Tune du Jour: “Gimme Shelter” – The Rolling Stones
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Playing for Change feat. Taj Mahal vs. Patti Smith vs. New Model Army feat. Tom Jones
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The Original
Arnie’s favorite Rolling Stones’ song. It’s up there for me as well. Enjoy …
The Rolling Stones:
U2 with Mick Jagger:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Playing for Change feat. Taj Mahal vs. Patti Smith vs. New Model Army feat. Tom Jones
Playing for Change feat. Taj Mahal:
Patti Smith:
New Model Army feat. Tom Jones:
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 
Oh the agony. The agony of choosing between Playing for Change and Patti.
Of the many dozens of amazing Stones songs, Gimme Shelter is my all time favorite.
I found Playing for Change’s version absolutely mesmerizing, each performer giving it their all, in a stripped down, virtuosic performance. Great vocals, interesting instruments… just stunning.
And yet… I’ve been a Patti Smith fan since hearing Horses at a party in 1975. She really knows how to cover a tune, and this is really a perfect song for her to cover. Stellar from start to finish.
I’ll tell ya, New Model Army is playing really fantastically here. But Tom Jones is just a bad fit. This is a song that requires some serious street chops, and Jones’s Vegas voice, good though it is, just doesn’t fit here.
I gave it to Patti, but just by a hair.
hey Arnie,
love the love for Patti Smith, my younger daughter bought me two of her memoirs recently, Just Kids and Year of the Monkey,
she’s not only a visionary as a musician and poet, but equally amazing as a writer, photographer and philosopher…
I’m guessing you may have read either or both?
Read ’em both, as well as M Train. I subscribe to her Substack. She makes videos for her subscribers that are so warm and engaging. You really feel that you know her. And every now and then, Lenny Kaye stops by her apartment and they do a song, just for us subscribers. You should check it out. She just sent one yesterday. Here’s a link. Subscribing is free.
https://pattismith.substack.com/p/an-evening-hello-and-goodnight?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=300761&post_id=171101586&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_button&r=1gyecq&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Arnie has been obsessed with Patti Smith for decades so no surprise he predictably went with her version. I vote for New Model Army and think Tom was very soulful on his vocal. Put the image of the white ruffled tuxedo shirt and open chest out of your mind. Close your eyes and listen. He has it. In my opinion Patti was just not that passionate in her version but that is her style.
Three very different and I felt very strong covers.
I really like the Playing for Change music and videos. For those who don’t know they use different artists from around the world to sing songs of peace and love. They somehow raise money for world causes. I know they put on concerts around the world. I have not heard a bad production yet from them and some I find are outstanding. I thought this one was pretty good.
Patti Smith? What could you say? She throws down the usual first rate emotional cover. Ho hum …
I am really impressed that Tom Jones played with so many hip bands in his old age. I don’t know who arranged them but they are generally solid covers. This was a good one.
Patti Smith on the strength of her vocals.
The Stones most menacing song and one of their very best. Arnie’s Law must be invoked: none of them could ruin the classic. The mouth harp on the NMA/Tom Jones cover boosted their chances, Patti Smith’s band delivered a solid surprisingly straight cover but the earthy assemblage of global musicians plus Taj won my vote.
Easy choice today. Playing for Change gets the vote.
I’ve seen a half dozen or so of their videos over the years, and they’re all very good and interesting visually. People from all over the world with unusual and exotic instruments blending seamlessly into a perfect whole.
Tom Jones exceeded expectations. It’s easy to dismiss him due to his image and the way he was marketed back in the day. But he could sing, and he has collaborated with a diverse and interesting assortment of artists over the decades.
Now that I think about it, New Model Army might be the punk equivalent for the Stones. I especially like the harmonica break on their version.
That’s one F’in Iconic Tune , as Joe Biden once said,
I’ve watched the video with U2 and Fergie at least a dozen times over the years, one of the best collaborations in rock history, Fergie is a Force of Nature that Jagger can’t quite wrap his thighs around, though he did give it his best old horn dog college try
love Patti Smith, and Tom Jones has only gotten better with age, but had to go with the Covid Busting ensemble Playing For Change