Tune du Jour: “San Diego Serenade” – Tom Waits
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Nanci Griffith vs. Puddles Pity Party vs. Cilla Black
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Such a fantastic ballad … a pitch-perfect retrospective lament of lost opportunity … could not have been penned any better … tremendous … will never get enough of this masterpiece …
Would like to think that The Waterboys were paying homage when they delivered their own brilliantly similar gem, The Whole of the Moon.
The Original
Tom Waits:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Nanci Griffith vs. Puddles Pity Party vs. Cilla Black
Nanci Griffith:
Puddles Pity Party:
Cilla Black:
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 
Cannot say just how much I love this ballad. Been there, done that …
Nanci and Cilla deliver respectful and reverent versions but Mike, damn, Mike can just flat out sing and he delivers once again on this beautiful cover. As I have said, I enjoyed Mike’s other personas more than Puddles but, hell, I can listen to this man sing in any garb and in any venue.
Saw him last week and his show was nothing short fantastic and breath-taking. Here is the message that I left him afterwards:
Mike, I bent your ear last week after your Kingsized show. Like I said, I must have seen you 15 to 20 times … seen you as Kingsized, Tongo Hiti, Puddles and even once at a Neil Young tribute show at Echo Lounge when you expertly played Transformer Man on a ukulele. But as I said last week, I don’t think that I have ever seen you better. Just an outstanding show! Hope you will be making Kingsized shows a regular event again here in Atlanta. Anyway, just wanted to tell you again just how much I have enjoyed your shows over the years. An Atlanta Treasure! And if you ever feel like gracing my cover song music blog, CoverMeImpressed.blog it would be an honor to hear from you. BTW: today’s post is one of my favorite Tom Waits’ songs, San Diego Serenade and, of course, Puddle’s beautiful cover is included …
One of the best songs from Wait’s first incarnation. All artists acquitted themselves with strong interpretations. Puddles is a natural and doesn’t use any sweetening from strings which I appreciate but I still preferred the others. I was surprised to see Cilla Black covering Waits. I only know her as a pop singer. I have been to her statue in Liverpool outside the Cavern Club where she was a regular in the sixties along with some other schlubs. She did an impressive job but my vote went to Nanci Griffith whose version was the most special to me.