Tune du Jour: “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” – The Monkees
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Sex Pistols vs. Gomez & Arianna Gillis vs. Francine
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The Original
The Monkees … A Band to Take Seriously!
The Monkees:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Sex Pistols vs. Gomez & Arianna Gillis vs. Francine
Sex Pistols:
Gomez & Arianna Gillis:
Francine:
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 
This is another ’60s song that is fodder for many a punk band.
Obviously the Sex Pistols deliver the attitude and angst required. Sid’s vocals were tailormade for this song. Now what …
Gomez & Arianna Gillis deliver a fairly faithful yet masterful cover. Never heard of Arianna Gillis before but she too has the right attitude. I don’t think that I would want to mess with this woman.
Francine delivers a cool, relentless, driving cover. Their guitarwork is superior to the other contestants. And I always appreciate a standup bass. Wonder what the derivation of their name was (although, not interested enough to delve into it).
I went with with Gomez & Arianna Gillis in a close one. The instrumentation was excellent and I loved each of the multiple vocalists.
I’ve always liked this song. when I looked it up I read that The Liverpool Five [never heard of them} recorded this first but Paul Revere and The Raiders were first to release it. The Monkees had the big hit.Their version came out November 1966 while The Raiders released the album containing their take in May 1966. I liked all three contenders and each had something special. Love the sound of Steve Jones’s guitar as the song opens. The great photos of The Pistols was the best part for me. They pummel through it with typical primal stomping. Francine did a fine but unremakable cover until releasing a fuzz guitar maelstrom in the final half minute. I voted for Gomez and guest Arianna Gillis. The live video utilizing multiple lead vocals was hard to top. I used to listen to Gomez a lot in the 2000s. It was at one of their shows in KC circa 2006 that a friend and I fired up on tequila and Iggy pregaming had a misunderstanding with man we thought wronged us. The banter escalated until my friend told him “I’ll bury you somewhere in Kansas where they’ll never find you body.” Clearly shaken by this he began buying us drinks.
Kerry’s two cents:
“The Monkees … A Band to Take Seriously!”
I agree, and I was thinking this the other day when one of the covers of “Fox on the Run” added a few additional songs, including “Pleasant Valley Sunday”. Great song!
I have one vinyl LP by Paul Revere & The Raiders, and it features this song. I thought it might pre-date the version by The Monkees, and it does. (I also have a double disc CD by Paul Revere & The Raiders that has 55 tracks, with at least half a dozen really good cuts).
I voted Sex Pistols not because their version was that great, but nobody surpassed them.
I wasn’t crazy about the vocals from Ariana Gillis. And why did the guy at the end make a point of thanking Davy Jones? That’s obviously Micky Dolenz on lead vocals, who sounds nothing like Davy. Plus The Monkees didn’t write it. I wondered if Davy was even at that session. Wikipedia says:
Musicians featured on the recording are Micky Dolenz (lead vocal), Tommy Boyce (backing vocal), Wayne Erwin and Gerry McGee (rhythm guitar), Louis Shelton (lead guitar), Bobby Hart (Vox Continental organ), Larry Taylor (bass), Billy Lewis (drums) and Henry Lewy (percussion).
Believe it or not, I had heard the Pistols’ version before I had ever heard the Monkees version. I love the Pistols, but I’ve never been impressed with their rendition. I voted for Gomez; I really felt that it was done in the right spirit, especially the bass and backing vocals. But none came close to the original. I wonder what Davy Jones did when Mickey Dolenz sang. Played the triangle, maybe.