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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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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
Proudly thrown down by every self-respecting punk (and rock and ska and folk and reggae and …) band of our time!!!
The Original
Creedence Clearwater Revival:
25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Concert: October 29, 2009
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band with John Fogerty:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
The Barracudas vs. Pearl Jam vs. Trumpetmouth vs. Skeeter-Kinney
The Barracudas:
Pearl Jam:
Killer performance at Madison Square Garden, July 8, 2003. Mega-group includes Johnny Marr, Betchadupa, Cheetah Chrome, Sleater Kinney, Corin Tucker, Mike Tyler, Steve Earle, Jack Irons, Ben Harper, Billy Gibbons, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Idlewild, and the Buzzcocks. Damn!!!
Trumpetmouth:
Skeeter-Kinney:
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.
My favorite CCR song by far. For years most mistakenly believed this song was about the Vietnam War. But in time John Fogerty allowed that it was actually his expression of frustration over the rain of problems the band was experiencing as his brother, Tom, prepared to leave CCR, which would ultimately precipitate the entire breakup of the band at was then its height of success.
The Original
Creedence Clearwater Revival:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
There is a whole lot of great covers of this classic. These are three of my favorites. We may very well revisit this song sometime down the road.
The Ramones vs. The Minutemen vs. Joan Jett
The Ramones:
Kerry, long ago, gave me this great cd for which I will always be grateful!
The Minutemen:
Joan Jett:
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.
GREAT SONG! Along with Fortunate Son probably Creedence Clearwater Revival’s two greatest numbers (although I’ve also always had a soft spot for Someday Never Comes and Long as I Can See the Light as well). Have You Ever Seen the Rain was written by John Fogerty and released as a single in 1971. It had originally appeared on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s album Pendulum, released in 1970. The song charted highest in Canada, reaching number one on the RPM 100 national album chart in March 1971. In the US, it peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. And it reached number 36 on the UK’s Pop Singles Chart.
In My Hour of Need I Truly Am Indeed Alone Again, Broccoli …
Given the polarizing and contentious time in which Have You Ever Seen The Rain was written there has been much speculation as to the true meaning of the song. At the time the US was entangled in a seemingly endless unpopular war and the nation was struggling to make sense of the Kent State shootings. Not surprisingly, most music critics attributed the lyrics to the political and social turmoil of the day. Writing about the song, Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Mark Denning of AllMusic surmised:
“In 1970, a time when the giddy possibilities of political and social change of the late ’60s had been put in check by the sobering realities of Altamont and Kent State and both rock & roll and the youth culture at large were beginning to move away from idealism and into the self-centered decadence of the ’70s, Fogerty was one of the few songwriters grounded enough to suggest the issues had not gone away, but that we had lost the courage and the vision to face up to them.”
Yet, interestingly, Fogerty has stated on more than one occasion that the song had nothing to do with political and societal issues. He contends that it was his lament of the turmoil taking place within the band, Creedence Clearwater Revival. At the time, despite having achieved fame and fortune, the members of the band were in a state of constant conflict with each other. It was particularly upsetting that his brother, Tom, was so dissatisfied that Fogerty felt sure he would soon leave the band. Fogerty’s perception turned out to be accurate. Not only did Tom leave, but the whole band split up the following year.
The Original
Creedence Clearwater Revival:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Joan Jett vs. Minutemen vs. The Ramones
Joan Jett:
Minutemen:
The Ramones:
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.
GREAT SONG! Along with Fortunate Son probably Creedence Clearwater Revival’s two greatest numbers (although I’ve also always had a soft spot for Someday Never Comes and Long as I Can See the Light as well). Have You Ever Seen the Rain was written by John Fogerty and released as a single in 1971. It had originally appeared on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s album Pendulum, released in 1970. The song charted highest in Canada, reaching number one on the RPM 100 national album chart in March 1971. In the US, it peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. And it reached number 36 on the UK’s Pop Singles Chart.
It Ain’t Me I’m Broccoli I Ain’t No Fortunate One!
Given the polarizing and contentious time in which Have You Ever Seen The Rain was written there has been much speculation as to the true meaning of the song. At the time the US was entangled in a seemingly endless unpopular war and the nation was struggling to make sense of the Kent State shootings. Not surprisingly, most music critics attributed the lyrics to the political and social turmoil of the day. Writing about the song, Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Mark Denning of AllMusic surmised:
“In 1970, a time when the giddy possibilities of political and social change of the late ’60s had been put in check by the sobering realities of Altamont and Kent State and both rock & roll and the youth culture at large were beginning to move away from idealism and into the self-centered decadence of the ’70s, Fogerty was one of the few songwriters grounded enough to suggest the issues had not gone away, but that we had lost the courage and the vision to face up to them.”
Yet, interestingly, Fogerty has stated on more than one occasion that the song had nothing to do with political and societal issues. He contends that it was his lament of the turmoil taking place within the band, Creedence Clearwater Revival. At the time, despite having achieved fame and fortune, the members of the band were in a state of constant conflict with each other. It was particularly upsetting that his brother, Tom, was so dissatisfied that Fogerty felt sure he would soon leave the band. Fogerty’s perception turned out to be accurate. Not only did Tom leave, but the whole band split up the following year.
The Original
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Credence Clearwater Revival:
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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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The Ramones vs. Hi-Standard
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The Ramones:
The Ramones hold the distinction of being CMI’s Reigning Exultant Virtuosic Performer of “Have You Ever Seen The Rain“. Additionally, The Ramonesare also 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 gold!
The Ramones’ triumphal exploits in CMI’s THE CLASH of Cover Tunes competitions are detailed below:
1/30/2014 – “Have You Ever Seen Rain” (Creedence Clearwater Revival) – Ramones (80%) wallop Minutemen (20%)
Hi-Standard:
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.