Tune du Jour: “Rock It With I” – The Melodians
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Reel Big Fish vs. David Lindley & El Rayo-X vs. Steve Messenger
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
CoverMeImpressed.blog CoverMeImpressed.blog CoverMeImpressed.blog
The Original
The Melodians:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Reel Big Fish vs. David Lindley &El Rayo-X vs. Steve Messenger
Reel Big Fish:
David Lindley & El Rayo-X:
Steve Messinger:
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 
Cool song. I actually had never heard it before. Huh, you might ask? Well every now and then I have a “roulette” day, when a song will is chosen somewhat randomly out of a huge database. Crazy, ridiculousness … don’t ask … 🙂
Reel Big Fish usually has a bit of a satirical bent to their songs. Not hear. Solid and reverent cover.
David Lindley & El Rayo-X, the more I hear from these guys, the more I am impressed with them. Very nice, although, not as ska-rocking as they usually deliver.
Steve Messenger seems like a pretty cool dude. Nice acoustic version with soulful vocals.
Reel Big Fish by a catfish whisker …
Didn’t know the original, but that was good.
I’m not sure if I knew Reel Big Fish before joining CMI. They’ve made a number of appearances at this point, and although they have provided decent material, I doubt I’ve voted for them. That changes today, as they win a close one over David Lindley and co.
Never heard of the third guy, and he does as well as can be expected, given he’s performing solo with only an acoustic guitar to accompany him.
I have never heard of this song. I looked up a best of The Melodians 1967-73 and it did not appear. As early practitioners of reggae it sounds like they came from the vocal group school. No idea who Steve Messinger is but I doubt Quicksilver is his nickname. Silver, perhaps and I honestly don’t know a bespectacled older white guy in a Black Sabbath t shirt that could have done this any better. David Lindley & El Rayo-X gave us a very reverential treatment. Very laid back and strong on the subtleties but at over five minutes it felt long. I voted Reel Big Fish. I expected more high energy ska but they held it back, pinning down the riddim and accentuating with the horns to backstroke through the tide. Classic stylee.
I’ve heard of the Melodians, of course. They did that great song “Rivers of Babylon” on The Harder They Come soundtrack. But I hadn’t heard this song before, but it’s definitely a very nice reggae song. All of the covers have their merits, but the mellow pace and sweet vocals of the David Lindley version won me over.