Tune du Jour: “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: The Ramones vs. The Minutemen vs. Joan Jett
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
CoverMeImpressed.blog CoverMeImpressed.blog CoverMeImpressed.blog
My favorite CCR song by far. For years most mistakenly believed this song was about the Vietnam War. But in time John Fogerty allowed that it was actually his expression of frustration over the rain of problems the band was experiencing as his brother, Tom, prepared to leave CCR, which would ultimately precipitate the entire breakup of the band at was then its height of success.
The Original
Creedence Clearwater Revival:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
There is a whole lot of great covers of this classic. These are three of my favorites. We may very well revisit this song sometime down the road.
The Ramones vs. The Minutemen vs. Joan Jett
The Ramones:
Kerry, long ago, gave me this great cd for which I will always be grateful!
The Minutemen:
Joan Jett:
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 
The Ramones probably blast out the best cover of this song but I have heard it so many times that it has kind of lost its effect on me.
Joan Jett in an upset.
I enjoyed all three covers. This doesn’t play to The Minutemen’s strengths. D. Boon is a limited singer. I did like Mike Watt’s bass. Joan Jett did a really nice job here throughout and adding some emphatic exhortations yeaaahhh! I picked The Ramones version because of Joey. Even though the band is playing faster behind him it doesn’t speed up his delivery. I love his phrasing and unique esoteric pronunciations.
I’m in Zanzibar, and for some reason, it won’t let me play that Ramones video. No matter, I’ve heard it countless times and didn’t need a refresher. It’s one of those songs that, as Pete Black said about the Minutemen’s version, doesn’t really play to the band’s strengths. Still, the Ramones do a better job with it than the Minutemen. But in this case, I’ve got to give the edge to Joan Jett. Her voice and the harmonies just fit. She plays it as a straight-up rock-and-roll song, and it works great.
Speaking of Joan Jett: about two years ago, I was at a Mets–Orioles game with a friend. They started blasting I Love Rock ’n’ Roll over the stadium sound system — and then the camera cuts to the crowd, and there’s Joan herself, in an Orioles cap, sitting just a few rows from where I was. A small swarm of fans rushed over (me included), and I managed to snag a selfie with her. A few innings later, I saw her again, walking toward the concession stand.
“Hey, Joan,” I called out, “your Orioles are gettin’ creamed!”
She looked over, threw up her hands, shrugged, and said, “Yeah, I know.”
Joan for the win.
it was all Joanie, from that very first raspy throated line, love her dedication to rock and the lifestyle that should go with it
heard her and her longtime manager interviewed by Marc Maron just a few years back. Neither of them seemed to have changed a bit, God bless em!