Legion World
Posted By: Jerry Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 04:25 AM
It's an awesome feeling when you hear an artist bring fresh life to one of your old favorite songs. Do you have any that just changed the way you felt about song forever?

Here's one of my favorites. It's the first time I ever heard the Cowboy Junkies, and it made me a fan for life. It also gave me a whole new appreciation for Lou Reed and inspired me to buy more of his music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHRFZFmEq9o
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 04:33 AM
Here's another that just blows me away every time I hear it. I never thought anyone could do Joni better than Joni.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0RCDHBw50Q
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 04:38 AM
I think Billy Preston's version of "Can\'t Get No Satisfaction" blows the original clear out of the water.

Preston (1946-2006) would go on to become somewhat well known for the hits "Will It Go 'Round In Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing." He never got the level of fame he truly deserved, though. sigh
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 04:43 AM
Billy Preston was amazing. Nice pick.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 04:49 AM
[bows]

Nara Leão (1942-1989) is one of my favorite Brazilian musicians. Here she is doing a rare turn on an American standard (though she's singing it in Portuguese): "Somewhere Over The Rainbow."

Not really a song I ever thought of as being subtle or introspective, until I heard this version.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 05:06 AM
BTW, great idea for a thread, Jerry. These links are great!

Here's a little more Mitchell before I head off to bed: Terri Lyne Carrington and her band play "Ethiopia" .

Jazz musicians really love Mitchell. I think Herbie Hancock did an entire CD of her songs at one time. And Ethel Ennis, a criminally underrated vocalist, did a killer version of "For Free" on her If Women Ruled The World disc, accompanied by one of my favorite horn players: Jane Ira Bloom. (Couldn't find that one on YouTube, unfortunately.)
Posted By: Sketch Lad Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 05:16 AM
Across the Universe by Fiona Apple
Posted By: Blacula Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 11:10 AM
Quote
Originally posted by cleome:
I think Billy Preston's version of "Can\'t Get No Satisfaction" blows the original clear out of the water.

Preston (1946-2006) would go on to become somewhat well known for the hits "Will It Go 'Round In Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing." He never got the level of fame he truly deserved, though. sigh
Quote
Originally posted by Jerry:
Billy Preston was amazing. Nice pick.
Wow! I was not expecting to find some other Billy Preston fans at Legion World! He never got the level of fame he truly deserved but I think a lot of other musicians would kill for the career he had and the achievements he earned during it. How many people get credited with being 'the 5th Beatle' due to all the work he did with that group?

Some incredible Billy Preston videos on Youtube...

* 11 year-old piano prodigy Billy with Nat King Cole on his show -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1loV...F8B9CE8&playnext_from=PL&index=3

* Billy performing a George Harrison classic at his friend's memorial tribute concert -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aa3...F8B9CE8&playnext_from=PL&index=7

* Billy rocking an Afro to beat all Afros (take note Cinar!) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_DV54ddNHE&feature=related

And my absolute favourite which I e-mail to friends every Christmas/New Year's...

* Billy and Aretha Frankin in the best version of Auld Lang Syne ever -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U9z...F8B9CE8&playnext_from=PL&index=0
Posted By: Blacula Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 11:25 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Sketch Lad:
Across the Universe by Fiona Apple
Great choice Sketch! That is an excellent cover.

I can't help but be reminded of my friend Michael Johns' less successful attempt at that song on American Idol but then that also reminds me of his amazing version of Dolly Parton's 'It's All Wrong, But It's All Right' which I think blows hers out of the water (and that's coming from a big Dolly fan) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evjYXmMeVFg
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 12:54 PM
Quote
Originally posted by cleome:
BTW, great idea for a thread, Jerry. These links are great!

Here's a little more Mitchell before I head off to bed: Terri Lyne Carrington and her band play "Ethiopia" .

Jazz musicians really love Mitchell. I think Herbie Hancock did an entire CD of her songs at one time. And Ethel Ennis, a criminally underrated vocalist, did a killer version of "For Free" on her If Women Ruled The World disc, accompanied by one of my favorite horn players: Jane Ira Bloom. (Couldn't find that one on YouTube, unfortunately.)
Yes, the Herbie Hancock tribute is called River. It's nice and he won a grammy for it. Lots of great guests. Tina Turner does vocals on Edith. It's fun to see jazz musicians embrace Joni Mitchell. She was bitterly rejected by the jazz establishment when she made her initial efforts at writing, singing, and playing jazz.
Posted By: Dave Hackett Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 01:09 PM
Rebekah Del Rio covers Roy Orbison's Crying (Llorando), from Mullholland Drive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIpkMg9sh6Q
Posted By: Exnihil Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 03:52 PM
Club Silencio. Great scene from a great movie, rouge.


One of my favorite covers I actually posted a while back in the "Your Latest Favorite Song" thread, but I like it so much it bears repeating.

Beck has an online project where he's done covers of complete albums of artists like Skip Spence, Leonard Cohen, and the Velvet Underground, the last of which produced this fantastic cover of "I'll Be Your Mirror":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XepyhNKnhGk
Posted By: Dave Hackett Re: Amazing Covers - 07/09/10 04:50 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Exnihil:
Club Silencio. Great scene from a great movie, rouge.
Not to get too far off topic, but it really is such a brilliant scene. You're told that it's a recording, you think that you "know" it is a recording, but when she collapses and her voice continues, it's still so shocking. The illusion is just so convincing, and the song so powerful.

It just reflects so beautifully on the "Reality" the characters are experiencing up til this point. One of the best scenes in cinema.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/10/10 05:34 PM
Here's Herbie Hancock and Tina Turner covering Joni MItchell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaRx52OD8IY
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/10/10 05:50 PM
BTW, good choices everyone.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/10/10 10:11 PM
It was those gents from Queens, N.Y., who made me kind of almost enjoy Aerosmith .

Then there's these guys ...
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/10/10 10:18 PM
[snip]

Quote
Originally posted by Jerry:
...It's fun to see jazz musicians embrace Joni Mitchell. She was bitterly rejected by the jazz establishment when she made her initial efforts at writing, singing, and playing jazz.
A lot of the initial hostility had to do with the time it first happened, I figure. There's a long history of cultural appropriation in jazz that it was hard for Black musicians to talk about without suffering automatic commercial suicide-- until fairly late in the 20th Century. A lot of Black musicians probably looked at Mitchell and thought she was just another carpetbagger, gaming somebody else's culture for whatever cache she could get from it. They didn't think she was serious or that she any sincere interest in the form.

Meanwhile, a lot of White critics were just going to dismiss anyone tagged with the "rock" label who got near their genre without really examining what they were doing with it.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/10/10 10:23 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Blacula:
Wow! I was not expecting to find some other Billy Preston fans at Legion World! He never got the level of fame he truly deserved but I think a lot of other musicians would kill for the career he had and the achievements he earned during it. How many people get credited with being 'the 5th Beatle' due to all the work he did with that group?

Some incredible Billy Preston videos on Youtube...
nod

I admit that I'd forgotten what a gem the guy was, until a few years back when I heard a local soul-funk tribute band playing "Will It Go 'Round In Circles" live. Such a great melody. Never goes out of style.

And don't forget, despite his commentary in "Nothing From Nothing," Preston had a side career as superhero .

I bumped the Beatles thread, since I already had some other covers posted over there.
Posted By: Dev-Em Re: Amazing Covers - 07/10/10 10:27 PM
Quote
Originally posted by cleome:
It was those gents from Queens, N.Y., who made me kind of almost enjoy Aerosmith .

Then there's these guys ...
Okay, I love the Run DMC version...but I almost lost it with the second one. Where did you ever find that?
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/10/10 10:32 PM
I blame the local "community" radio station, Dev. Their weekday morning show when I used to get up for work several years ago was always very folk-bluegrass oriented. Sometimes they got bored will all those songs about broken hearts and the untimely death of loved ones and stopping the war and yadda yadda yadda. Then they'd slip this Hayseed Dixie masterwork into the mix.

laugh
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/11/10 01:52 AM
These guys did a great job making this song feel new, while totally respecting the King.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2aha4uEpEQ
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 07/11/10 02:11 AM
Bringing the thread full circle, another Lou Reed cover, this one from Simple Minds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1-iLfE-WNQ
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/11/10 03:02 AM
Percy Mayfield has written so many Blues/R&B classics. ("Hit The Road, Jack;" "River's Invitation," "Please Send Me Someone To Love," etc.) I knew his name, but it wasn't until hearing this rip-roaring take of "You Don\'t Exist No More" that I counted myself a capital-F fan.

Mayfield's original version is introspective and sad. Whereas Li'l Ed and his band sound mad enough to kick a house down-- while the ex is still in it. laugh
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/11/10 05:42 PM
Concrete Blonde does Leonard Cohen. Don Henley also does a respectable cover of this song, but I prefer Blonde's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaJAxdGeZ4E
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/11/10 06:25 PM
I can't stop listening to The Bobs' cover of "White Room."

I dunno'... maybe I need professional help...?

shrug

<span style="font-size: 11px;">P.S. -- Canucks ain\'t afraid of no ghosts! </span>
Posted By: He Who Wanders Re: Amazing Covers - 07/11/10 10:14 PM
Love the Bobs! Discovered them years ago on Dr. Demento.

Though not a cover, to my knowledge, check out "Banana Love."

They also have off-the-wall covers of "Pscyho Killer" (Talking Heads), "Whole Lotta Love" (Led Zeppelin), and "Light My Fire" (Doors).
Posted By: Set Re: Amazing Covers - 07/12/10 02:11 AM
30 Seconds to Mars cover of Kanye West's Stronger is freaking awesome to listen to. The lyrics are pretty creepy, but it sounds amazing. (According to the eldest daughter, the fan-video I linked to is like, totally hot.)

I'm a huge Bowie fan, but I like the Wallflowers cover of Heroes better than the original. (Sacriledge, I know!)

And to compound the heresy, I like Nirvana's cover of The Man Who Sold the World better than Bowie's version! (And I generally loathe Nirvana.)
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/12/10 02:30 AM
Regardless of one's opinion of Nirvana, it's hard to deny that the unplugged session contained some soulful, deeply felt, and well performed music.

I generally like the Wallflowers, but it's hard to top Bowie on Heroes.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/13/10 01:09 AM
Speaking of unplugged, here is another good moment. This one became a hit. I still prefer the Patti Smith version, but Natalie gained some respect from me with this performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14R4ZsMM0E
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 07/14/10 01:37 AM
A 70s glam rock classic, originally by the late, great Mick Ronson, here performed with affection and energy by Def Leppard -- "Only After Dark"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOO6wztjxV0
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/14/10 02:19 AM
Antony and the Johnsons cover Dylan. The most haunting voice of our generation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNnEReAd80w&feature=related
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/14/10 02:21 AM
Awesome, Fanfic Lass. Def Leppard rocks!
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 07/14/10 02:45 AM
Yay, another Def Leppard fan!

Their all-covers album "YEAH!" is, without hyperbole, one of the greatest recordings of the past decade.

Here's the admittedly fine David Essex lead single:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTB6MciEFLc

But as much as I love it, THESE Roxy Music and David Bowie gems are the best songs IMO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xytn7wGr4c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqvaTrjQL68
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/14/10 03:02 AM
I stand corrected. Def Leppard rocks ON !

My fave is the Blondie cover. Def Leppard covering Blondie. Who would have expected that?
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/16/10 04:29 AM
Chili Peppers cover Stevie Wonder. Fun video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5W84l6qE-s
Posted By: Set Re: Amazing Covers - 07/16/10 04:42 AM
The Def Leppard take on Rock On is pretty awesome, but I think I like the David Essex one better, which surprises me.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/16/10 04:59 AM
TBH, The Rolling Stones to me are usually like a bag of chips. When I'm in the mood, sure. It's crunchy and distracting and then in ten minutes it's gone and I've forgotten all about it.

Most of their stuff is okay but not interesting to me. There's no "there" there.

OTOH, Band of Susans ' trademark menacing fuzz guitar sound gives "Paint It Black" all kinds of sinister undertones that are totally missing from the original.

BoS was awesome. I still love them after all these years.
Posted By: Sketch Lad Re: Amazing Covers - 07/16/10 07:17 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Blacula:
Quote
Originally posted by Sketch Lad:
[b] Across the Universe by Fiona Apple
Great choice Sketch! That is an excellent cover.

I can't help but be reminded of my friend Michael Johns' less successful attempt at that song on American Idol but then that also reminds me of his amazing version of Dolly Parton's 'It's All Wrong, But It's All Right' which I think blows hers out of the water (and that's coming from a big Dolly fan) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evjYXmMeVFg [/b]
Yep, Michael renewed my enjoyment of ATU and I LOVED his version of the Dolly song (which I'd never heard before.) I liked it when he performed it on Ellen that year.

At the risk of seeming like a total Idol geek, I really liked Adam Lambert's weird version of "Ring of Fire." In fact, I liked MOST of Adam Lamberts covers on Idol.

Okay.... Idol segue over... carry on...
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/17/10 03:44 AM
Dar and Ani cover Pink Floyd. This one has became part of our soundtrack for my partner's journey through cancer. We were both Floyd fans back in the day, but are now at an age and stage where Dar is more frequently played in the house. The line "Your lips move but I can't hear what you are saying" became a helpful tool for giving perspective to the awful bedside manner of one particular doctor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqQFWXWVBNA
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/17/10 04:28 PM
Stones covers? Yeah, sometimes hard to pull off. This one I like. I never paid any attention to Keith Urban before I saw this performance. I never liked Alicia Keyes. She changed my mind, with this, by showing that she can rock. My favorite performance from Live Earth.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNtaMXjV5GE
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/17/10 04:33 PM
Gah. I can't believe I left the wrong link in the above BoS post for days. scream

Anyway, it's fixed now.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/17/10 04:48 PM
LOL. I found it any way. While I was looking I found a fun old Tracy Ullman sketch where she paints her kitchen black. Hadn't seen it in years.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/18/10 12:51 AM
Quote
Originally posted by He Who Wanders:
Love the Bobs! Discovered them years ago on Dr. Demento.

Though not a cover, to my knowledge, check out "Banana Love."

They also have off-the-wall covers of "Pscyho Killer" (Talking Heads), "Whole Lotta Love" (Led Zeppelin), and "Light My Fire" (Doors).
nod

I've got an autographed copy of their all-covers disc, but I got it at a thrift store. So its not autographed to me.

I linked to the Be Arthurs upthread without naming them, but here's their awesome cover of Beck's "Think I\'m In Love." The cuteness... IT ATE MY BRAAAAAAIN!! eek eek
Posted By: He Who Wanders Re: Amazing Covers - 07/18/10 02:27 AM
The Be Arthur's are fun! Loved their rendition of "Ghost Riders in the Sky" .
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/18/10 05:03 AM
Okay -- I need to get some more Joni Mitchell covers out there:

Here's the song of hers that is probably the most frequently covered. The Counting Crows had the biggest hit with it, and deservedly so. Sleek and clean version. It always makes me feel good when this one comes on the radio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvtJPs8IDgU

This one has been covered a lot, too. It has been "the Christmas song" around our house for years. Sarah's version now has it getting played on all the commercial stations, with the rest of the Christmas standards, each year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udkaq7odKJo

Natalie Merchant again. This time giving us a simple, pretty version of Joni's most simple and sweet love song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUDL-HlvqJw
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/18/10 05:09 AM
Diana Krall gives us a stirring version of one of Joni's heartbreaking classics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz8PetdfiW0

And finally, this is more of a sample and tribute. It's a beautiful video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ULDq1AFImQ
Posted By: rickshaw1 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/18/10 12:28 PM
I'd say just about the entire album Encomium, which was a tribute to Led Zepplin.

Here's a take from it, but the sound is pretty bad. The album however, is great, and some folks did some truly amazing covers. Sorry if they have been mentioned before, I haven't read the entire thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVmFF6_etkI&feature=related
Posted By: Eryk Davis Ester Re: Amazing Covers - 07/18/10 02:28 PM
Speaking of Encomium, one of the best tracks recorded for it didn't make on the album, though it apparently got a fair amount of radio play, at least in the LA market, back in the day.

I think the first song I ever heard by Kevin Gilbert was this cover , however.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/19/10 03:57 AM
Thanks for the reminder about Encomium. I listened to it once at a friends house a few years back. There is some nice work on it. This is the first I'm hearing of Kevin Gilbert, EDE. He's got some talent.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/20/10 03:06 AM
Bette Midler does the Andrew Sisters. Just for fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuIb22WJF-c
Posted By: DrakeB3004 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/21/10 01:11 AM
Frente! covers "Bizarre Love Triangle"
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/21/10 04:23 AM
Good one, Drake. It takes some courage to cover New Order. Frente! succeeded in giving the song a completely different feel.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/21/10 04:23 AM
Rosanne Cash and Bruce Springsteen cover Don Gibson. From my favorite CD of 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3LSrcKksCo&feature=related
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/23/10 02:49 AM
Two totally different takes on Leonard Cohen's "Bird on a Wire".

The Neville Brothers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9ez80bQW4w


Willie Nelson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZutD7E-toOI

Both amazing.
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 07/25/10 10:57 PM
Long ago, before Rod Stewart became a schlock-meister, he was, among other things, a remarkably good interpreter of other people's songs. He did many Bob Dylan covers, and this is my favorite, "Tomorrow Is Such A Long Time"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX0fpryZNFk
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/28/10 02:57 AM
Totally agree regarding Rod Stewart's ability to interpret other's songs. He always manages to bring something unique to the mix.

Here, Melissa Etheridge returns the favor covering a Rod Stewart classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqlLBM2pI6A
Posted By: Outdoor Miner Re: Amazing Covers - 07/28/10 03:45 AM
Some very impressive stuff in this thread.

This is one of my favorite Bob Dylan covers. It's been covered a lot, but still isn't particularly well-known.

Fairport Convention:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUtFXmS9FmA
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/28/10 04:08 AM
Here's a fun one from days of old. Campy by today's standards, but pure teeny bopper L.O.V.E. in its day. Joe Hardy does Eric Carmen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpwZ0934wtU&feature=related
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 07/28/10 05:21 AM
Shirley Horn's tribute to Ray Charles should be in everyone's collection. I can't imagine being without it, personally. From that disc:

" Hit The Road, Jack "-- another Percy Mayfield classic.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/29/10 03:27 AM
Cleome, the Shirley Horn performance is beautiful. It's hard to find words for it.

Outdoor Miner, I love Fairport Convention on Dylan. Here's another favorite Dylan cover of mine. The recorded version starts out much stronger, but Sophie lets it build up during this live performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se2v0ooDg_M
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/01/10 01:55 AM
Nobody has ever managed to top Jimmy Cliff's original version of "Many Rivers to Cross". A lot of great artists have tried. Toni Childs gives an excellent attempt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2NZd78oQ7E
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/02/10 04:42 AM
Thomasina Winslow and Marco Haber strip away Steve Miller's fake Prog mannerisms and come up with something muscular and sort of paradoxically wistful, too.

"Fly Like An Eagle"
Posted By: Blacula Re: Amazing Covers - 08/02/10 06:49 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Jerry:
Nobody has ever managed to top Jimmy Cliff's original version of "Many Rivers to Cross". A lot of great artists have tried. Toni Childs gives an excellent attempt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2NZd78oQ7E
Haven't heard that version in years! Thanks for posting that, Jerry.

Jimmy Cliff's original is a favourite of mine and if anyone ever gets the opportunity to see the excellent Jamaican film that it was recorded for "The Harder They Come"...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070155/

... I recommend they do so. (Though you may need subtitles unless your ears are better at deciphering STRONG Jamaican accents than mine are.) That film is chock-a-block full of some of the most awesome early reggae/calypso/ska music you will ever hear. Including this gem by one of my favourite bands ever, Toots and the Maytals (which is actually a scene from the film) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_St8Kbo4uwU

(Sorry - it's not a cover but I just had to post it anyway.)
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/03/10 03:30 AM
I saw "The Harder They Come" in a local art theater my freshman year in college. It was my first exposure to Jimmy Cliff, and was an assignment from my Cultural Arts professor. Thank goodness for good old fashioned American liberal education values.

Here's the late great Joe Strummer covering Jimmy Cliff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF2oG9_MHrg

And, how about Jimmy Cliff covering Cat Stevens?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLi3RX__PcA
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/04/10 03:00 AM
While we're on a reggae vibe, we can't forget this terrific cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS4Y...963E7E98EFE6&playnext=1&index=33
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/08/10 06:26 PM
Rory Block (b. 1949*) covers Son House's Preachin\' Blues .

*<span style="font-size: 11px;">In... NEW JERSEY!?!?

W00T!

This more than makes up for the pain of Sinatra, Springsteen, and Jon Bon Jovi combined. tongue </span>
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/09/10 02:43 AM
Rory needs to win lots of awards and get tons more exposures. She is amazing.


Here's one that makes me sad. The incomparable Diana Ross covering the incomparable Billie Holiday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXfbMhzwbQs&feature=related
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/11/10 05:00 AM
I've been meaning to link to this one for awhile. Bonnie Raitt covering John Prine. It grabs your soul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe3vb0z7mY
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/13/10 04:32 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Jerry:
Rory needs to win lots of awards and get tons more exposures. She is amazing.
nod

Quote
Here's one that makes me sad. The incomparable Diana Ross covering the incomparable Billie Holiday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXfbMhzwbQs&feature=related
James Baldwin trashed the hell out of that movie, but he conceded that Diana Ross could really sing. laugh
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/13/10 04:35 AM
Quis just reminded me of Terry Callier's* "Just My Imagination" cover.

From the Speak Your Peace disc (2002); one of my favorites

*b. 1945, Chicago.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/14/10 04:01 AM
Sorry, Cleome. Can't resist this one. Boy George covers Dave Berry. Perfectly sad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOgv-UuTgac&feature=related
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/14/10 04:06 AM
Jerry, I love that cover. It helped get me through a particularly bad year for music.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/15/10 05:19 PM
Abbey Lincoln does her trademark reworking of a pop song: " Windmills of Your Mind " by Legrand/Bergman/Bergman.

She died yesterday, just a few days after her 80th birthday. Lincoln was an outstanding songwriter in her own right, and her last recording was a stripped down re-imagining of her own classic songs: full of country-blues flourishes more than traditional jazz.

Younger singers are great admirers of her work. Here's Kendra Shank, covering Lincoln's " Throw It Away ."

frown RIP, Golden Lady . You'll be greatly missed. frown
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/16/10 02:34 AM
Thanks for the Abbey Lincoln tributes. What an amazing talent.

Here's one that's a surprising change of pace. Matchbox 20 covering Cindi Lauper? Yeah, it works...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuxCOjoFp7Y
Posted By: Eryk Davis Ester Re: Amazing Covers - 08/16/10 10:02 PM
I'm trying to decide if this brilliant, or just bizarre.

Darkside of the Moonshine
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/17/10 03:12 AM
Hmmm, EDE. I'll give it 10% brilliant and 90% bizarre.


Madonna's birthday? How about Madonna covering Peggy Lee?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyFJ3lAo-qc


And then, Tori covering Madonna:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ivuoyKTxnY

I love them both!
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/19/10 01:56 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Jerry:
Thanks for the Abbey Lincoln tributes. What an amazing talent.

Here's one that's a surprising change of pace. Matchbox 20 covering Cindi Lauper? Yeah, it works...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuxCOjoFp7Y
Glad you enjoyed it, Jerry. I'm falling behind on catching up on all the music links... will have to try and get to it over the weekend.

Oh, and about Boy George, hey-- I love to rant and rave about music, but don't apologize for posting what'cha love. I mean, it's your thread, right? And we don't all have to love exactly the same stuff.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/21/10 04:18 PM
Yeah, I mentioned her in another thread, but you can't ever have too much of Katie Webster, the late, great "Two-Fisted Mama." So here she is covering the classic " Sea of Love " by Phil Phillips and George Khoury.

[dreamy sigh]
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/21/10 05:12 PM
Tina Turner let the world know she still had the goods when she covered Al Green's "Let's Stay Together". This perfect rendition marked the beginning of one of the greatest comebacks in pop music history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6vnLLsifm8
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/21/10 05:31 PM
Oh, and as an addendum to the 9 Signs that your husband is gay thread - if your husband can recount in detail exactly where he was and what he was doing the first time he heard Tina's version of "Let's Stay Together", there can be no doubt.
Posted By: Blacula Re: Amazing Covers - 08/22/10 11:26 AM
Any talk of Tina Turner and 'covers' is not complete without including this absolutely AMAZING performance of a classic CCR song -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54XRNQ2C2x0&feature=related

What a talent she is!

I also quite like this version she did of one of my favourite songs ever, 'Save the Last Dance for Me' -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvvf8chEj8M&feature=PlayList&p=D75AA33CE170B111&index=20

Though I think the original is still better.

And though it's been covered many times, Tina's is still the best version of this fantastic song -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULw1RHHPv5g&feature=related
Posted By: Blacula Re: Amazing Covers - 08/22/10 11:39 AM
Being a bit more contemporary for a moment for all the young'uns here at Legion World, I think the White Stripes did a great job at updating these two old classics (and the video for the first one is sexy as Hell IMO - and I am no fan of the model involved) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54XRNQ2C2x0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXlULkwhgrc
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/22/10 07:14 PM
Yes, Blacula, Ike and Tina's cover of Proud Mary is one of the ultimate examples of laying claim to another's artist's song and making it your own. I could waste a whole day watching Tina Turner clips on youtube. So many amazing performances. She also claimed Elton John's hit "The Bitch Is Back" as her own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2oPJVaM35U

Thanks for posting the White Stripe's "Jolene". I've been meaning to get to that one. Jack White just doesn't compromise as an artist. He brought the same sensibility to Loretta Lynn's work on Van Lear Rose a few years back to great effect.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/25/10 04:15 AM
Midnight Oil covers Lennon. Awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5xG-h7ypUw&feature=related
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/25/10 05:13 PM
Since I'm on a Carla Bozulich kick, here's another of her old outfits, Ethyl Meatplow, doing a number on " Close To You ."

Personally, I think it's hilarious, but YMMV.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/27/10 05:03 AM
Ethyl Meatplow?!? LOL

A couple of nice Yoko Ono covers:

From Rosanne Cash,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRxmU0Xovqw

and Roberta Flack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naw8kCELyXo&feature=related

Both have a special place in my in life.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/28/10 03:08 PM
Am I the only one who thinks that Seu Jorge's Bowie covers were the best thing about The Life Aquatic?

Tellus
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 08/28/10 08:47 PM
Meanwhile, back in the States, Those Darn Accordions present the only Rod Stewart cover you\'ll ever need...

laugh
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/10 02:01 AM
In my opinion the only gem from Peter Gabriel's otherwise disappointing all-covers album, here's his version of Neil Young's "Philadelphia":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kicERnTrpPQ
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/10 02:11 AM
Accordians do add something to that Rod Stewart song. Very funny. It does need a couple of drag queens, though.

This is the first time I heard the Gabriel cover of Young. I like it. What is the world is he doing releasing a cover album, though? He's always struck me as one of those chronic songwriters never able to sate the need to get his own music out there.

Pearl Jam does what is considered the most iconic Young cover, I guess. It always gets my blood pumping:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUJGlI13KdE
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/10 02:24 AM
Glad you like Gabriel's Young cover, Jerry.

The Gabriel covers album was originally supposed to have a sister album of other artists (including many of the ones whose songs Gabriel covered) doing covers of Gabriel songs. Unfortunately, the sister album has been delayed indefinitely, so it's ended up looking like an ordinary covers album.

I also suspect it all started out as something of a stopgap because, after almost 10 years, Gabriel still hasn't completed the official follow-up to "Up."
Posted By: Eryk Davis Ester Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/10 02:26 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Jerry:
What is the world is he doing releasing a cover album, though?
That's what a legion of Peter Gabriel fans have been asking for the past year, as well.

He hasn't released a full-fledged studio album in 8 years (with 10 years between that and his previous release), despite supposedly having written hundreds of songs in the meantime, and he suddenly comes out with a covers album. Which is, incidentally, going to be followed up by an album of re-arrangements of his own material in the same style.
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/10 02:28 AM
Ah, the same answer in two different styles.

Which do YOU prefer, EDE or FLo?
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/10 02:34 AM
Lucky to have both !!
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/10 02:36 AM
smile
Posted By: jab Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/10 02:38 AM
two of my favorite covers of all times

johnny cash & joe strummer covering 'redemption song'

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

moby covering the bad brains classic 'sailin' on'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CRhWliovcs
Posted By: Eryk Davis Ester Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/10 02:45 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Fanfic Lass:
Ah, the same answer in two different styles.

I'm sure there's something deeply significant in the fact that you went for mentioning the follow-up with other artists' covering Gabriel's work, while I went for the mention of Gabriel's follow-up covering his own work.

Meat for the future cyber-archeologists, no doubt.
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/31/10 12:31 AM
Siouxsie & the Banshees cover Bob Dylan & the Band??

Actually, it's more likely they knew the song from the hit psychedelic-pop version by Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger.

Either way, the S&tB version is my favorite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTOzu_hGs1Q
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/31/10 02:17 AM
Fun one. I haven't listened to any Siouxsie in years. I forgot how wonderful she is.


Jab, thanks for posting your picks. Both are very nice. Cash and Strummer covering Marley... Can it get any more real than that? I was driving home from work with my carpool buddy the evening of the 9/11 attacks. The local dj played "Redemption Song" to mark the event. My buddy cried. It's a moment I'll always remember.
Posted By: Outdoor Miner Re: Amazing Covers - 08/31/10 02:25 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Fanfic Lass:
Siouxsie & the Banshees cover Bob Dylan & the Band??

Actually, it's more likely they knew the song from the hit psychedelic-pop version by Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger.
I'm pretty sure I read an interview with her where she said that was the case. I believe she also said that they didn't know it was a Dylan song when they recorded it.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/31/10 02:32 AM
Wasn't this the theme song for "Aboslutely Fabulous"? Whose version was that?
Posted By: Outdoor Miner Re: Amazing Covers - 08/31/10 03:52 AM
Yes.

The version in AbFab was a new recording featuirng Driscoll and comic Adrian Edmondson.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/31/10 04:40 AM
The Talking Heads cover Al Green. God, I miss these guys!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anjT71N4PGM&feature=related
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/31/10 12:07 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Outdoor Miner:
Quote
Originally posted by Fanfic Lass:
[b]Siouxsie & the Banshees cover Bob Dylan & the Band??

Actually, it's more likely they knew the song from the hit psychedelic-pop version by Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger.
I'm pretty sure I read an interview with her where she said that was the case. I believe she also said that they didn't know it was a Dylan song when they recorded it. [/b]
If that's the case, I'm not entirely surprised. Somehow I just can't imagine the teenage Susan Dallion listening to Dylan and/or the Band as she dreams of being a world-conquering pop star. That's not a slam against Dylan or the Band, it's just that Siouxsie's generation was much more into the unholy trinity of Iggy-Bowie-Reed.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 09/02/10 04:57 AM
Black Crowes cover Otis Redding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtLbE3IUY2U
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 09/05/10 09:00 PM
Cyndi Lauper again. Does she ever stop? This time featuring Jonny Lang on a BB King cover. I've seen lots of live performances in my life. Jonny Lang was one of the best. If you ever get a chance to see him, don't pass it up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XamfVQRsV3E&feature=related
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 09/26/10 05:05 PM
[snip]

Quote
Originally posted by Jerry:
Accordions do add something to that Rod Stewart song. Very funny. It does need a couple of drag queens, though...

I wouldn't mind seeing Paul Rogers in drag. [fans self] They do put on a great live show.

At least you can have some happening gowns in their cover of "It\'s Now Or Never."
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 10/03/10 04:37 AM
Linda Ronstadt covers Smokey Robinson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh0iSj9_be4
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 10/10/10 04:41 PM
Malian goddess Rokia Traore (b.1974) makes a rare excursion into English-language song: the Gershwins' "The Man I Love."
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 10/10/10 04:49 PM
Meanwhile, in Oz, American Eric Bibb (b. 1951) covers the Jimmy Oden classic "Goin' Down Slow."

Sometimes the simplest treatment is the best. cool
Posted By: rickshaw1 Re: Amazing Covers - 10/14/10 12:10 AM
HIM covering Chris Issaks' Wicked Game. Preposterous video, but very good song.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 10/17/10 11:12 PM
There have been approximately 8,000,000,000,000,000 versions of "What Is This Thing Called Love?" recorded since Cole Porter penned it in 1929.

If you ask me, this 1963 version by Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) is still the best of them all.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 10/18/10 04:37 AM
These two hit all the right notes on this Van Morrison cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aoywIHLqbs&feature=related
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 10/24/10 05:56 AM
Tori usually includes random covers in her concerts. She puts her unique spin on everything she touches. My favorite is her cover of Lloyd Cole's Rattlesnakes .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UazvXSLFNc
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 11/10/10 04:43 AM
Love this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uebBTVdbErE
Posted By: l.e.g.i.o.n.JOHN Re: Amazing Covers - 11/15/10 11:10 PM
The Power Station did two covers on their 1985 debut album first they did a cover of T-Rex's Get it on (bang a a gong) here and they did a cover of The Isley Brothers song Harvest for the world here
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 11/16/10 04:01 AM
The Power Station was a crazy - in a good way - idea. Great finds, John.
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 12/11/10 06:17 PM
The great Joni Mitchell, in a refreshingly playful mood that permeates what I believe to be her most underrated album, "Wild Things Run Fast", covers a favorite oldie of hers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGfWuPEyf4s
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 12/17/10 04:00 AM
More Joni. Thanks, Fanfic Lady.

Here's Amy Ray from the Indigo Girls covering Dire Straits. Much more raw and heartfelt than the original.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GzA1ZJvSKU&feature=fvw
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 12/31/10 07:20 PM
Yeah, Xmas is already over. But Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's re-imagining of "The Nutcracker Suite" is glorious any time of year!

"Sugar Rum Cherry" , fka "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."

(My Mom once glowered at me for playing this on the tape deck in her car. Parents. No sense of adventure, I tell you...)
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/20/11 04:18 AM
I don't think there's been an ABBA cover yet, has there?

Here. Let me fix that.

[dreamy sigh]
Posted By: profh0011 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/20/11 11:23 PM
Sure there has-- The Chipmunks did "Take A Chance On me" on their CHIPMUNK ROCK album (1982).
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/21/11 08:21 PM
I meant on this thread, profh. urk
Posted By: profh0011 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/21/11 09:55 PM
I knew someone at work who get VERY OFFENDED when I put on some Chipmunks music years back. (what made it "worse" was, it was Christmastime!)

Ross Jr.'s early albums were quite good, I think (as a fan of his father's work since the early 60's). Of course, that's me...
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 01/29/11 05:23 AM
Here's another nice Abba cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KXlazqs-Dg
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 03/04/11 08:21 PM
Simon & Garfunkel started out playing gospel covers, folk-style. So here's Aretha Franklin taking one of their later hits back to/for gospel.

She does a rare turn on the keyboard, too.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

[swoon]
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 03/04/11 08:30 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Jerry:
Here's another nice Abba cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KXlazqs-Dg
D'awww!! smile

<span style="font-size: 11px;">(Uh, I think I caught mr_cleome rocking out to Kylie Minogue once. Should I worry?)</span>
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 03/04/11 08:33 PM
Quote
Originally posted by profh0011:
I knew someone at work who get VERY OFFENDED when I put on some Chipmunks music years back. (what made it "worse" was, it was Christmastime!)

Ross Jr.'s early albums were quite good, I think (as a fan of his father's work since the early 60's). Of course, that's me...
As pups, my pals and I would amuse ourselves by "borrowing" our older sisters' records by the Osmonds and their ilk-- and playing them on the 78 rpm setting.

So would that count as "DIY" Chipmunks?

(Jimmy Osmond's cover of "Tweedlee Dee" was particularly awesome after undergoing this treatment.) tongue
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 04/19/11 06:36 AM
Oh, yeah. So sweet I almost cried.

Eighties California Pop goes to London, but leaves its heart in New Orleans!

love
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 05/14/11 09:40 PM
Ryan Adams and Beth Orton do unspeakable things to The Rolling Stones .

lol

(Not to be played at a party, unless you want all the guests to pack up and go home without being told to...)
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 05/28/11 10:03 PM
Los Lobos playing Disney.

(Cesar, you're still my favorite Lefty and someday I'll buy you a beer. I swear. hug )
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 06/20/11 10:31 PM
Q. What's more nerdy than the Golden Arm Trio's cover of the music from Star Wars?

A. Nothing. Absolutely Nothing.

(WARNING:<span style="font-size: 12px;">If you cringe at the mere mention of the word "Theremin" or the phrase "free jazz," this is not the cover you've been looking for. You could at least skip to 5:05, where the Cantina Theme begins, though. That's cute and bouncy, kinda'...</span>)

<span class="spoiler_containter"><span class="spoiler_wording">Click Here For A Spoiler</span><span class="spoiler_text">Unless it's their cover of the music from Star Trek. </span></span>
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/10/11 05:22 AM
Smith does the Stones. Natural.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAGmuxPAD_4&feature=related
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 07/11/11 01:27 AM
Todd Rundgren introduces many Americans (including my younger self) to the art of the Small Faces:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np0pNrzPqnI
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 07/11/11 02:25 AM
Todd, Todd, Todd...

I was fortunate to see him perform live in a small club in the midwest in the early 90s. Such an odd and interesting musician. Thanks for sharing FL!
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 07/11/11 02:30 AM
You're very welcome, Jerry.

I love Todd. He makes me proud to be a Philadelphian.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/08/11 04:55 AM
Patti Smith covers Prince. Well, why not? Love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VfUZFPAC5k&feature=fvwrel
Posted By: .. Re: Amazing Covers - 08/14/11 06:57 AM
By Finland's HIM:
Don\'t Fear the Reaper
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 08/14/11 04:38 PM
Interesting. Definitely more ominous with some strong vocals. I miss the more melodic qualities of BOC, though.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 10/24/11 06:29 AM
Hee hee. [b]Bonerama[/b] jazzes up Black Sabbath!
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 10/30/11 06:37 PM
In honor of Halloween: Cibo Matto\'s cover of "The Candyman."

Viva! La Nineties laugh
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 10/30/11 11:53 PM
Okay, I'm really not such a Lady Gaga fan, but it's hard to not approve of this medley , just on general principles.

eek Dancing while playing the bassoon can't be easy. eek
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 11/06/11 02:33 AM
The Four Tops Cover The Yardbirds!

(How did I achieve such an advanced age without ever hearing this before?!)

faint

eek <span style="font-size: 11px;"> (bonus track!) </span> eek
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 11/13/11 05:55 AM
Continuing the soul/R&B theme: There have been so many covers of "Bring It On Home To Me." Good as Sam Cooke's original was, I honestly think Z.Z. Hill\'s*[/color] version surpasses it.

[color:lightblue]*(1935-1984)
Posted By: .. Re: Amazing Covers - 11/13/11 09:54 AM
Atrocity\'s cover of The Sun Always Shines on TV

I never read the whole thread, so I don't know if these two were mentioned, but from the only country artist i enjoy...Johnny Cash!!

Hurt

Personal Jesus
Posted By: Ram Boy Re: Amazing Covers - 11/13/11 04:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by dedman:
Personal Jesus
And here I thought I couldn't possibly like that guy any more.

Thanks, Ded.
Posted By: .. Re: Amazing Covers - 11/13/11 09:27 PM
NP Rammie!

The Depeche Mode original is awesome, but Cash takes it to a whole new level
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 11/14/11 08:32 PM
Kate Schutt jazzes up Sheila E.!

I think I may have to switch teams now...

love
Posted By: .. Re: Amazing Covers - 11/19/11 05:14 PM
So FK made a post in the worst 90's songs thread with a link to Aqua's Barbie Girl.
Which reminded me of this cover by the kings of industrial metal -
Rammstein covers Barbie Girl
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 12/24/11 04:33 AM
Calexico gives its ever-wonderful "Southwest" treatment to what's probably Joy Division's most famous song .
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/14/12 08:30 AM
I stumbled on Beverly McClellan 's original stuff totally by accident a week or so ago. I <span style="font-size: 15px;">love</span> this snippet of her singing the Who's "Teenage Wasteland," and giving it some pretty bluesy overtones.

cool
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 01/15/12 06:46 PM
Slade cover Chuck Berry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9HZXcix_tI
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 01/29/12 06:42 PM
Ray Davies of the Kinks is, in my opinion, one of those great songwriters whose singing voice puts me off. Thus, I present my five favorite Kinks covers, in chronological order:

The Pretenders, "I Go To Sleep" (1979)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yoR7fg2pE0

Van Halen, "Where Have All the Good Times Gone?" (1982)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke3ua0kLhYA

The Fall, "Victoria" (1988)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbQBdvEg_40

Kirsty MacColl, "Days" (1989)

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

Def Leppard, "Waterloo Sunset" (2005)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMnNP8aKBwc
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 01/29/12 10:36 PM
Thanks for posting all the Davies covers, FL.

So many great covers of "I Go To Sleep" and the Pretenders is my favorite.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/29/12 10:49 PM
Sex Mob gives their trademark punk-jazz treatment to "Live And Let Die" .

(And on a semi-related note, there's this .)
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 02/02/12 03:55 AM
Seal has a new cover album. Every song is a treat.

Seal covers Marvin
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 02/04/12 02:22 PM
Thanks to Harbinger for reminding me of this awesome performance:

Annie Covers the Clash
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 02/04/12 08:02 PM
More Annie, this time covering Neil Young:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23aYZf18i-c

My thanks to Harbi, as well.
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 02/07/12 01:33 AM
This won't get me any points for hipness, but I don't care. And it's worth noting that the Martha & the Vandellas original not only missed the pop Top 40, but didn't even make the R&B Top Five. So I thank Phil for introducing me to a beautiful song I might otherwise have never heard.

Phil Collins, "In My Lonely Room"
Posted By: Set Re: Amazing Covers - 02/11/12 09:54 AM
I love covers of Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence, particularly Lacuna Coil\'s .

But this is surely the strangest and coolest cover...
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 02/19/12 07:39 PM
Barbara Lynn brings her awesomeness to "Don\'t Be Cruel."
Posted By: Dave Hackett Re: Amazing Covers - 02/24/12 03:36 PM
Never liked Houston, and I've not really listened much to the Parton version, but Soundgarden was the later I worshipped at in the '90s and Chris Cornell really nails this version of "I Will Always Love You"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgFAq9Q8l8U
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 02/26/12 10:02 PM
Brazil's Pato Fu introduces kids to "Bohemian Rhapsody," via toy instruments. (I believe the CD name, Musica de Brinquedo translates as "Toy Music.")

lol

Unfortunately, I can't translate the puppet banter for you all, because I don't speak Portuguese. sigh But the music part begins around 1:45.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 04/17/12 04:18 AM
Bonnie Raitt covers the late Gerry Rafferty's biggest hit on her latest album. It's hard to beat the smooth vocals of Rafferty's original. Never the less, Bonnie is as classy as ever, the song deserves a revival, and the album is excellent.

Right Down the Line
Posted By: rickshaw1 Re: Amazing Covers - 04/22/12 03:52 PM
>sigh< my wife says any of the glee tunes. I don't know them. I prefer other stuff, but there ya go.
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 04/22/12 04:26 PM
Okay, Rick, This will make a believer out of you.

Glee Cover
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 06/12/12 01:41 AM
Set reminded me in another thread (ironically, the Worst Song Ever thread) how many good David Bowie covers are out there. Links to Def Leppard's "Drive In Saturday" and Nirvana's "The Man Who Sold the World" were already posted earlier in this thread, but here's a couple more.

Bauhaus, "Ziggy Stardust":

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ElukybhN54

Dead or Alive, "Rebel Rebel":

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGQwf4tapSk
Posted By: Jerry Re: Amazing Covers - 06/12/12 02:03 AM
Fun. Here's my favorite Rebel Rebel cover.

Rickie
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 06/12/12 05:47 PM
MLLASH reminded me of these two beauties from the Randy Newman songbook:

"I Think It\'s Going To Rain Today" , sung by the indescribably great Irma Thomas (b. 1941)

and

"Old Man" , sung by Art Garfunkel (b. 1941)

love love
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 06/23/12 01:11 AM
Related to that other thread: Nirvana covers:

Cibo Matto: "About A Girl" . The cheesy lounge-Latin arrangement and their deadpan intro never fails to make me giggle.

Laura Love: "Come As You Are" . I mostly know Love from her later work in bluegrass groups, but I like the ultra-simple stylings of this cover.
Posted By: .. Re: Amazing Covers - 06/24/12 04:22 PM
I have a full album of Metallica covers...

...rearranged as lullabies.

Enter Sandman
Posted By: .. Re: Amazing Covers - 07/13/12 03:10 AM
And I just discovered this song a few days ago...

I mostly listen to metal but I also am a big fan of Johnny Cash. Combine to two for a totally rocking song...

Sad Man\'s Tongue (Johnny Cash Cover) - Volbeat

I know most of you aren't into this style of music, but this is really worth checking out!!
Posted By: matlock Re: Amazing Covers - 08/05/12 03:54 AM
There's no connection or theme here but these are simply some random covers that I always enjoy:

We had some Lou Reed love early in the thread; here's a cover of one of his songs from the Velvet Undergound days. It's from The Feelies "Only Life" album (one of my all-time faves)

The Feelies - What Goes On

Husker Du released a few covers during their time together (including a version of "Sunshine Superman") but Bob Mould's howling semi-incoherence on this Byrds track makes it their best:

Husker Du - Eight Miles High

I have to be honest I had to look up the original artist behind this Madness number, so here's to you Mr. Labi Siffre. This version has sort of supplanted the original - it was recently used in a Volkswagen commercial:

Madness - It Must Be Love

This one I found through random youtube searching for The Clash but I've gone back to it quite often. The original is one of my favortie Clash songs - this band features a female lead singer and they added horns to the arrangement as well:

TIJUANA NO! - Spanish Bombs
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 10/02/13 01:10 AM
The Lords of the New Church reinvented a sixties anthem for the eighties, and came up with something timeless:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqtLfawD3zI
Posted By: Blockade Boy Re: Amazing Covers - 10/02/13 02:05 AM





Japanese do everything better.

Except pizza. Some of that stuff just don't stand.
Posted By: thoth lad Re: Amazing Covers - 10/04/13 12:40 PM
Just tripped across this sorting out some CDs.

My fav cover of Led Zeppelin's Whole lotta love - it's not a huge remove, but it has the pearl & dean intro, some electro and great vocals.


Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 01/11/14 07:31 PM
I recently discovered Morrissey's version of Magazine's "A Song from Under the Floorboards". I like Morrissey's laconic, more melodic take better than the more awkward and abrasive original. For those who are not familiar with the original, here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBfh8682eLE

And here's Morrissey's cover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTr6DpZS1XA
Posted By: Set Re: Amazing Covers - 01/12/14 03:10 AM
Joan Jett's version of Crimson and Clover is pretty awesome.

Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 01/12/14 08:21 PM
I agree, it is awesome, and I'm generally not a fan of hers.
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 04/26/14 11:17 PM
Billy Gibbons & Daryl Hall are no Sam & Dave, but they're not bad at all...for a couple of white boys. This also IMO blows Gibbons' version of the same song with ZZ Top out of the water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP87sqEaXc8
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 04/27/14 01:23 PM
And, to complement that, another good Sam & Dave cover, this one by Eurythmics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCU424GVRvI
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/14 09:56 PM
Lately, I've really been enjoying the Runaways' debut album, especially their cover of the Velvet Underground's "Rock 'n Roll":



To me, this blows anything from Joan and Lita's solo careers out of the water.
Posted By: Cobalt Kid Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/14 10:01 PM
Fanfie, I've never heard that track before and I absolutely love it!
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/29/14 10:29 PM
Glad to learn that, Cobie.

The song was written by the late, great Lou Reed.
Posted By: Set Re: Amazing Covers - 08/30/14 12:07 AM


Did someone mention Joan?

Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/30/14 02:51 PM
One of Joan's influences, Suzi Quatro, covered an Elvis Presley song. Reportedly, Elvis loved her version. And kudos to her for not changing the gender pronouns.

Posted By: Cobalt Kid Re: Amazing Covers - 08/30/14 03:36 PM
I've been jamming to the Runaways version of Rock & Roll for the last 24 hours!
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 08/30/14 06:51 PM
That's wonderful, Cobie. I'm always so happy when someone loves a song I recommend.
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 10/04/14 02:59 PM
Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliot's side project, the Down 'n Outz, cover one of Elton John's most ambitious compositions, and do it flawlessly:

Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/03/17 11:52 AM
bump
Posted By: Lard Lad Re: Amazing Covers - 01/03/17 03:00 PM
Originally Posted by Fanfic Lady
Lately, I've really been enjoying the Runaways' debut album, especially their cover of the Velvet Underground's "Rock 'n Roll"


It gets extra points for having MORE COWBELL! grin
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 01/04/17 05:42 AM
LOL Yes, indeed. Thanks, Lardy!! And thanks, Cleome, for bumping this thread. Will find something to add to it this evening.
Posted By: Jfposey Re: Amazing Covers - 01/04/17 12:09 PM
Jonathan Ansell's cover of "Who Wants to Live Forever?"

Posted By: Jfposey Re: Amazing Covers - 01/04/17 12:13 PM
Saw them in concert back in the 80's. Will To Power - Baby I Love Your Way

Posted By: Jfposey Re: Amazing Covers - 01/04/17 12:20 PM
Another great 80's moment Book of Love's cover of "Tubular Bells".

Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/05/17 10:28 AM
Originally Posted by cleome50
Yeah, Xmas is already over. But Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's re-imagining of "The Nutcracker Suite" is glorious any time of year!

"Sugar Rum Cherry" , fka "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."

(My Mom once glowered at me for playing this on the tape deck in her car. Parents. No sense of adventure, I tell you...)


Arrgghh!! Xmas is over and I didn't spin this even ONCE! [slaps forehead] Gonna' rectify that this instant!

In related news, I still love my Mom but she's still a total musical square. sigh
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 01/05/17 11:09 AM
Originally Posted by cleome50
Originally Posted by cleome50
Yeah, Xmas is already over. But Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's re-imagining of "The Nutcracker Suite" is glorious any time of year!

"Sugar Rum Cherry" , fka "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."

(My Mom once glowered at me for playing this on the tape deck in her car. Parents. No sense of adventure, I tell you...)


Arrgghh!! Xmas is over and I didn't spin this even ONCE! [slaps forehead] Gonna' rectify that this instant!

In related news, I still love my Mom but she's still a total musical square. sigh


Cleome, LOL I had the opposite problem with my mom & dad's music. I loved their record collections so much* that my classmates would make fun of me for liking "old people's music," even though I also liked a lot of stuff that was aimed at young people.

*DAD: Beatles, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Cat Stevens, Neil Young. MOM: Donna Summer, ABBA, the Carpenters.

(Still looking for a good, change-of-pace cover to post. Stay tuned.)
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/06/17 11:00 AM
FL, my folks' tastes ran towards Broadway musicals and Opera mostly. When young, my sister and I did love hearing some of the (now classed as Easy Listening) stuff they also loved: like Robert Goulet, later Nat "King" Cole, and the later Mills Brothers. Oh, and Theodore Bikel of course.

There are probably still a few very well-loved Jazz LPs on my Mom's shelves: Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, etc. But those were given to my Dad by a painter friend when he moved to Paris and didn't feel like hauling a bunch of stuff along on the boat. But I don't think anyone touched them again until I reached college and found them on a high shelf.

As far as my parents were concerned, Bob Dylan ceased to exist after he went electric. I conquered that prejudice, at least.
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 01/06/17 11:15 AM
Cleome, LOL. Ah, folk purism and the ever-renewing vicious circle of the conflict between selling out and reaching a wider audience.

Reminds me of Lenny Kaye's liner notes to Suzanne Vega's best-of CD, "Retrospective" (which I think is one of the greatest best-ofs in my collection -- out of 21 tracks, 19 are GOLD, with Kaye's liner notes as the bonus.) When Suzanne was in her early 20s, she was part of what has been described as an EXTREMELY uptight and anti-commercial folk scene which was determined not to repeat the mistakes of Dylan's generation of folk artists. In hindsight, she has claimed that she never fit into that scene, but I'd like to think that the quality and integrity of her music is proof that she absorbed the most important and less extreme principles of the scene.

Back to covers & Dylan, I actually have a slew of my favorite Dylan covers waiting to be posted in my Soundtrack of My Life thread, but I'll select one for this thread. Which one shall it be? Stay tuned.
Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 01/06/17 11:44 AM
Here we go, one of many examples of the timelessness of Dylan's best-written songs:



I love Neko Case's voice and look, but I tend to prefer her covers (which are always exquisitely chosen) to her self-penned songs.
Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/09/17 04:34 PM
I have a dollar-sale copy of Carmen McRae's Can't Hide Love LP. Despite the trashing it took from the allmusic dot com guy, I've gotten pretty fond of it. Sometimes the Seventies Lite Funk arrangements get in the way, but not too often. Along with a cheerful, not-too-dated James Taylor cover (below), there's also her striking version of Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed." Eric Carmen's "All By Myself" isn't as good, but it's not unbearable, either.


Posted By: cleome57 Re: Amazing Covers - 01/10/17 12:11 PM
Weird coincidence: on another board, someone just shared another nice Taylor cover with me. Check it out:


Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 04/19/17 07:50 PM
A guilty pleasure, for sure, but I always have as much fun listening to this as Carrie seems to have had performing it. One of my personal Top 10 A.I. moments.

Posted By: Fanfic Lady Re: Amazing Covers - 04/19/17 08:00 PM
More Carrie.

By all rights, as a card-carrying hair-metal fan, I should hate this. But Carrie just KILLS it.

IMHO.

And much as I still enjoy a lot of the old Crue rockers, Vince Neil had a totally wrong voice for ballads.

Posted By: Set Re: Amazing Covers - 07/10/17 12:59 AM
An awesome feelgood 'cover' of Bohemian Rhapsody performed by ~65,000 people. It's great watching the crowd go nuts and start jumping around at the 4 minute mark.


Posted By: Ann Hebistand Re: Amazing Covers - 06/21/22 01:00 PM
Okay, so in the past, every time I've posted a full-album YouTube video link, said video gets quickly taken down. But finally, I figured that life is short, so let's enjoy this together while we can:


Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead

Now, I am not a "Deadhead" by any stretch, but my appreciation for them has grown considerably since that time I snarkily mentioned a Dead parody sketch on Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (prompting Cleome to reply that a Deadhead acquaintance of hers loved that sketch, which balanced things out.)

And having said THAT, the Dead are one of those acts whose songs I like better when interpreted by others. What sweetens the deal for me is that Suzanne Vega, one of my favorite artists of all time, gets TWO tracks on the album -- "China Doll" and "Cassidy" (interestingly, a couple years after recording the latter song about a newborn baby girl, Vega herself became the mother of a baby girl.)

Other personal favorites include Los Lobos' album-opening "Bertha," Indigo Girls' "Uncle John's Band," Dr. John's "Deal," and Warren Zevon's "Casey Jones" (yup, the one with the "drivin' that train, high on cocaine" lyric.) And, really, there's only a couple of tracks on the whole album that I dislike -- I'll leave up to you all to figure out which ones. You know me well enough by now. grin

YouTube didn't provide a full track listing, but Wikipedia does:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadicated:_A_Tribute_to_the_Grateful_Dead#Track_listing
Posted By: razsolo Re: Amazing Covers - 06/21/22 01:54 PM
ooh I didn't know we had a thread for amazing covers! I am too lazy to go through 21 pages to see if this has already been posted, but in honor of the best episode of Stranger Things s4 I am going to throw this one into the ring!

Placebo - Running Up That Hill
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