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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
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Love this short interview with Elvis before leaving on his tour of duty in Germany. He exhibits such boyish innocence and humility.
September 22, 1958:
Such a beautiful love song as evidenced by the many luminaries that covered it (Man did Bono ever butcher it!). Although none had the voice of Elvis …
Elvis Presley:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Bruce Springsteen vs. Pearl Jam vs. Chrissie Hynde feat. Mark Lanegan vs. Bob Dylan
Bruce Springsteen:
Pearl Jam:
Chrissie Hynde feat. Mark Lanegan:
Bob Dylan:
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.
Pretty solid tune by Sting, who I have never been all too impressed with.
The Original
Sting:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Spoiler NYC vs. Bruce Springsteen vs. Johnny Cash
Spoiler NYC:
Bruce Springsteen:
Johnny Cash:
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.
This is a terrible song, right? At least that’s what I have always thought. So why are great artists covering it? Stripped away of preconception, I have to now acknowledge that lyrically it is pretty damn good and can be made to sound very pleasurable!
Soul Asylum vs. Radiohead vs. Bruce Springsteen
Soul Asylum:
These guys are so cool. In 1997 Grand Forks, North Dakota suffered terrible flooding. Torrential downpours caused the Red River to rise threatening homes and the city. High school kids spent the Spring sandbagging the water banks fighting for their home town’s survival. That year the Prom was the furthest thing from those kids’ minds. Yet, somehow someone got a hold of Soul Asylum and asked them to play at the Prom. At the time Soul Asylum was at the height of their commercial success. But they gladly agreed and heartily prepared, learning a few standard Prom songs for the occasion. There was massive damage to the city. Soul Asylum played the Prom that evening in an unaffected airplane hangar. For at least one night, high school kids clad in formal attire and townsfolk were able to forget their troubles and enjoy an amazing evening of music. As the town spokesman put it, “As Winston Churchill said after World War II, ‘Never Have So Many Done So Much For So Few.’” Who would have guessed that a hard-rockin’ band like Soul Asylum would receive such a well-earned Winstonian complement?
After The Flood: Live From The Grand Forks Prom, June 28, 1997:
Radiohead:
Bruce Springsteen:
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.
Have always hated Van Halen. Had to suffer through their awful din when they opened for The Rolling Stones in Orlando of 1981. But there are some pretty good covers of this otherwise mediocre song so I have begrudgingly allowed this overrated band onto my website.
The Original
Van Halen:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Aztec Camera vs. Mary Lou Lord vs. Bruce Springsteen
Aztec Camera:
Mary Lou Lord:
Bruce Springsteen:
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.
Probably my favorite song by The Kinks. So simple yet so perfect.
The Original
The Kinks:
Truly Great Version
Ray Davies and Bruce Springsteen:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Some really nice covers of what I would consider a somewhat obscure gem of The Kinks. Not easy whittling it down to four.
Marky Ramone and The Intruders vs. Dar Williams vs. Pearl Jam vs. Fountains of Wayne
Marky Ramone and The Intruders:
Dar Williams:
Pearl Jam:
Fountains of Wayne:
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.
Many critics consider this to be the greatest cover of all time. It’s hard to argue with. Dylan himself said something to the effect that this is Jimi’s song.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen vs. June Tabor vs. The Brothers and Sisters
Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen:
June Tabor:
The Brothers and Sisters:
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.
Hungry Hearts vs. Alex “The Red” Parez vs. The Waterboys
Hungry Hearts:
As a rule I do not include covers from tribute bands. But for reasons beyond my comprehension, I made an exception on this one.
Alex “The Red” Parez (aka El Rojo):
The Waterboys:
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.
Crooked Fingers vs. The National vs. The String Quartet
Crooked Fingers:
The National:
The String Quartet (aka Vitamin String Quartet):
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
Friends, Contributors, Audiophiles, lend me your ears … Can’t really hear this tune without picturing the greatly misunderstood, sentimental dreamer, Frank Booth.
CMI tip of the day: If on a tranquil Spring day you should come across a displaced ear then … Run, Run, Run, Run … Run, Run Away … Qu’est-ce que c’est?
The Original
Roy Orbison:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
John Otway vs. Arrica Rose vs. Bruce Springsteen
John Otway:
Arrica Rose:
Bruce Springsteen:
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 