The middle-aged dummies are forming a band called "Blanket"! It's a cover band. (2 Viewers)

[The Dreaded Marco]

krista4:

Lilac Wine – Jeff Buckley (Eartha Kitt)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: three votes – Hallelujah (2); Lilac Wine (1)
Original artist: first vote

Is this one from the "I'm not duplicating artists except when I am" department?

Yep. I originally had Lilac Wine penciled in for Buckley, and Hallelujah going to Rufus Wainwright. Then I considered I could use Nina Simone's Lilac Wine, Buckley on Hallelujah, and then Rufus on Chelsea Hotel. I stuck with the latter two, but I really do like Buckley's version of Lilac Wine a little better than Simone's, and I like his Lilac Wine better than his Hallelujah. So here we sit.

I almost went with Buckley's Lilac Wine too but limited my list to no repeat covering artists. I love his version so much.

 

[Mt. Man]

For very likely the first of two playlists I do today, I’ll cover the #11s. Poor me, right, with the burden of listening to music most of the day? The songs are generally becoming familiar as we go up, though this time had the highest “didn’t know” (or at least didn’t remember) count in a while. Still lots to appreciate, and now there’s another list to get to, so let’s move onward.

Recognized by title alone: 21
Sounded familiar: 2
Didn’t Know: 10

Selected Favorites:
Drift Away - Uncle Kracker
Live and Let Die - GNR.
Leaving On A Jet Plane - John Denver
Hush - Deep Purple
Oh Well - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Hadn’t heard before, but liked
Step On - Happy Mondays
The Winner Takes It All - Carla Bruni
I Don’t Need No Doctor - Humble Pie
Sugar Man - Black Pumas
Living After Midnight - The Donnas

 

[Don Quixote]

krista4:

Lilac Wine – Jeff Buckley (Eartha Kitt)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: three votes – Hallelujah (2); Lilac Wine (1)
Original artist: first vote

Is this one from the "I'm not duplicating artists except when I am" department?

Yep. I originally had Lilac Wine penciled in for Buckley, and Hallelujah going to Rufus Wainwright. Then I considered I could use Nina Simone's Lilac Wine, Buckley on Hallelujah, and then Rufus on Chelsea Hotel. I stuck with the latter two, but I really do like Buckley's version of Lilac Wine a little better than Simone's, and I like his Lilac Wine better than his Hallelujah. So here we sit.

I had Buckley’s version of Lilac Wine on my long list too. Had Nina Simone’s version in my MAD 31 list for her. Love both versions.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

My company just hired someone named Michael McDonald. I am not making this up.

Good shtick would be to wander past his work area humming "What a Fool Believes".

We are mostly WFH so alas, there is no minute-by-minute opportunity to do this.

 

[Don Quixote]

Don Quixote:

Wild Thing - The Troggs (Wild Ones)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: first vote
Original artist: first vote

I know I’ve mentioned loving The Troggs in some other threads here. I had “I Can’t Control Myself” pretty high in my MAD UK 31 list. And consider anybody calling them a “one-hit wonder” fighting words.

But, yeah, that so-called one hit…. One of those songs where the cover is a lot more recognizable than the original. The Wild Ones’ original did not even make the charts. The Troggs recorded it around six months later and made a hit. At least one or two other great versions of this song, and I suppose will see if they show up.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

OH tally:

OH cover songs I have heard of: 2
OH original songs I have heard of: 10
OH cover artists I have heard of: 14
OH original artists I have heard of: 19

I know both bands but neither version of the song.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

10. I Feel Love - Blue Man Group (featuring Venus Hum) (Donna Summer)

I've always liked Blue Man Group and because of that, this live version came up on my youtube feed out of the blue. Instant , mainly for the electric manic pixie dreamgirl.

More on Venus Hum: Drawing their name from a medical condition that one of its members has (never heard of it but it's a heart condition that causes the afflicted to hear their own heartbeat in their ears), this trio from Tennessee has also collaborated with J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, Mission: Impossible III). A bout of vocal fold nodules forced their singer, Annette Strean, to take a hiatus, during which time the other band members pursued other interests. They didn't completely shut down, but it's clear they have their own things now.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Covers from #10 that I know and like and have not previously discussed in this thread:

Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers (Todd Duncan) -- I know this has been recorded a bunch of times by a bunch of different artists, but I don't think I knew that the Righteous Brothers weren't the first.
Wild Thing - The Troggs (Wild Ones) -- I did not know this was a cover. Or maybe I did and forgot.
America - Yes (Simon & Garfunkel) -- I picked I See You instead of this one because I wrote up this one in my 1975 countdown.
Gloria - Laura Branigan (Umberto Tozzi) -- I think I knew this was a cover. But maybe I didn't.
The Tears of a Clown - The English Beat (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) -- Utterly infectious. The riddims are fire.
Queen Bitch – Green River (David Bowie) -- I had completely forgotten about this. I don't think I have listened to Green River since the mid-90s.
It's All Coming Back to Me Now - Celine Dion (Pandora's Box) -- I didn't know this was a cover, but I suppose it's best to err on the side of assuming that much of what Dion records are covers.
Pretty Woman - Van Halen (Roy Orbison) -- Feels like the intro is longer than the song itself (and made for a pretty boring video). But Eddie and Dave definitely work their magic here.
Lilac Wine – Jeff Buckley (Eartha Kitt) -- I rank it behind his Hallelujah, but that's a really high bar.

More ambiguity-related comments:

Everybody's Got Something To Hide (Except Me And My Monkey) - The Feelies (The Beatles) -- If I listened to this in one of the Beatles threads, I don't remember, so I'll discuss it in the new-to-me post.
Change of Heart - Cyndi Lauper (Essra Mohawk) -- I should have heard this if it was a Cyndi Lauper single from the mid-80s, but I don't remember it by title. However, this is yet another Philadelphia connection for Cyndi, to go along with Robert Hazzard and the Hooters' Rob Hyman, as Mohawk (birth name: Sandra Hurvitz) was from Philly and maintained ties to the local scene even after she moved to NYC (and later LA and Nashville). In 1987 I went to the 20th anniversary concert of Electric Factory, Philly's top music promoter, and one segment of it had performances from local musicians including her. I don't remember what she performed. She died last year of liver cancer.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

titusbramble:

A New England - Kirsty Maccoll (Billy Bragg)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: first vote
Original artist: first vote

Nice
This is the first time a song has been listed that i would have DEFINITELY included had I remembered it.
Loads I might have included.

Eephus:

The Tears of a Clown - The English Beat (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: first vote
Original artist: two votes – The Tears of a Clown (1); Who’s Loving You (1)

I just love Ska covers of a classic songs. Much bettr than heavy metal versions which i had an overdoes of doing Abba.
Funnily enough no ska covers of Abba somgs
A whole list of Ska covers would be great

The Dreaded Marco:

Superstar - Sonic Youth (Delanie and Bonney)
Song: two votes – Superstar (2)
Cover artist: two votes – Superstar (2)
Original artist: two votes – Superstar (2)

One day off getting my first bingo

 

[zamboni]

My company just hired someone named Michael McDonald. I am not making this up.

Heard over Zoom:

Pip: “Michael, just reminding you again of that upcoming deadline.”

Michael: “Oh right, I keep forgetting.”

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Mrs. Rannous:

It's All Coming Back to Me Now - Celine Dion (Pandora's Box)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: first vote
Original artist: two votes – It’s All Coming Back to Me Now (1); Original Sin (1)

Didnt know this was a cover, but its Jim Steinman so I should have known that.
Im not the biggest Celine fan, but she sings the **** out of this

Doug B:

Change of Heart - Cyndi Lauper (Essra Mohawk)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: three votes – Change of Heart (1); Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (1); Money Changes Everything (1)
Original artist: first vote

Love this choice. An all star song. Nile Rodgers on guitar, the Bangles on backing vocals.
I always thought this was one of the Blue Angel songs she “covered” to help the old bandmates out. But it wasnt

higgins:

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack (Peggy Seeger)
Song: two votes – Robert Flack (2)
Cover artist: two votes – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (2)
Original artist: two votes – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (2)

This was the last song out of my list. Its really beautiful

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Gloria - Laura Branigan (Umberto Tozzi) -- I think I knew this was a cover. But maybe I didn't

If its recorded by Branigan, its almost certainly a cover
Gloria, Ti Amo, Solitaire, Self Control, Shattered Glass all have their origins in foreign languages, which as i said before is an area ripe for good covers after translation. Seems it became Laura’s MO
Her atrocious versions of Power of Love and How Am I Supposed to Love Without You notwithstanding she usually does a good job.
She was the first one to sing the Bolton song and took it tom#12, although Air Supply wanted to change the words and Bolton refused so it was recorded but not released until much later…i think.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

22 Points - I Have a Dream - Westlife (Abba)
Original

ABBA - I Have A Dream (From The Late Late Breakfast Show, England 1982)

ABBA - I Have A Dream (From The Late Late Breakfast Show, England 1982).With cold ending (no fadeout).Listen to the regular stereo fadeout version here - htt...

m.youtube.com

Such is the depth of Abba at their peak, this was the sixth single from the Voulez Vous album. By the time this was released as a single, a greatest hits was released with a song off that (Gimme Gimme Gimme) released as a single ahead of I Have a Dream. Still, with little to no promotion this song still made #2 in the UK.

Cover

Westlife - I Have a Dream (Official Video)

Westlife - I Have A Dream (Official Video)Stream and download here: https://Westlife.lnk.to/StreamingListen to more Christmas Music: https://spotlight.lnk.to...

m.youtube.com

Westlife were a UK phenomenon. Their debut single Swear it Again reached #20 in the US. Their only song to chart there. Meanwhile in the UK they had 15 UK # 1 singles and 8 #1 Albums. 10 of their first 12 singles went to #1. They are a big reason on how Simon Cowell got his reputation. This song was chosen as a release to get the coveted Christmas #1 in 1999. It was a double A side with Terry Jacks Seasons in the sun. Dont think they listened to the lyrics properly on that one. Westlife are slick. Maybe too slick. Most of the covers on this list offer something different. Not Westlife, they make a pure and clinical a cover as possible. Good vocals, nice arrangement, solid music. Probably focus grouped. Good at what it does, but offers little in terms of soul

Abba - 17 - Cover 5. Abba win this round.

Next up we get 90s girl power pop covering Abba. The cover destroys the original Abba version. No easy feat.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

22 Points - Gloria - Laura Branigan (Umberto Tozzi)
Original

Umberto Tozzi - Gloria (1979)

https://www.facebook.com/Nostalgies607080https://twitter.com/Nosta607080

m.youtube.com

Umberto Tozzi is one of Italys most popular artists. His greatest hits is actually quite amazing. Branigan would later cover another of his biggest hits in Ti Amo taking it top 5 in Australia and Canada. Less successfully to the US where it stalled outside the top 50. If you are keen to check out more by Tozzi check out his versions of Gloria and Ti Amo, then move to Tu, Stella Stai and go from there

Cover

Laura Branigan - Gloria (Official Music Video)

You're watching the official music video for Laura Branigan - "Gloria" from the album 'Branigan' (1982). This cover of Umberto Tozzi's Italian song "Gloria" ...

m.youtube.com

The evolution of the song from Tozzi to Branigan is interesting.
Disgraced UK producer Jonathan King, who first did the Ooga Chaka thing on Hooked on a Feeling before Blue Swede made it an international hit, translated Gloria into English. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3NN4ERS0FMs&pp=ygUUZ2xvcmlhIGpvbmF0aGFuIGtpbmc=
HIs version went nowhere. Elkie Brooks, best known for duetting with Cat Stevens on Remember the Days of the Old School Yard, recorded a cover of Gloria in 1980 which musically is identical to Laura’s version, but the vocals by Brooks are just off. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NuYZmyFksB0&pp=ygUTRWxraWUgYnJvb2tzIGdsb3JpYQ==

Somehow this made its way to Branigans team and she did the most commonly known and best version.

Originals 7 - Covers 15. Cover wins this round, although Tozzi does an amazing job.

Next up one of my favourite songs of all time, covered by a band in an entirely different genre who do such a great job with it.

 

[Val Rannous]

Pretty Woman - Van Halen (Roy Orbison) -- Feels like the intro is longer than the song itself (and made for a pretty boring video). But Eddie and Dave definitely work their magic here.

Actually, that intro is not part of the song, it's a separate lead-in piece that David Lee Roth wrote called Intruder. Apparently the only reason it exists is when they filmed the video for Pretty Woman, their preferred edit to the video was like a minute and a half too long. Rather than cut the video, they added Intruder on the front to stretch the song the extra 1:40 they needed to complete the video.

AAAAAAaaaaaand then MTV banned the silly thing - one of the first ever banned videos (a kidnapped stripper gets tied up and her legs fondled by two dwarves before she can be rescued by David Lee Roth playing Napoleon in a limo - ah, the 80's). Pretty much the only time you hear Intruder is either off the album, or watching the video - radio usually plays just the song as presented in the linked Spotify clip. Here's the video for the interested.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Uruk-Hai:

Freedom Highway - Rhiannon Giddens (Staple Singers)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: first vote
Original artist: first vote

Giddens knows she can't match Mavis Staples, so she doesn't try to. And this record is a little too steam-cleaned for the subject matter - the fade in is good, but the horns & organ (which should carry the song) are mixed way too far down for way too long. To be honest, this version is a little sterile. But it gathers steam as it goes on and there's a Steve Cropper-influenced guitar solo towards the end that could cut granite. Plus a wild-assed Miles Davis-style trumpet solo on the outro.

Also.......may I be completely juvenile here? Rhiannon Giddens is one of the most beautiful human beings to ever walk this planet.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I'm glad somebody likes VH's Pretty Woman.

 

[Don Quixote]

Uruk-Hai:

Freedom Highway - Rhiannon Giddens (Staple Singers)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: first vote
Original artist: first vote

Giddens knows she can't match Mavis Staples, so she doesn't try to. And this record is a little too steam-cleaned for the subject matter - the fade in is good, but the horns & organ (which should carry the song) are mixed way too far down for way too long. To be honest, this version is a little sterile. But it gathers steam as it goes on and there's a Steve Cropper-influenced guitar solo towards the end that could cut granite. Plus a wild-assed Miles Davis-style trumpet solo on the outro.

Also.......may I be completely juvenile here? Rhiannon Giddens is one of the most beautiful human beings to ever walk this planet.

Rhiannon Giddens is great. Her album last year was one of my favorites from 2023. Happy to see her get a bit more publicity lately with her work on Beyoncé’s new album (Giddens on the banjo and viola in Texas Hold ‘Em).

 

[Mt. Man]

Huh. I think the #10s turned out to be my favorite round so far. Or at least up there, since recency bias could be a thing. Regardless, when writing down songs I liked, it was hard not to include over half the list. Even with some of the songs being on my own list and/or ones I praised earlier (/lower) in the countdown. With that comes the longest (collective) list I’ll do. Probably. Never say never, right?

Recognized by title alone: 23
Sounded familiar: 3
Didn’t Know: 8

Selected Favorites:
Oye Como Va - Santana
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
Wild Thing - The Troggs
Gloria - Laura Branigan. A near miss for my list.
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now - Celine Dion.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack

Hadn’t heard before, but liked:
A New England - Kirsty Maccoll
I Feel Love - Blue Man Group
The Tears of a Clown - The (English) Beat
Queen B**** - Green River
I Can’t Go For That - The Bird and the Bee
Everybody’s Got Something to Hide - The Feelies

Special Shout-out:
Dazed and Confused - Led Zeppelin
Change of Heart - Cyndi Lauper

Just a duo of songs where I picked a different cover from the band, but still wanted to show appreciation since I liked (/have liked for ages) both of them.

 

[Don Quixote]

I currently associate Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” with the videos of Seigfried & Joy, which is a good thing for me. And if you are on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. and not following Siegfried and Joy, you are doing it wrong.


Link
Link 2

 

[krista4]

Don Quixote:

Wild Thing - The Troggs (Wild Ones)
Song: first vote
Cover artist: first vote
Original artist: first vote

I know I’ve mentioned loving The Troggs in some other threads here. I had “I Can’t Control Myself” pretty high in my MAD UK 31 list. And consider anybody calling them a “one-hit wonder” fighting words.

But, yeah, that so-called one hit…. One of those songs where the cover is a lot more recognizable than the original. The Wild Ones’ original did not even make the charts. The Troggs recorded it around six months later and made a hit. At least one or two other great versions of this song, and I suppose will see if they show up.

I didn't know this was a cover.

 

[krista4]

Also.......may I be completely juvenile here? Rhiannon Giddens is one of the most beautiful human beings to ever walk this planet.

When I clicked the video to copy the url for posting, I saw her and thought, "Now that is a woman after Uruk's heart." Seriously.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

10. I Feel Love - Blue Man Group (featuring Venus Hum) (Donna Summer)

I've always liked Blue Man Group and because of that, this live version came up on my youtube feed out of the blue. Instant , mainly for the electric manic pixie dreamgirl.

Wow! The cover I didn't know I needed. The percussion is fanf..king tastic. This is now on my permanent feed.

Thank you.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

It's All Coming Back to Me Now - Celine Dion (Pandora's Box) -- I didn't know this was a cover, but I suppose it's best to err on the side of assuming that much of what Dion records are covers.

And I also managed to include a Steinman song in my list. I wonder how that happened?

 

[Doug B]

Change of Heart - Cyndi Lauper (Essra Mohawk) -- I should have heard this if it was a Cyndi Lauper single from the mid-80s, but I don't remember it by title. However, this is yet another Philadelphia connection for Cyndi, to go along with Robert Hazzard and the Hooters' Rob Hyman, as Mohawk (birth name: Sandra Hurvitz) was from Philly and maintained ties to the local scene even after she moved to NYC (and later LA and Nashville).

Essra Mohawk released two versions of "Change of Heart": The original off of her 1985 new wave album E-Turn (YouTube)(Spotify), and then a slower, organ-drenched bluesy re-arrangement off her 1999 release Essie Mae Hawk Meets the Killer Groove Band (YouTube)(Spotify).

There's someplace else altogether where I'd bet all of us have heard Mohawk's singing ... a familiar place we grew up with (YouTube1)(YouTube2)(YouTube3).

 

[Raging weasel]

The 22 pointers

known and liked covers

Oye Como Va- didn't know it was a cover
Dazed and Confused
Unchained Melody - didn't know it was a cover
Wild Thing- didn't know it was a cover
Africa
Blinded by the Light
Pretty Woman
Respect
First time ever I saw your Face

Liked covers of known songs

In my Life
Queen B!tch
Little Honda

New to me likes

Trying to get to Heaven
I feel Love

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Pip’s Invitation:

Oye Como Va – Santana (Tito Puente)

Santana blended genres like few others before them, and their first three albums are an intoxicating mix of rock, jazz, funk, blues and Latin music. From the beginning, Carlos and co. mixed originals with covers. Many of their songs that you heard on the radio -- including Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen, Jingo and of course Oye Como Va -- are covers.

Puente's version came out in 1962 but he had been working on variations of it since the '50s. It is a cha-cha-cha dominated by a vocal refrain and featuring brass prominently. ("Oye como va, mi ritmo" means "listen how it goes, my rhythm".) Santana's version, appearing on their second and best album Abraxas, is leaner, dropping the brass, adding electric guitar, organ and a drum kit and replacing the flute solos with guitar and organ solos, but it retains the chorus vocals and Puente's timbales. It is absolutely infectious and scratches a lot of itches for me. It's rare to find a groove this deep paired with guitar work this fiery.

Santana's version was extremely successful, reaching #11 on the Hot 100 and becoming a staple of "classic rock" radio and its predecessors. It made the 2021 Rolling Stone Garbage List of 500 songs that we did a draft from, and has been inducted into the regular and Latin Grammy Halls of Fame. I saw Santana perform this at the only show of his/theirs that I saw (in 1995) -- which is probably true for everyone who has seen him/them since the release of Abraxas in 1970, because I don't think it has ever left his/their setlist. (It's even on the highly experimental Lotus live album, as is Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen.)

Wiki: "When interviewed, Puente explained how he was initially outraged by his song being covered by a rock band, until he received his first royalty check."

Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpAXzTpANNw

At #9, the return of a coveree, done by a coverer that I have discussed in this thread but not included on my list yet.

 

[titusbramble]

My last post on my picks:

#9 - I assume must have been picked already, but I can't recall actively seeing it. Everyone should know the original, most should know the cover.
#8 - Have queried this in a previous countdown. I like the cover, just the main vocalist being off his face and giving zero ****s. Hilarious cover.
#7 - Been taken multiple times already, solid cover, might be some disconnect with who I credited the original to as I think I picked who did the English version.
#6 - Not sure I've seen this yet? Standard great cover.
#5 - 99% certain I've seen this already, vanilla pick.
#4 - 99% certain I've seen this already, vanilla pick. 4/6 have a coverer/coveree coincidence, guess who it is!
#3 - I'm pretty sure this has not been taken. This is a pure UK early 90's love in, I've taken the coverer pretty high in a previous countdown.
#2 - The best cover in the whole world that features a Sheffield United mug in the music video. Like #3 this may be a unique pick.
#1 - This has already been picked, but clearly for me this is peak cover.

 

[krista4]

I saw a Neko Case concert last night. She was as great as every other time I've seen her. Her band and backup singers were spot on as usual, though different than any other time. She is so authentic and witty. And always grateful to her audience.

Most impressively, at 53, her voice is still absolutely gorgeous. No effects, no embellishment---easily the best instrument on the stage.

And she sang a cover or two that I'm kicking myself for not including on my list for this thread.....

what were the covers????

Maybe he's saving them for next time. You know, antici...

The fact that you got this on the last post of a page was :chefskiss:

 

[krista4]

My last post on my picks:

#9 - I assume must have been picked already, but I can't recall actively seeing it. Everyone should know the original, most should know the cover. Picked a couple of times already
#8 - Have queried this in a previous countdown. I like the cover, just the main vocalist being off his face and giving zero ****s. Hilarious cover. Looks fun, excited to hear.
#7 - Been taken multiple times already, solid cover, might be some disconnect with who I credited the original to as I think I picked who did the English version. Yep, I'll update.
#6 - Not sure I've seen this yet? Standard great cover.Absolutely shocked this hasn't been selected yet.
#5 - 99% certain I've seen this already, vanilla pick. Yes
#4 - 99% certain I've seen this already, vanilla pick. 4/6 have a coverer/coveree coincidence, guess who it is! Yes

Commenting just on these.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

New-to-me covers from #10 that I very much enjoyed:

Freedom Highway - Rhiannon Giddens (Staple Singers) -- Love the vocals, good call on not trying to imitate Mavis.
Tryin' to Get to Heaven - Phosphorescent (Robert Zimmerman) -- This song is well-suited for indie rock. I'm sure The Hold Steady would do a good job with it too.
In My Life - Johnny Cash (The Beatles) -- Gravitas x 42000000000000
I Feel Love - Blue Man Group (feat. Venus Hum) (Donna Summer) -- Surprisingly almost as good as the original.
I Can’t Go For That - The Bird And The Bee (Hall & Oates) -- Gets the essential elements right.
Everybody's Got Something To Hide (Except Me And My Monkey) - The Feelies (The Beatles) -- Just as frenetic as I expected. The percussion is even more bonkers here than it is on the original.
New Minglewood Blues - Grateful Dead (Cannon's Jug Stompers) -- I really liked this arrangement. The song reminded me a bit of "Rollin' and Tumblin'."
Little Honda - Yo La Tengo (Beach Boys) -- The melody and cadence is exactly like the surfer dudes, but everything else is SO different.

 

[shuke]

shuke:

New Minglewood Blues - Grateful Dead (Cannon's Jug Stompers)

Another Dead song that forever I just assumed was an original. They certainly made it their own.

Here's the original Minglewood Blues, and here's the original New Minglewood Blues. The Dead's version is influenced by both, so not sure which is the real "original".

 

[Pip's Invitation]

My last post on my picks:

#9 - I assume must have been picked already, but I can't recall actively seeing it. Everyone should know the original, most should know the cover. Picked a couple of times already
#8 - Have queried this in a previous countdown. I like the cover, just the main vocalist being off his face and giving zero ****s. Hilarious cover. Looks fun, excited to hear.
#7 - Been taken multiple times already, solid cover, might be some disconnect with who I credited the original to as I think I picked who did the English version. Yep, I'll update.
#6 - Not sure I've seen this yet? Standard great cover.Absolutely shocked this hasn't been selected yet.
#5 - 99% certain I've seen this already, vanilla pick. Yes
#4 - 99% certain I've seen this already, vanilla pick. 4/6 have a coverer/coveree coincidence, guess who it is! Yes

Commenting just on these.

Now I really wanna know what titus picked at #6. Antici...

(doesn't work as well when not at the bottom of the page)

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Change of Heart - Cyndi Lauper (Essra Mohawk) -- I should have heard this if it was a Cyndi Lauper single from the mid-80s, but I don't remember it by title. However, this is yet another Philadelphia connection for Cyndi, to go along with Robert Hazzard and the Hooters' Rob Hyman, as Mohawk (birth name: Sandra Hurvitz) was from Philly and maintained ties to the local scene even after she moved to NYC (and later LA and Nashville). In 1987 I went to the 20th anniversary concert of Electric Factory, Philly's top music promoter, and one segment of it had performances from local musicians including her. I don't remember what she performed. She died last year of liver cancer.

Indeed I don't remember this. Holy '80s, Batman!

 

[Eephus]

22.ee - The (English) Beat - "Tears of a Clown" (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles cover)

The original: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles first recorded this song in 1967 for their Make It Happen album. It initially wasn't released as a single but during a lull in the group's new material in 1970 Motown decided to release a remixed version of the song which became a #1 hit in the US and UK. It's a typically great Motown production with a interesting woodwind section including a piccolo, a baritone sax and a bassoon. 1970 was around the time young Eephus started listening to Top 40 radio so this song made a bigger impression on him than did earlier Motown records.

The cover: The (English) Beat were the poppiest of the Two-Tone bands. Their version of Smokey's song has a bubbling rhythm section that splits the difference between Motown and Ska. It's taken at a faster tempo than the original with a cool saxophone solo from their 58 year old sax player Saxa and a bit of Jamaican toasting by Ranking Roger in the fade. If you were DJing a house party in the early 80s, the first English Beat album I Just Can't Stop It was a good album to put on if you wanted to get away from the turntables to dance or get a drink or something. The first five songs on side 1 are all great for dancing ending with this song which provides an opportunity to transition into playing some Motown.

Is the cover better than the original? Dave Wakeling has a pleasant voice but sorry, he's no Smokey. This one goes to the originals by a pretty good margin.

The Tears Of A Clown

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles · Song · 1967

open.spotify.com

The Tears Of A Clown

The English Beat · Song · 2012

open.spotify.com

Running scoreboard: Covers 11 - Originals 11

 

[rockaction]

Sorry guys, this is boring and long but I neeed to get it out of my system. You certainly need not read this. Just something that went on today.

So some of you might know that I comment over at Steve Hoffman Forums every so often. Well I was over there tonight and I almost had about ten rounds with these weird guys/commenters who are very politically animated and pick people out who aren't fond of particular female artists—especially those people that don't have strong reasoning behind their dislike of these artists, and they then subsequently proceed to flame them online, calling them misogynists, sexists, a whole bunch of stuff like that. They come out of the woodwork and just accuse people of harboring these attitudes and they then impute motive and intent to the accused and then they knock that down all group-style until the unpleasant experience is over and the person is slightly dazed by what happened.

I know this because I witnessed them do this exact thing last week in the comment section of a thread on the website and it struck me as intense online bullying and definitely something to take note of. So anyway, there was a thread yesterday about Eddie Vedder and how he called the atmosphere at a Taylor Swift show something akin to a punk show. So somebody starts a thread about it, and of course all the old punks check in and the thread proceeds apace, with everybody weighing in. So I weigh in without having read the article, and I write about Eddie and how he's from San Diego and that what he probably remembers from the mid-to-late eighties (this was after the wave of hardcore violence in L.A. ca.1980-1984 had passe) was a suburban San Diego version of punk and that what he likely remembers are the people and community he was a part of. So the punks are sort of giving me ****, and I'm laughing about it because I don't care, and I call Eddie Vedder a mensch and type that I'll let him have his sort of tortured analogy because he's not all wrong and he's a good guy.

So a day goes by and people are still commenting and out of the blue there appears these comments about how the thread is sexist and people are posting that there is a "certain type of person" who hates famous women and hates Swift's political disposition. So it's obvious this cat is about to make a stink about it, and I look at the name, and it's this dude last week who promised to "stomp out covert and overt sexism," which stayed with me because I thought, "That's odd. How is he appointing himself judge and morality police of musical sentiments and, more importantly, what does 'covert' sexism or misogyny entail?" Well, he leaves the comment calling the people in the thread sexist for dissing Taylor Swift, etc. And so I'm remembering last week and also remembering this guy being in a fight with another guy, and having done the misogyny thing for a third time. This guy is a beauty. So the thread sort of dies. His friends check in, like the post, etc. Typical internet stuff.

But I begin to ask questions. I ask a guy over there who liked the post (I know this—he's like one of the few people I recognize over there) and he gives a weirdly brusque answer that doesn't answer my question at all while providing extraneous information. It's a weird answer. I ask him if this is common practice for this guy to call people these names (I already know it is) and accuse them of these things and if it is, then that's pretty lousy to go around with any evidence doing that. So I post that publicly and then I edit and I lengthen the email inviting the guy to comment and clear things up because surely he has prior evidence proving that these comments are motivated by sexism or maybe I'm mistaken that he is doing this. And sure enough, I see him liking all his friends' posts, so he's in the thread and he's there for hours. But he never answers my comment nor does he attempt to clear things up. And I see a new post from this punk rock guy I know that's obviously makihg fun of my writing style and vocabulary. And all of the dudes in that group like his comment. And now I know it's getting weird. Page 2

 

[Eephus]

Tay Tay is serious business

 

[rockaction]

So after this, I get a concerned comment quoting mine. It's a dude from that group. He proceeds to tell me that I should be more worried about people who hold sexist and misogynsitic attitudes and that he found my comment strange. He informs me that nobody uses the allegations of sexism or misogyny as a weapon or tactic (even though they had done just that the other night, which I saw, but I haven't divulged that I saw it) and that sort of thinking menat that I'd bought into "a trope." Actually, I'll send you guys the link to the pages and you can see how it turns out.

Eddie Vedder: Taylor Swift Show ‘Reminded Me of Punk Rock Crowds’

A Neil Diamond concert reminds me of punk rock crowds. Nothin' wrong with that.

forums.stevehoffman.tv

You can start on page nine and proceed. One thing: One of the main guys that started to grill me, would say something politically charged and then delete it later because you can't talk politics over in that forum, so if it seems like I'm responding to something not there, I am. What a weird little gaslit hour and half I just had. These people are truly the bee's knees. And the journos and others wonder if **** like this is real and if it goes on in certain polticial circles. It indeed apparently does. Holy crow.

Story has a fine ending so far. No worries.

 

[rockaction]

Tay Tay is serious business

In all seriousness, over there you have to be really careful how you criticize female pop artists. I've seen sociopolitical reprimands happen at the drop of a hat. I'm a little amazed by it, but I also generally can and have gotten along. i wasn't going to let these guys do that to people without interjecting myself into the situation once I found out, though. Illiberal packs enforcing orthodoxies through goading people into getting modded out, or just going for humiliation and shame is ridiculous.

What a bunch of ****tards.

 

[rockaction]

It actually starts on Page 8 over there if anyone is interested in watching a group of people attempt to gaslight somebody in real time.

 

[Eephus]

In all serious, over there you have to be really careful how you criticize female pop artists. I've seen sociopolitical reprimands happen at the drop of a hat. I'm a little amazed by it, but I also generally can and have gotten along. i wasn't going to let these guys do that to people without interjecting myself into the situation once I found out, though. Illiberal packs enforcing orthodoxies through goading people into getting modded out, or just going for humiliation and shame is ridiculous.

I spend most of my time with Mrs. Eephus and ditkaburgers so I try to stay on my best, non-patriarchal behavior.

 

[rockaction]

I spend most of my time with Mrs. Eephus and ditkaburgers so I try to stay on my best, non-patriarchal behavior.

Wisdom.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

@rockaction , you're such a Herbert.

 

[rockaction]

Great, now I have Star Trek all up in my YouTube. Herbert!

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

I remember when **** like that used to bother me and i would be all in, guns blazing.
Now? Lifes too short for stuff like that.
In the grand scheme of things @rockaction, it dont mean nothing.
2010 JML empathises and gets involved.
2024 JML ….ooooh thats a nice flower over there

 

[rockaction]

I remember when **** like that used to bother me and i would be all in, guns blazing.
Now? Lifes too short for stuff like that.
In the grand scheme of things @rockaction, it dont mean nothing.
2010 JML empathises and gets involved.
2024 JML ….ooooh thats a nice flower over there

I'm chill. Just needed to tell the story. I can't believe that people still do stuff to other people like this, but I should expect **** like that to happen, I guess.

eta* I might indeed need to get out more now that I think about it

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I remember when **** like that used to bother me and i would be all in, guns blazing.
Now? Lifes too short for stuff like that.
In the grand scheme of things @rockaction, it dont mean nothing.
2010 JML empathises and gets involved.
2024 JML ….ooooh thats a nice flower over there

I'm chill. Just needed to tell the story. I can't believe that people still do stuff to other people like this, but I should expect **** like that to happen, I guess.

eta* I might indeed need to get out more now that I think about it

Try to imagine how sad these people are that this is their entire life.

 

[simey]

It actually starts on Page 8 over there if anyone is interested in watching a group of people attempt to gaslight somebody in real time.

Do you want me to sprinkle some whoopass dust on them with my magic wand?

 

[Doug B]

It actually starts on Page 8 over there if anyone is interested in watching a group of people attempt to gaslight somebody in real time.

Do you want me to sprinkle some whoopass dust on them with my magic wand?

So THAT'S what's in those cans

 

[simey]

Freedom Highway - I dig hometown girl's rendition of this Staple Singers song. Rhiannon is super talented, and I like

It actually starts on Page 8 over there if anyone is interested in watching a group of people attempt to gaslight somebody in real time.

Do you want me to sprinkle some whoopass dust on them with my magic wand?

So THAT'S what's in those cans

What's in those cans is a base that is mixed with something else that I can't say. You don't want to come in contact with it