So. Choose your five. But this is a multi-pronged question! :o

And explain why...are the ones you vote your choices simply because you like them? Do you also prefer them to the originals, or like them and admire how the original has been transformed, while liking the original blueprint?

What is is that the covering artist has brought to the song?

Among the titles you have not voted for, do you prefer the originals?

:devil2:

won't choose, but you missed Steve Harley doing the only Beatle cover worth mentioning...

None of the above, sorry Stranger! Now if you'd had Hanging on the Telephone it would have been different.

This lot prove my point (to myself) that the only covers I like are the ones whose originals I've not heard yet - had no idea Sorrow was a cover nor The Tide Is High (my least favourite Blondie single). Of course every rule has its exception and in my case its Swans' version of Love Will Tear us Apart.

No I didn't...it's rubbish! :nahnah: :D

:devil2:

I'll add more / my own comments later...but as Fritter implies there's a 'made it their own' or at least made the song *known* about many of these. Also some of course are disputed as being better or worse than the originals, or simply any good at all (Victoria and Days spring to mind, in that order).

:)

I went for Hallelujah but the best cover ever, ever is the Four Tops' version of the Left Banke's Walk Away Renee.

Damn...and well done too...I did this from memory without online / going through my records research, and I couldn't think off the top of my head of a good soul group cover which best typified what I was trying to achieve...list covers, which could be argued either bettered an original, or simply popularised it.

I love the Four Tops version of Walk Away Renee...I am aware there are those who love the original though. Me? I can see the appeal...the whingey singing let's it down a bit, but maybe that was the point, the singer was carrying through the whole 'woe is me' thing to full effect. It was based on reality, you know? as some of the best songs are...I think it was that the Left Banke's guitarist fell in love with the singer's girlfriend...

Suggestions - like this one - for a 'part 2' poll welcomed.

:)

Neil Young's version of Lonesome Me, but again, I haven't heard the orig. Not heard Cale's version of Hallelujah, but I do find Jeff Buckley's take very affecting, as opposed to the hideous arrangement on the Cohen version.

Good call.
A poll where it was difficult to narrow it down.
Most sublime reimagining - Talking Heads, closely followed by Blondie.
Only rotten egg - Kirsty.
Sorry, Kirsty.
Ah, but how about Billy Bragg - with Johnny Marr sublimely plucking the guitar - totally making over Walk Away Renee?
"And then one day she cut her hair and I stopped loving her..."

I went for The Pixies. They amp-up that song superbly and turn it into a different song altogether.

I was tempted to vote for a few others, but I dont know the originals. -_-

I think Kirsty's version of Days would be more popular among non Fall fans...those who listen to FM radio a lot. And I mean that in a neither a disrespectful way to them (that sort of music listener), or Kirsty, RIP.

I do like it myself, but I can understand that some would consider it anodyne.

With hindsight 'New England' might have been a better choice for a poll like this, seeing Billy Bragg mentioned reminded me! :rolleyes:

Neil Young's Oh Lonesome Me - yes good one...he slows it down, all the old country versions are upbeat. I think the country radio guy at hospital radio said Don Gibson wrote it? :unsure:

I voted for 'I fought the law', but I mean the 'Dead Kennedys' version.
I fought the law and I won.
Q, How limp did the one by green day sound in comparison?
A, Very.

I was surprised that one of the girls who sings at my open mics...mid 20's, quite refined taste in music - sings gentle songs mostly, ballads really, and who likes a local bluegrass band a lot, had Green Day listed as her very favourite band. :confused:

Brilliant stuff.

Picking 5 was quite hard. I like both versions of Sorrow, the original is classic Merseybeat and Bowie's a great pop record. Similar for Victoria.

Nice idea for a poll though.

I have to say that in my opinion, anyone hoping to improve on a song sung by Little Willie John has a nearly impossible task. I'm tempted to say it's impossible but that's too strong: Very,very difficult to try and best one of the 20th century's best singers, imo, And that goes for his sister too :)

Blondie is the only one on this list for me.

Certainly not Victoria

Ok, my thoughts on these -

Need Your Love So Bad - Fleetwood Mac (Little Willie John)

I love this song. I think I first heard it, but didn't really 'hear it properly' on a compilation somewhere. Then it was featured in one of the 'Rik Mayall presents' programmes, a sort of romantic drama. I thought isn't this wonderful! :)

I've not heard the original tho. :o

Sorrow - David Bowie (The Merseys)

the original is good, powerful 60's pop. Bowie's remake is pretty much what inspired this poll. I was listening to it last night on Pin Ups. I thought it was such a good treatment (always loved that echo-ey piano, that chiming electric guitar, that oh so breezy sax solo. Then that OTT hystrionics third and fourth version come in, and it *still* works...and ends breezily again ). I thought is this his best cover? Is it the one the Fall crowd might like? And does it add to the original...I think it does. :)

I Don't Want To Talk About It - Rod Stewart (Crazy Horse)

The original is good, but a little plain by comparison. Rod made it gorgeous :)

Days - Kirsty MacColl (The Kinks)

While I knew many would be contentious, I was aware this one would be (as per my comments above). I like both versions.

Victoria - The Fall (The Kinks)

I think I might have read about The Fall 'making this better' before I heard either version? I certainly couldn't understand what journo's meant by that when I heard the original...I have read MES' comments on the original, and I can enjoy the poppiness of the Fall's cover. I've actually preferred live versions due to a fuller keyboard sound.

Love In Vain - The Rolling Stones (Robert Johnson)

I like the Stones version a lot, and I've not heard the original. I like the version from the 'Gimme Shelter' film even more.

Take Me To The River - Talking Heads (Al Green)

I like the groove and 'sass' of Al's original. I probably prefer the icy chirpiness of the Talking Heads cover. Again I've enjoyed Talking Heads' live versions of this a lot too.

Everybody's Talkin' - Harry Nilsson (Fred Neil)

Fred's original does have a certain beauty to it, but it's not for 'everyday' listening. Harry did make it his own, arguably :)

Dolphins - Tim Buckley (Fred Neil)

I should ideally have specified *which* Tim Buckley version. Some would probably prefer the 'Live in London 1968' version to the studio one. I like both, and also the live 73 version too.
Fred's world weary delivery again has its beauty, but it Tim's versions for me :).

Hallelujah - John Cale (Leonard Cohen)

I think I have Leonard's version yet but not got around to listening to it yet. :o

John Cale does it beautifully anyway, sort of feels like the only version I *need* to hear (not heard Jeff Buckley's version, and on the basis that what I've heard by him didn't grab me, not sure I want to).

This would ideally make my top 5 votes, but seems an appopriate point to mention that I would struggle to pick 5 favourites here, and even I did, it would be one of the most temporary top 5's I've ever done.

Motel Blues - Big Star (Loudon Wainwright III)

I found the original a little too...hard to put my finger on it...sort of seemed too whingey for lack of a better reason to rate the Big Star version higher. To be fair Loudon wrote it, a good song...Chilton, at least for me, nailed it.

I Fought The Law - The Clash (Bobby Fuller Four)

The Clash version...10-15 years ago that would definitely have been in my top 5. I still love it now but it's good fun pop really. The Bobby Fuller Four original has a lot going for it actually...it's arguable that The Clash simply popularised / brought it to another generation, and in grand style to be fair...they didn't water it down, distil the original's power and virtue into a little drip like so many covers do. :devil2:

Head On - The Pixies (The Jesus and Mary Chain)

I loved/love the *fire* of the Pixies version. I've heard the JAMC version, and altho I could hear what they'd tried to do, it just didn't really move me. I feel this is one where the covering artists made it their own. :)

Blues Run The Game - Simon and Garfunkel (Jackson C Frank)

The cover here, eeking out on a box set then as an extra track (on the Sounds Of Silence album reissue) in the late 90's, didn't make the song a hit, but must have introduced it to some, it did to me.

I prefer the cover, largely because of the harmonies. The double tracked guitar sounds so plaintive, which helps too

The Tide Is High - Blondie (The Paragons)

The original is good, but I think I preferred Blondie's version. I even liked Atomic Kitten's version with that extra chorus thrown in. :)

:blink: Fucking hell no.

But I do agree with you about Cale's astounding and dignified take on Hallelujah. I've never much cared for Jeff Buckley's version (a bit hammy for me - I do like everything else on Grace though - an underrated guitarist too I thought).

Sorrow is a good song, but I think the excellent "Drive in Saturday" was bowies best cover.
Just to say 'Victoria' gets a fair bit of criticism, but Ive never skipped it, I think the Fall do a good workmanlike job of it.
I didnt know the Talking heads did covers when I first heard it, long ago, but its a good song.
'The Tide is High' sounds okay, but its not really a very good choice for her.

Just FYI Stranger, no-one can better a Little Willie John original, let alone Fleetwood Mac! :angry:

Best cover is This Mortal Coil's Song To The Siren btw.

Erm how? :unsure: :o

He wrote it. :rolleyes: :D

Oh no it's not! :D

When I eventually heard it I was disappointed and I couldn't see what the fuss was about. :devil2:


Since the fuss is made over the cover tho, good one for a 'poll 2' on this subject some point.

:)

A very hard decision...after much deliberation (and only leaving out the Stones number over the technicality that I prefer the live version) my vote is going to -

Need Your Love So Bad - Fleetwood Mac
Sorrow - David Bowie
I Don't Want To Talk About It - Rod Stewart
Everybody's Talkin' - Harry Nilsson
The Tide Is High - Blondie

but I love them all.

:)

having to leave out Simon and Garfunkel's Blues Run The Game and Tim Buckley's 'Dolphins' (for the simple reason his studio version is *slightly* beaten by his live versions).... :cry: :cry2:

I like This Mortal Coil's version but Buckley's original and his version from the Monkees' TV show are simply extraordinary.

Well its an excellent record anyway, and deserves a mention.
In fact I was thinking of Pin-Ups, and my memory exchanged it for "Friday on my Mind".
Twins musical ignorance strikes again.

All of these are bloody rubbish. My nominations are:

Spooky - Golden Cups
Black is Black - Pink Lady
Proud Mary - Candies
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Carnabeats
House of the Rising Sun - so many, but the versions by Flower Travellin' Band, Asakawa Maki, and (yes!!!!) the mighty Pink Lady stand out

Ok, not absolutely at the top of their game, but here is Pink Lady showing the Supremes how to sing Stop in The Name Of Love.

i voted just for two: the tide is high which is my all-time blondie favourite and victoria which is great.

i'm not too fond of pixies' version of jamc, although the ending is better. sorrow is without a doubt the only good track on bowie's horrible 'pin ups' album, but i haven't heard the original so i don't really know... and i see it has already got so many votes so whatever.

Tricky:Black Steel. (Public Enemy)
best cover ever??

"Happiness is a Warm Gun" by The Breeders destroys anything by the mop tops and any other cover of any mop tops ditty.

Once again, William Shatner stomps all over the thread. Look for the extended version of his Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds on the Transformed Man LP. The spoken word intro ("SPLEEN!") sets the scene marvellously.

Best covers are either

Where the Streets Have No Name - Pet Shop Boys

or

The Light 3000 - Schneider TM Vs Kpt. Michi. Gan

so you haven't heard phil collins doing tomorrow never knows :lol:

but seriously, i guess the only beatles-cover worth mentioning is a day in the life by you-know-who. or lazyitis by the mondays...

yeah, good isn't it.

It's Karl Denver of 'Wimoweh' 'fame' on it hasn't it

:)

Sorry I'm confused. Was that your vote for worst cover?

Wilson Pickett's 'Hey Jude' is superb, recorded at Muscle Shoals, with Duane Allman on guitar.

Esther Phillips 'And I Love Him' has a magic charm to it.

Wayne Armond's version of Norwegian Wood
Laibach's Across The Universe
both :thumbsup:

No, it's great.
How can you get more intense than Public Enemy??
Tricky does.