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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
Manic Hispanic vs. The Mods vs. Total Determinacion
Manic Hispanic:
The Mods:
Total Determinacion:
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.
Los Apson vs. Mott the Hoople vs. Toots & The Maytalls
Los Apson:
Mott the Hoople:
Toots & The Maytals:
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.
You used to be so amused, At Broccoli Man, and the carrot for a guitar he used …
The Original
Bob Dylan:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Bad Religion vs. Robyn Hitchcock vs. Nena
Bad Religion:
Robyn Hitchcock:
Nena:
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 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.
For our purposes we will rely on medley standards as outlined at the 2012 Institute of Chartered Music Listeners Music-Medley Symposium, which identified and defined the following categories of
Broccoli For Miles And Miles And Miles And Miles And Miles … Oh Yeah!
Music Medleys:
The Meager-Medley – a musical composition comprised of parts from two independent songs.
The Mini-Medley – a musical composition comprised of parts from three independent songs.
The Medial-Medley – a musical composition comprised of parts from four independent songs.
The Mega-Medley – a musical composition comprised of parts from five or more independent songs.
THE CLASH of Cover Medleys
Circle Jerks vs. Eugene Chadbourne and the Red Clay Ramblers vs. Soul Asylum
Circle Jerks: Golden Shower of Hits
“Along Comes Mary” (The Association) / “(They Long to be) Close to You” (The Carpenters) / “Afternoon Delight” (Starland Vocal Band) / “(You’re) Having My Baby” (Paul Anka) / “Love Will Keep Us Together” (Captain & Tennille) / “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” (Tammy Wynette)
Eugene Chadbourne and the Red Clay Ramblers: Medley in C
“Always on My Mind” (Willie Nelson) / “Whiter Shade of Pale” (Procol Harem) / “San Francisco Nights” (The Animals) / “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” (Louis Armstrong) / “Imagine” (John Lennon) / “TV Party” (Black Flag) / “Misty” (Johnny Mathis) / “Dang Me” (Roger Miller) / “England Swings” (Roger Miller) / “I Started a Joke” (Bee Gees) / “To Sir With Love” (Lulu) / “Waltz Across Texas” (Ernest Tubb) / “The Shah Sleeps in Lee Harvey’s Grave” (Butthole Surfers)
Soul Asylum: James at 16
“The Cross” (Prince) / “For What it’s Worth” (Buffalo Springfield) / “I’m Waiting for My Man” (The Velvet Underground) / “Birth, School, Work, Death” (The Godfathers) / “Damaged Goods” (Gang of Four) / “Play that Funky Music” (Wild Cherry) / “Free For All” (Ted Nugent) / “I Don’t Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops, Upside Your Head)” (The Gap Band) / “Body Slam” (Bootsy Collins) / “Stayin’ Alive” (Bee Gees) / “Wishing Well” (Terence Trent D’Arby) / “Get Down Tonight” (KC & the Sunshine Band) / “Peaceful Easy Family” (The Eagles)
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which medley of cover songs prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On?!!?
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 