David Bowie: “Starman”

Posted: February 13, 2015 in THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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Tune du Jour: “Starman” – David Bowie
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Nosferatu vs. May Hart Band
Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)
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"Free markets will not prevail without unfettered competition among cover songs." - Milton Friedbyrd

“Free markets will not prevail without unfettered competition among cover songs.” – Milton Friedbyrd

Starman was recorded by David Bowie in  February 1972 and released as a single that April. FUN FACT: The song was a late addition to Bowie’s album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars at the insistence of RCA’s Dennis Katz, who heard a demo and loved the track, believing it would make a great single. It replaced the Chuck Berry cover Round and Round on the album…Imagine that, axing a cover at the last minute!??! My God what a travesty! Oh the humanity!!!

According to David Thompson of AllMusic: “Starman is arguably the single most influential song in Bowie’s entire catalog. At the time of its release, after all, he was still a one-hit wonder, creaking around the club circuit with a critically acclaimed, but publicly ignored live show, while his Space Oddity signature theme sank ever further back into the mists of time.”

Starman embedded Ziggy Stardust in the nation’s consciousness and established David Bowie as the premier eccentric rock icon of the time. The single reached No. 10  while the album hit No. 5. in the UK charts. Starman remained in the UK charts for 11 weeks. In the US the song peaked at No. 65.

The Original

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David Bowie:

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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes

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Nosferatu vs. May Hart Band

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Nosferatu:

May Hart Band:

Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?

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Votes can be cast up to three months from the day and time of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

Burt Bacharach / Hal David / Richard Chamberlain: “They Long to Be Close to You”

Posted: February 11, 2015 in THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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Tune du Jour: “They Long to Be Close to You” – Carpenters
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Hannah Cranna vs. Ethyl Meatplow
Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)
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Everybody's Dressin' Funny ... Cover Me Impressed!

Everybody’s Dressin’ Funny … Cover Me Impressed!

They Long to Be Close to You is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded and released as a single in 1963 by Richard Chamberlain garnering precious little attention. However it was not a total lose for Rich; the single’s B-Side, Blue Guitar, would go on to be a minor hit. They Long to Be Close to You was next recorded  by Dionne Warwick and released in 1964. Bacharach himself also took a stab at it, releasing his own version in 1968.

But it was in 1970 that musical history would be made! A year earlier, two wild and crazy kids had caught Burt’s attention with their rousing cover of the Beatles’ Ticket to Ride. Burt contacted the sibling pair, Richard and Karen Carpenter, and suggested they arrange their own version of They Long to Be Close to You. They did, thereby producing a wretched travesty for the ages.  The single sold over a million copies. They Long to Be Close to You occupied number one pop for four weeks and went to number one adult contemporary later that summer. This horrific song also won the Carpenters a Grammy for Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus and Best New Artist.

Yet, despite the years of torment we have all endured, involuntarily assaulted by this musical abomination at everywhere from restaurants, elevators, school choruses and commercials to our parents’ stereo, They Long to Be Close to You does claim one undeniable superlative; it is Homer and Marge Simpsons’ love song. They Long to Be Close to You played in the background as Homer Simpson first met and gazed upon Marge Bouvier and in time was the first song they danced to at their wedding.

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The Original

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Richard Chamberlain:

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The Most Popular

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Carpenters:

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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes

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Hannah Cranna vs. Ethyl Meatplow

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Hannah Cranna:

Ethyl Meatplow:

Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?

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Votes can be cast up to three months from the day and time of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

Neil Diamond: “I’m A Believer”

Posted: February 9, 2015 in THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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Tune du Jour: “I’m A Believer” – The Monkees
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: The Frank & Walters vs. Nina Hagen
Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)
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And In My Hour of Need, I Truly Am Indeed, Alone Again, Broccoli ...

I Thought Love Was Just a Bowl of Broccoli …

I’m A Believer was composed and recorded by Neil Diamond in 1966. It was released on his album Just for You in 1967. However, in November 1966, The Monkees recorded and released the song to immediate fanfare. I’m a Believer amazingly ranks as the third most popular rock song of the ’60s, behind only the Beatles’ Hey Jude and I Want to Hold Your Hand. It spent seven weeks at number one in America, hit the top of the charts in Britain as well, and charted in over a dozen countries.

The Original

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Neil Diamond:

This version is just plain weird. It sounds like…well… it sounds like Neil Diamond is singing it…some things are just not right!

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The Most Popular

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The Monkees:

There, now that sounds much better…

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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes

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The Frank & Walters vs. Nina Hagen

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The Frank & Walters:

Nina Hagen:

Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?

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Votes can be cast up to three months from the day and time of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

ACDC: “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock ‘n’ Roll)”

Posted: February 6, 2015 in THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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Tune du Jour: “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock ‘n’ Roll)” – ACDC
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Dropkick Murphys vs. Pat Boone
Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)
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Everybody's Dressin' Funny ... Cover Me Impressed!

Everybody’s Dressin’ Funny … Cover Me Impressed!

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ACDC, what could you say? You either loved them or hated them! I did not love them. But, gee wizz, on Cover Me Impressed such disdain matters not. If there’s a decent cover out there then there will always be a place for the covered band on CMI. Even ACDC. Hmmm, I think I’ll go take a shower now…

 

The Original

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ACDC:

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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes

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Dropkick Murphys vs. Pat Boone

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Dropkick Murphys:

Pat Boone:

This is from Pat’s album No More Mr. Nice Guy. Sadly I am not kidding.

Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?

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Votes can be cast up to seven days from the day and time of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

Pink Floyd: “Money”

Posted: February 4, 2015 in THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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Tune du Jour: “Money” – Pink Floyd
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Easy Star All-Stars vs. Flaming Lips (feat Henry Rollins)
Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)
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Everybody's Dressin' Funny ... Cover Me Impressed!

Everybody’s Dressin’ Funny … Cover Me Impressed!

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Pink Floyd’s first hit in the United States, Money, from the band’s seminal album The Dark Side of the Moon.

The Original

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Pink Floyd:

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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes

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Easy Star All-Stars vs. The Flaming Lips (featuring Henry Rollins)

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Easy Star All-Stars:

The Flaming Lips (featuring Henry Rollins):

Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?

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Votes can be cast up to 3 months from the day and time of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

John Lennon: “Imagine”

Posted: February 2, 2015 in Reigning Pooh-Bah Maximus of Cover Tune, THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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Tune du Jour: “Imagine” – John Lennon
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Eddie Vedder vs. Neil Young
Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)
CoverMeImpressed.com     CoverMeImpressed.com     CoverMeImpressed.com
"Free markets will not prevail without unfettered competition among cover songs." - Milton Friedbyrd

“Free markets will not prevail without unfettered competition among cover songs.” – Milton Friedbyrd

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Gadzooks! It has been exactly one year today since my last post. Due to family flapdoodles too numerous to count, as well as general malaise, I apostatized from my righteous charge of disseminating Cover Tunes. But I’ve recently awakened and recommitted myself to spreading the felicity that is reprocessed tunage. So from this day forward – and for at least a week or two more – Cover Me Impressed will rise from the slag heap of long-defunct blogs! With its second-coming there will be some subtle changes. For one, CMI will no longer offer a daily CLASH of Cover Tunes. The plan is to publish three, maybe four, CLASHes per week. Also the voting period will be significantly increased from the one week time frame used in the past to 3 months. And lastly, from hereon out, any visitors that do not vote will be haunted over the next three nights (as the last stroke of twelve has ceased to vibrate, to be exact) by three spirits. And I’m here to tell ya, entertaining the Ghost of Cover Songs Yet To Come is by no means a joyous occasion. That is one tedious specter! And believe me, he will bore you to tears right through to the daylight hours with his insipid tales of self-important minutia!!

 

CMI’s inaugural blog and CLASH of Cover Tunes pitted two venerable old codgers – David Bowie and Neil Young – crooning their covers of John Lennon’s immortal masterpiece Imagine. Neil won that bout with 84% of the vote. For the sake of symmetry (and the fact that it is Doug Zaner’s favorite John Lennon song) we’ll reintroduce the blog with Neil defending his rendition of Imagine versus Eddie Vedder’s contribution.

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The Original

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Lennon:

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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes

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Vedder vs. Young
Vedder:

Young:

Young holds the distinction of being CMI’s Reigning Exultant Virtuosic Performer of “Imagine“. Additionally, Young is a recipient of CMI’s universally coveted title of Bi Victor Melodious Maximus in Adversarial Replication. Among the title’s myriad of rewards and benefits, perhaps most desirous is that it bestows upon the recipient the eminently yearned for privilege of having one’s name appear in print media in bold orange!

Young’s triumphal exploits in CMI’s THE CLASH of Cover Tunes competitions are detailed below:

10/18/2013 – “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” (Bob Dylan) – Neil Young with Booker T & The MGs (100%) throttle Robyn Hitchcock (00%)

9/27/2013 – “Imagine” (John Lennon) – Neil Young (84%) wallops David Bowie (16%)

Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?

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Votes can be cast up to three months from the day of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

BSA: Holy Gordon Solie, Batman …

Posted: February 2, 2015 in Blog Service Announcement
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Blog Service Announcement

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Hold onto your hat! Cover Me Impressed will make its triumphant return tomorrow morning!!!

 

 

(Okay, you can let go of your hat now…)

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BSA: Coming Up …

Posted: April 9, 2014 in Blog Service Announcement
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Blog Service Announcement

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Like a Flower?  For the love of God, no!

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But Cover Me Impressed will be coming back soon to a computer near you!!!

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Johnny Cash: “Give My Love to Rose”

Posted: February 2, 2014 in Reigning Pooh-Bah Maximus of Cover Tune, THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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Tune du Jour: “Give My Love to Rose” – Johnny Cash
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: On Guard vs. Bruce Springsteen
Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)
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Broccoli For Miles And Miles And Miles And Miles And Miles ... Oh Yeah!

Broccoli For Miles And Miles And Miles And Miles And Miles … Oh Yeah!

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Vintage Cash. Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two recorded Give My Love to Rose in 1957 at the legendary Sun Records studio. Give My Love to Rose was also included on the 1968 live album At Folsom Prison, which featured June Carter, Carl Perkins and the Tennessee Three (my how they grow right before your eyes!) backing up the Man in Black. And Johnny also recorded a new version of Give My Love to Rose in 2002 for what was to be the last album released in his lifetime, American IV: The Man Comes Around (American V: A Hundred Highways was released posthumously in 2006).

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The Original: 1957

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Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Two:

Original … Well, not exactly. You’ve all heard the original Sun Studio version but this 1957 cut from the Tex Ritter television show might be a new experience.

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At Folsom Prison: 1968

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Johnny Cash, June Carter, Carl Perkins & The Tennessee Three:

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American IV: The Man Comes Around: 2002

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Johnny Cash:

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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes

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On Guard vs. Bruce Springsteen
On Guard:

Bruce Springsteen:

Bruce Springsteen is a recipient of CMI’s universally coveted title of Uni Victor Melodious Maximus in Adversarial Replication. Among the title’s myriad of rewards and benefits, perhaps most desirous is that it bestows upon the recipient the eminently yearned for privilege of having one’s name appear in print media in bold yellow.

Bruce Springsteen’s triumphal performance in CMI’s THE CLASH of Cover Tunes competition is detailed below:

12/9/2013 – “Love Of The Common People” (The Four Preps) – Bruce Springsteen & The Sessions Band (67%) repel Stiff Little Fingers (33%)

Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?

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Votes can be cast up to seven days from the day and time of the original post.

Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.

SINGLES ONLY: “Pay No Mind (Snoozer)” (Beck) and “The Madness of Love” (Richard & Linda Thompson)

Posted: February 1, 2014 in Singles Only
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Tune une la Jour: “Pay No Mind (Snoozer)”  covered by Sonic Youth
Tune deux du Jour: “The Madness of Love” covered by Graham Parker
RELAX, NO CLASH TODAY!
CoverMeImpressed.com     CoverMeImpressed.com     CoverMeImpressed.com

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Singles Only

And In My Hour of Need, I Truly Am Indeed, Alone Again, Broccoli ...

And In My Hour of Need,
I Truly Am Indeed,
Alone Again, Broccoli …

Singles are cover songs without a mate (or, for CMI’s purposes, an opponent). My dedicated team and I have diligently searched through our impeccable resources and have come to the conclusion that these particular songs were covered only once. Oh, in some instances, we may have found a cover by a pseudo-musician (think Billy Joel or, gulp, an unfortunate equivalent) but we’ll have none of that here at CMI! You may ask, why would a band cover a song so obscure that no other legitimate group is interested in also doing so? Well let me put it this way: How the hell should I know? But I do have a few of these rarities in my database and it is now part of your solemn responsibility to listen to them. No competition on this day. Rather unabashed reverence, reflection and repose. Enjoy …

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Pay No Mind (Snoozer)- The Original

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Beck:

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Pay No Mind- The Cover

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Sonic Youth:

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The Madness of Love- The Original

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Richard & Linda Thompson:

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Embassy – The Cover

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Graham Parker:

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