RESENDING THIS POST AS THE PRIOR ONE HAD THE WRONG 10,000 MANIACS SONG
Tune du Jour: “These Days” – Jackson Browne
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Paul Westerberg vs. Fountains of Wayne vs. 10,000 Maniacs
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
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Song by Paul’s request (yes, you can do that).
The Original
Nico:
Such a beautifully poignant and reflective song of a man’s life. Simply amazing that Jackson Browne wrote it in high school at age 16.
Nico recorded it in 1967. There were a few versions thereafter before Jackson finally got a recording contract and released his own definitive version in 1973.
Jackson Browne:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Paul Westerberg vs. Fountains of Wayne vs. 10,000 Maniacs
Paul Westerberg:
Fountains of Wayne:
10,000 Maniacs:
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 
Still puzzled as to how a 16 year old kid could have written this gem.
All of the covers are good but none can match the emotional tone of Browne’s version.
10,000 Maniacs (or as Carl used to refer to them as, One Hundred Million Idiots) arrived in Gainesville, FL when I was still in college in about 1982. When I read about a band that had moved from New York to Gainesville I thought ‘what an odd path to take for a band to try and get its break’. I saw them quite a lot in small clubs around Gainesville and talked to Natalie on a number of occasions. Very friendly woman. Well I guess their odd path worked and I am happy for them. I did not follow them much during their career but I have become more and more impressed with the band as I have researched covers and heard more of them
As for my vote, I think that Fountains of Wayne come closest to capturing Browne’s sentiment and thus that is who I went with.
Wow… so nice to start my day with such a great song. I’ve always loved Nico’s version. The recording is very lo-fi, but that deep resonant voice shines through. I read a biography of her about three years ago. Hard to describe what a complete and total wreck her life became. Shooting up heroin with her son! But anyway…
I like Paul Westerberg, but I don’t like country music, and I don’t like the country twang of his version. I am reminded of an amusing statement by Bob Newhart, about country music. “I don’t like country music, but I don’t want to denigrate those who do. And for you country music fans, ‘denigrate’ means ‘to put down'”.
I was in Gainesville during the time when 10,000 Maniacs were touring and they stopped in Gainesville. I, too, saw them a few times there. They were actually on a bill with Roach Motel! I chatted with the drummer after their gig. I remember Natalie spinning and twirling throughout their set. Their version is pretty nice; it has a nice Mazzy Star-ish feel to it. But…
I went with Fountains of Wayne. Well sung, understated, heartfelt.
Definitely a few surprises here. I wouldn’t have expected Fountains Of Wayne to have the gravitas to pull this off. Put the snarky bits back in the trunk. Just like Carrot Top. I hear he slays on a cover of These Days as well. 10,000 Maniacs sounded good. Natalie Merchant has such a pleasing voice that they always have a chance. Paul Westerberg will be on my Mt. Rushmore once they expand it like the NCAA tournament. I think they are linked. But he won’t be there for his ability to cover others. The acoustic slide was an added texture and he invented new lyrics. I like that he changed “losing for so long to boozing. The biggest surprise to me was the omission of Gregg Allman. I think his version came out a week or two before Jackson Browne’s. Both in October’73. Jackson was quoted “when (Gregg) did it I thought he really unlocked a power in that song that I sort of then emulated in my version. I started playing the piano. I wasn’t trying to sing it like Gregg, I couldn’t possibly.
Liked the version by Fountains of Wayne, but it was surpassed by 10,000 Maniacs. That seems like a version I’ve heard before, although I’m not sure where. I’ve never bought anything by them. Maybe it’s on a compilation or something.
I liked the version by Fountains of Wayne, but it was surpassed by 10,000 Maniacs. That seems like a cover I’ve heard before, although I never bought anything by them. Maybe it’s on a compilation.
This is a pretty simple song instrumentally. So, it basically comes down to the vocals. I like Natalie Merchant’s the best, especially that she overdubbed her own harmonies. The short and simple guitar solo works well and adds to the emotional feel overall.
I love JB’s deeply introspective cuts. The feel of it to me lends itself more to a male vocalist, than a female’s. It was a tough decision between FOW and Westerberg. I felt FOW edged him out because of the arrangement.