayou here's one for Smithy Linda's voice wins it for me on this one

I bloody love that Christmas album, play it when ever the M in law comes here cos she hates it

in

 

Challenge accepted

There's another eight tracks on that album. You've been warned...

 

Did I ever tell you I loved Dusty Springfield? Not literally,unfortunately! But I think she liked the ladies,darn it!

 

So many great female singers of the 60s - just sang the song, didn't feel the need to "perform" it. Made it about the song rather than them.

 

Not exclusively Smithy

 

I got into the Buddy Holly thing too......then,suddenly,he was gone!

 

Some say "The day the music died "

 

London live TV channel is showing " The Harder They Come " Sunday morning 02.00 am