Tune du Jour: “I Got A Woman” – Ray Charles
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: The Barbarians vs. Andy Stokes vs. Toots & The Maytals
VOTE, COMMENT, then HIT THE ROAD JACK
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I’ve been a Puppet, a Pauper, a Pirate, a Poet, a Broccoli Man …
The Original
Ray Charles:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
The Barbarians vs. Andy Stokes vs. Toots & The Maytals
The Barbarians:
Andy Stokes:
Toots & The Maytals:
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 
I must admit that my first exposure to this song was in the early 1990’s when the Beatles BBC album was first issued. I always knew that the Beatles didn’t write it originally. But I confess that when I think of this song I hear John Lennon’s voice, not Ray Charles’
This one is very close between Andy Stokes and Toots. Both are excellent. Stokes’ version sounds like a more modern version of the song done in the same style as Ray Charles. And I did not like at all the Toots video. But that’s secondary to the song. So I think I’ll go with Toots for the nice reggae groove.
One of my favorite songs from an old school Hall-of-Famer. The best cover of this in my collection appears on the second album from Them, appropriately titled “Them Again”.
I regret I was too busy to play Thursday or Friday of last week. I was eager to get back this week, but I wanted to comment enthusiastically about music I enjoy. I gave myself a pass on Monday when I noticed Tom Waits. I returned Tuesday to find Billy Joel. I believe Wednesday’s post was late, while yesterday was Donny & Marie. This would have been a good week to perform that court-ordered community service.
A lot of heavyweights have covered this venerable old classic. I played with the idea of pitting the big boys against each other: The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Them (and there are probably a few other luminaries who covered “I Got A Woman” that I cannot recall at the moment). But I was quite happy with the three selections I ended up using. All are quite good and in three completely different genres: 60’s Rock, Blues/Jazz and Reggae. All were worthy but on this given day The Barbarians prevailed.
I could vote Toots or Stokes on this one, both great vocals…I’ll stick with the old school…Stokes by a hair…