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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
One of a few Burt Bacharach gems that Dione Warwick performed expertly.
The Original
Dione Warwick:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
The Stranglers vs. Isaac Hayes vs. Cockeyed Ghost
The Stranglers:
Isaac Hayes:
There’s a twelve-minute version of this song on his lp, which is probably the preferred version, but I chose to offer this edited version instead.
Cockeyed Ghost:
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.
From the Frank Zappa school of supreme bizarreness …
The Original
Warren Zevon:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Five covers for a bizarre, quirky and somewhat obscure song?!!? I was amazed how many excellent and original covers there were for this oddball tune. I guess everyone wanted to get in on the fun. Among the great covers that did not make the cut: Adam Sandler (is there anything this guy can’t do?), The Flamin’ Groovies, The 69 Cats, The Bolivian Sunshine Dogs, Et al.
David Lindley & El Rayo-X vs. Magnolia Electric Co. vs. Elio E Le Storie Tese vs. Kidz Bop Kids vs. Jackson Browne
David Lindley & El Rayo-X:
Magnolia Electric Co.:
Elio E Le Storie Tese:
Kidz Bop Kids:
Jackson Browne:
I was not too thrilled with what Jackson’s career evolved into, but anyone who doubts that this was one of the finest songwriters of his time should check out his first four releases: Jackson Browne, For Everyman, Late for the Sky and The Pretender. All simply superb!
Here Jackson’s playful side is on full display. The first time I actually heard the song was from this fine bootleg.
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.
Tune du Jour: “The Harder They Come” – Jimmy Cliff
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros vs. Keith Richards vs. Joe Jackson vs. Rancid vs. Barnyard Fury vs. Madness feat. Paul Weller
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
Pull up a chair and get comfortable. This will be a long post … as is befitting of a Monster Icon like Jimmy Cliff … R.I.P.
The Original
Jimmy Cliff:
Vietnam, Mother and Child Reunion, The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff and Paul Simon … November 27, 2011 … New Jersey Performing Arts Center:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros vs. Keith Richards vs. Joe Jackson vs. Rancid vs. Barnyard Fury vs. Madness feat. Paul Weller
Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros:
Keith Richards:
Joe Jackson:
Rancid:
Barnyard Fury:
Madness feat. Paul Weller:
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.
These wonderful lyrics were written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham in Nov. 1965.
The Original
Dan Penn (Nov. 1965):
Most Popular Cover
James and Bobby Purify (Sept. 1966):
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Kelly Hogan and The Drive-By Truckers vs. The Box Tops vs. Rock*A*Teens
Kelly Hogan and The Drive-By Truckers:
The Box Tops:
Rock*A*Teens:
Kelly Hogan returns with this former Atlanta-based somewhat experimental mash-up. Kind of a crime to have Kelly on-stage and not doing lead vocals but, as I said, I think it was an experiment gone …
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.
Nirvana vs. Inkcubus Sukkubus vs. Phantom Helmsman
Nirvana:
Inkubus Sukkubus:
Phantom Helmsmen:
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.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Easy Star All-Stars feat. Dr. Israel vs. Star Death and White Dwarfs feat. Henry Rollins vs. Celtic Pink Floyd vs. Bim Skala Bim
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
Even having been massively overplayed by now, “Dark Side of the Moon”, still blows me away …
The Original
Pink Floyd:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
I strive to feature diverse genres in the covers that I select. I think that I achieved that nicely on this post.
Easy Star All-Stars feat. Dr. Israel vs. Star Death and White Dwarfs feat. Henry Rollins vs. Celtic Pink Floyd vs. Bim Skala Bim
Easy Star All-Stars feat. Dr. Israel:
Star Death and White Dwarfs feat. Henry Rollins:
Celtic Pink Floyd:
Bim Skala Bim:
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.
I was never much of a Prince fan back in the day. But I am kind of learning to respect him a bit now.
The Original
Prince:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Automatic Shoes vs. Paul Kelly vs. Sarah Bettens vs. Gear Daddies
Automatic Shoes:
Where do bands come up with their names?
Paul Kelly:
Sarah Bettens:
If you like Sarah’s cover, there’s another version with her and a keyboard player on YouTube that is also very good. It was hard to decide which one I should feature.
Gear Daddies:
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.
Tune du Jour: “(What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?” – Nick Lowe
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Midnight Oil vs. Big Fish Ensemble feat. the Indigo Girls vs. Bruce Springsteen et al. vs. Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sarah Potenza
VOTE, COMMENT, then DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF
Never knew of nor heard this original version before …
Brinsley Schwartz (June 1974):
Nick Lowe (who wrote the song) with his band at the time His Sound (October 1978):
Beautifully written plea for sanity. For all his acclaim I still feel that Nick is an underrated songwriter. He has written some brilliant lyrics, often poignant, often satirical, always first-rate. Unfortunately, this song has more relevance now more than ever. John Lennon quoted the song in 1980 in a Rolling Stone interview. What more can you say …
Most Popular Cover
Timeless, superb version! One of my EC favorites from the first time I heard it. Such energy, attitude and passion!!! Recently saw EC and, of course, he sang this as the last song of his encore. During the show he gleefully told of a time long ago in Detroit when Donald Trump (or as he referred to him as “the spoiled son of a slumlord”) tried to glom onto him after a show and he told him to eff-off! Yes, now that’s a punk attitude!!!
Elvis Costello & The Attractions (Nov 7 1980):
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
So many great covers of this song. It was ridiculous whittling it down to four. Will probably re-visit this masterpiece again … and maybe again.
Midnight Oil vs. Big Fish Ensemble feat. the Indigo Girls vs. Bruce Springsteen et al. vs. Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sarah Potenza
Midnight Oil:
Big Fish Ensemble feat. the Indigo Girls:
Atlanta hometown heroes! The Indigo Girls made it … Big Fish Ensemble should have …
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, the Dixie Chicks, Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews, John Fogerty, Michael Stipe, Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo and Jackson Browne (Great Scott, Batman!!!):
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sarah Potenza:
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.
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.
One of the great one-hit wonders of the ’70s. Great Song!
The Original
R. Dean Taylor:
I originally had a hard time finding three cover songs that I liked then ended up finding four good ones.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Larry Cox vs. Blues Traveler/Gin Blossoms/Spin Doctors vs. The Frampton Brothers vs. Martin John Burton
Larry Cox:
Blues Traveler/Gin Blossoms/Spin Doctors:
The Frampton Brothers:
Martin John Burton:
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 