NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS WEBSITE
Cover Me Impressed
With a focus on the 60's-90's music scene, CMI is a Paradiso for Lovers Cover Songs! Each post focuses on a particular song and provides its original and most popular recordings as well as covers versions. Patrons of CMI vote on the most deserving cover version, which will then live to compete again, battling other cover songs in a future post.
Bands, musicians, troubadours, and their ilk, submit your cover songs for future CMI competitions.
CMI welcomes the opportunity to introduce new artists.
Contact RDubbs at RDubbsTunage@gmail.com
Music Genres?
We've Got 'em Covered ...
Rock / Alt-Rock / Rock 'n Roll / Rockabilly / Indie Pop / New Wave / Old Wave / Surf / Reggae / Ska / Punk Rock / Psychobilly / Cowpunk / Alt-Country / Bluegrass / Folk / Croon-Tunes / A Cappella / Motown / Gospel / Blues / Rhythm & Blues / Jazz / Big Band / Lounge / Classical / Celtic / Bossa Nova / Worldbeat / Show Tunes / Cartoons / Bizarro / Musical Calamities
The Bollock Brothers vs. Lady Sovereign vs. London Punkharmonic Orchestra
The Bollock Brothers:
Lady Sovereign:
London Punkharmonic Orchestra:
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.
Did I Ask for Too Much? More Than a Lot … You Gave Me a Carrot Guitar Now That’s All I’ve Got
The Original
U2:
R.E.M. with Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen Jr.:
A damn shame. This one could have been a contender. But you just can’t slip the original band’s bass player and drummer into the mix and call it your own. Well … at least not on CMI you can’t!!! (Yeah, we’re a bunch of badasses around here, deal with it!)
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Kane vs. Christian Kane & Mary Blige vs. The Persuasions
Kane:
Christian Kane & Mary Blige:
The Persuasions:
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.
While not a huge fan of most of her work, it’s impossible not to admire Kirsty MacColl. Hell, any musician worthy of working with Billy Bragg, Talking Heads, The Smiths and, most of all, The Pogues, has earned my respect. And while on stage she always looked to be having a grand time, a sentiment that is foreign to many “important” musicians. “Fairytale of New York” is an enduring masterpiece and, of course, it is MacColl who expertly croons and trades barbs with Shane MacGowan in the song. If that were her only musical accomplishment then I’d still consider her a special talent for contributing to a pitch-perfect, raucous, yet sentimental ballad.
Billy Bragg’s “A New England” is far superior to any cover I’ve heard of the song. Still, it is worth noting that Kirsty MacColl actually enjoyed the most commercial success from the song. A year after Bragg included “A New England” on his 1983 album, Life’s A Riot With Spy vs. Spy, MacColl released it as a single. She obviously had Bragg’s blessing in that, at her behest, he wrote additional verses for her, which she consolidated into one closing verse. “A New England” became MacColl’s biggest hit, reaching number 7 in the UK Singles Chart and number 8 in the Irish Singles Chart. In 2000, MacColl tragically died while saving the life of her son during a boating accident. In tribute to Kirsty MacColl, Bragg subsequently began including the additional verse during performances of the song.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Across the Border vs. The King Blues vs. Too Much Joy
Across the Border:
The King Blues:
Too Much Joy:
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.
“Don’t Fence Me In” was based on text by Robert Fletcher, a poet and engineer with the Department of Highways in Montana. Cole Porter, who had been tasked with writing a cowboy song for a musical, purchased the song rights of the poem from Fletcher for $250. While Porter used some of Fletcher’s actual lines he edited, added and rearranged most of the poem and then composed the music for it.
California is a garden of Eden, A paradise to live in or see. But believe it or not, You won’t find it so hot, If you ain’t got the broccoli
Porter’s arrangement of “Don’t Fence Me In” was produced in 1934. The song was first recorded in January 1935 by Edward Neil and The Foursome Quartet for the musical Adios, Argentina. However, the film was shelved before ever making it to production. I could not find a recording of “Don’t Fence Me In” by Neil & Company.
Fast-forward to 1944 and crooning Cowboy films are all the rage. “Don’t Fence Me In” was dusted off and handed to Roy Rogers for the upcoming movie Hollywood Canteen. But just prior to the release of Hollywood Canteen, Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters (with Vic Schoen and His Orchestra) rushed their recording of “Don’t Fence Me In” out, which went on to sell more than a million copies and topped the Billboard charts for eight weeks in 1944–45. While Roger’s rendition subsequently languished, Gene Autry’s 1945 version of “Don’t Fence Me In” reached number 4 on the Country & Western charts.
Most Popular Versions
Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters with Vic Schoen and His Orchestra:
Gene Autry:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
James Brown vs. David Byrne vs. The Killers
James Brown:
David Byrne:
The Killers:
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.
Gardening at Night Gardening at Night Gardening at Night
The Original
R.E.M.:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Dashboard Confessional vs. Ingrid Michaelson vs. Pickin’ On Players
Dashboard Confessional:
Ingrid Michaelson:
Pickin’ On Players:
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.
If I Get Drunk, Yes I Know I’m Gonna Be, I’m Gonna be the Plant that Get’s Drunk Next to You
The Original
The Proclaimers:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Down by Law vs. MxPx vs. The Toy Dolls
Down by Law:
There is apparently some heated debate within the punker community as to whether this is, in fact, Down by Law, or Arnie’s favorite band, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes. Anyone got any insights? And I do mean any insights, whether pertinent to this song or whatever. I’m just short on insights, okay?!? In other words, if you’ve got some insights, and again song-related or otherwise would be just fine, then please send them my way.
Now STAY here and make sure no one leaves …
I just got verification from Down By Law that this, in fact, is their song.
MxPx:
Toy Dolls:
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.
So Where Are the Strong, And Who Are the Trusted, And Where is the Broccoli, Sweet Broccoli!
The Original
The Beatles:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
el Son Cubanos vs. Ian McCulloch vs. Anne Sofie von Otter and Elvis Costello
el Son Cubanos:
Ian McCulloch:
Anne Sofie von Otter and Elvis Costello:
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.
“Free markets will not prevail without unfettered competition among cover songs.” – Milton Friedbyrd
Go Your Own Way was released in 1977 on Fleetwood Mac’s album,Rumours. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had been bickering big-time, growing ever tired of each other and not much caring to hide it any longer. Hence the “genius” of the song. Go Your Own Way was an instant hit, rising to number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it the band’s first top-ten hit. It has endured as one of Fleetwood Mac’s most popular songs. Go Your Own Way ranked number 120 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.
I do not care for this song at all, which is not surprising considering I do not care for Fleetwood Mac at all. However, Go Your Own Way does make for some great punk, cover fodder.
The Original
Fleetwood Mac:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
NoFX vs. Seaweed vs. Silverstein
NoFX:
Seaweed:
Silverstein:
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.
A couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor, Is just the kind of mess I’m looking for …
The first time I heard this song I thought it was as brilliant as anything I had ever heard before. The sound was captivating, majestic, perfection! Well 20+ years later and it still sounds as fresh, majestic and brilliant as that evening long ago. And as is typical of a Richard Thompson tune, the lyrics are impeccable. Raw, emotional, desperate yet undeterred, resilient, defiant. A new weekend is upon us and as such the possibilities are endless. Friday on My Mind for a new, grittier generation.
The Original
Richard & Linda Thompson:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Continental Drifters vs. Matt Pond PA vs. Mount Moriah
Continental Drifters:
Matt Pond PA:
Mount Moriah:
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.
There’s not a line that goes here that rhymes with anything …
What should you do if you awakened to find skinheads on your lawn? Thankfully this important and practical song by Camper Van Beethoven offers the consensus best solution to this age-old problem.
The Original
Camper Van Beethoven:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Manic Street Preachers vs. No Skanks On Sunday vs. Small White
Manic Street Preachers:
No Skanks On Sunday:
Granted these spirited lasses need a little time to get going but once they do just sit back and enjoy the ride!
Small White:
(Extra credit for performing the number in a bowling alley.)
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 