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Cover Me Impressed
With a focus on the 60's-90's music scene, CMI is a Paradiso for Lovers Cover Songs! Each post focuses on a particular song and provides its original and most popular recordings as well as covers versions. Patrons of CMI vote on the most deserving cover version, which will then live to compete again, battling other cover songs in a future post.
Bands, musicians, troubadours, and their ilk, submit your cover songs for future CMI competitions.
CMI welcomes the opportunity to introduce new artists.
Contact RDubbs at RDubbsTunage@gmail.com
Music Genres?
We've Got 'em Covered ...
Rock / Alt-Rock / Rock 'n Roll / Rockabilly / Indie Pop / New Wave / Old Wave / Surf / Reggae / Ska / Punk Rock / Psychobilly / Cowpunk / Alt-Country / Bluegrass / Folk / Croon-Tunes / A Cappella / Motown / Gospel / Blues / Rhythm & Blues / Jazz / Big Band / Lounge / Classical / Celtic / Bossa Nova / Worldbeat / Show Tunes / Cartoons / Bizarro / Musical Calamities
Billy reached his highpoint very early in his career …
The Original
Generation X:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Trusty vs. Peppermint Creeps vs. Boondoggle Keychain
Trusty:
Peppermint Creeps:
Boondoggle Keychain:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Kitty Karlyle vs. Luka Bloom vs. Ben Folds vs. Kim Wilde
Kitty Karlyle:
Before settling into Hollywood Squares as a regular, Kitty Carlisle sang opera and enormously more importantly, starred with the Marx Brothers in “A Night At The Opera”. I have to imagine that this goofball band, playing around a little with the spelling, is somehow (or at least I am hoping) paying homage to the great Kitty Carlisle …
Luka Bloom:
Ben Folds:
Kim Wilde:
Kim’s cover is included because one of the cover sites that I use crowned it as this song’s best cover. Not sure that I agree … Do you?
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Not a fan of The Beach Boys but this is a pretty good one, I suppose, as far as The Beach Boys go that is …
The Original
The Beach Boys:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
David Bowie vs. Elvis Costello and The Brodsky Quartet vs. The Flaming Lips
David Bowie:
Elvis Costello and The Brodsky Quartet:
The Flaming Lips:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Despite its runaway popularity and overplay, remains my favorite Soul Asylum song. Lyrics are simply perfection!
The Original
Soul Asylum:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Piet Botha & Jack Hammer vs. Smith and Myers vs. Chelsea Williams
Piet Botha & Jack Hammer:
Smith and Myers:
Unfortunately, for God only knows why, these two do not allow their video to embed elsewhere. So if you want to hear their version you will have to go to the YouTube site.
Chelsea Williams:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Army of Halfwits vs. The Nutley Brass vs. Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs
Army of Halfwits:
The Nutley Brass:
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Phil wrote some of the greatest topical political protest songs of all time. Most were blistering attacks on racist and/or wrongheaded political institutions. But it was also great fun when Phil used his priceless wit to enormous effect. “Outside of a Small Circle of Friends” and “Love Me, I’m a Liberal” come straight to mind, along with one of my all-time favorites, “Draft Dodger Rag”.
The Original
Phil Ochs:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Disappear Fear vs. Kind of Like Spitting vs. Pete Seeger and Fred Hellerman
Disappear Fear:
Kind of Like Spitting:
Pete Seeger and Fred Hellerman:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
My only regret with this beautiful ballad is that it is not just a little longer.
The Original
Bob Dylan:
Bobfest (Neil’s epithet, not mine): 30th Anniversary:
Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, George Harrison, and seemingly a hundred other lucky participants …:
While not quite the power and splendor of “My Back Pages” from the same fest, still pretty damn good!
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Playing for Change feat. Twanguero and I-Tawah vs. Jesse Welles vs. Ted Christopher and Mark Knopfler
Playing for Change feat. Twanguero and I-Tawah:
Jesse Welles:
Ted Christopher and Mark Knopfler:
This version was recorded in memory of the Dunblane Massacre, March 13, 1996. The Dunblane massacre took place at Dunblane Primary School in Dunblane, Scotland. A shooter killed 16 children and one teacher before turning the gun on himself. It remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history.
A new verse was written, and the children choir who sang the chorus were brothers and sisters of the victims. The song was released December 9, 1996, and it reached number 1. The proceeds went to charities for children.
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Jesus, it’s just as bad as Manilow’s abomination … But why would I have expected anything less (better?).
Definitive Version (?)
Barry Manilow:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
I long ago had this dark fantasy of producing a Barry Manilow tribute cd with the likes of Dinosaur Jr., Violent Femmes, Soul Asylum, Johnny Cash, Throbbing Gristle, Joe Strummer and, of course, Nick Cave (who I would have insisted cover Mandy). Alas, in the words of King Missile (who also would have been perfect for inclusion), “If Only …”.
Me First and The Gimme Gimmes vs. Drop Nineteens vs. Schlong
Me First and The Gimme Gimmes:
Drop Nineteens:
Schlong:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
I did not realize until now that “Johnny Was” was written by Rita Marley. Makes so much sense though. The song definitely exhibits the sensibilities of a grieving mother.
The Original
Bob Marley and The Wailers:
Stiff Little Fingers:
I would not affront Bob’s legacy by suggesting someone else performed a “definitive version” of this beautiful lament. At the same time, I could not include the SLF version in the competition as it would have been patently unfair to the other contestants.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Shahar Mintz vs. Nico Bereciartua feat. Felipe Agote vs. Mike Cavano
Shahar Mintz:
Nico Bereciartua feat. Felipe Agote:
Mike Cavano (of reggae-dub-rock band, Suburban Sunrise):
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
While “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” is my favorite Richard and Linda Thompson song, this one might be the pair’s greatest musical accomplishment …
The Original
Richard and Linda Thompson:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
The Wrockers vs. R.E.M. vs. Redhill Rats vs. Pete and Maura Kennedy
The Wrockers:
R.E.M.:
Redhill Rats:
Pete and Maura Kennedy:
Pete and Maura slightly edged out Nanci Griffith for the final slot, due almost solely to Maura’s unabashed enthusiasm at the song’s outset!
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 