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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
I hated the disco years as mush as anyone. Yet I have always liked this song …
The Original
Gloria Gaynor:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
R.E.M. vs. John Otway vs. Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sara Niemietz
R.E.M.:
John Otway:
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sara Niemietz:
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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.
Delroy Wilson vs. Pine Valley Cosmonauts feat. Kelly Hogan vs. John Otway
Delroy Wilson:
Pine Valley Cosmonauts feat. Kelly Hogan:
John Otway:
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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.
And In My Hour of Need, I Truly Am Indeed, Alone Again, Broccoli …
For every music-lover there are a few inherently bad songs that they inexplicably enjoy. For many these guilty pleasures are kept well-hidden, never to be disclosed, lest the humiliation would be too much to bear. But I have no guilty pleasures, only pleasures. Or, as others who know me might put it, I simply know no shame. For example, I will now proclaim to the world (or at least the multitudes of CMI patrons) that I really like this song. I’ve liked it from the first time I heard it and it still brings me a smile hearing it today. Gloria throws it down as if she’s in the midst of a real-time heated encounter. But who can blame her when some no-good cad returns from outer space to taunt her anew. You tell ’em Gloria!
The Original
Gloria Gaynor:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
R.E.M. vs. John Otway vs. Snuff
R.E.M.:
John Otway:
Sadly, the audio is poor on this particular clip. Yet it is well worth a viewing just to sample some of Otway’s maniacal genius at its best.
Snuff:
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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:
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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 Mother, Tell Your Children, Not to Do What I Have Done, Spend Your Life Devouring Broccoli, In the House of the Rising Sun
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The House of the Rising Sun is a traditional folk song. Its origin may date back as far as the 16th century, sharing some thematic resemblance to the British ballad, The Unfortunate Rake. The oldest known recording of the song, under the title Rising Sun Blues, is by Appalachian artists Clarence “Tom” Ashley and Gwen Foster, who recorded it for Vocalion Records on September 6, 1933. The most successful commercial version, recorded in 1964 by the British rock group The Animals, was a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia.The Animals version of the song has been described as the “first folk-rock hit”.
Earliest Known Recording
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Clarence “Tom” Ashley and Gwen Foster:
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The Most Popular
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The Animals:
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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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Adolescents vs. John Otway vs. Nina Simone
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Adolescents:
John Otway (with substantial audience participation):
Nina Simone:
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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?!!?
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Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
Oh Look Out You Rock ‘n’ Rollers, Pretty Soon You’re Gonna Get Older…
What could you say? Last night we lost an icon, innovator, genius. David Bowie will surely be long remembered as one of the most talented, creative and bizarre musicians of our lifetime!
Enjoy a bevy of tributes to David Bowie. The styles and genres of these cover songs are as diverse as the man himself.
Absolute Beginners
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Carla Bruni:
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Ashes to Ashes
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Paul Dempsey:
Hezekiah Jones:
Happy Rhodes:
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All the Young Dudes
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Billy Bragg & Jill Sobule:
World Party:
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Changes
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Echo and the Bunnymen with Sharleen Spiteri:
The Illinois State University’s Clef Hangers:
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Heroes
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Magnetic Fields:
The Coal Porters:
Nico:
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It Ain’t Easy
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Hazel:
Kelly Hogan & Robbie Fulks:
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Jean Genie
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Camp Freddy:
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Kooks
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Brett Smiley:
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Life on Mars
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Robyn Hitchcock:
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain:
And of course it would not be a proper tribute without … ABBA!!!:
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Moonage Daydream
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J. Hell:
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Oh You Pretty Things
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Jun Jun Clinic:
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Rebel Rebel
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Iggy Pop & Lenny Kravitz:
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Sound and Vision
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Beck:
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Space Oddity
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Real-Life Astronaut, Commander Chris Hadfield:
(Shatner cannot be happy over this infringement of his territory!)
John Otway:
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Starman
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of Montreal:
Arcadian Walnut:
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Under Pressure
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Flaming Lips:
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Watch that Man
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The Fur Ones:
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Ziggy Stardust
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Def Leppard:
Massacre:
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A Late Addition
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“Life on Mars” happens to be one of my favorite Bowie songs. So when I saw this interesting rendition, I just had to add it to the tribute. Reminds me of the classic Procol Harem church scene in “The Commitments”.
By the way, if anyone has a favorite Bowie cover that is not included then please let me know. If possible I will add it.
Nicholas Freestone (organ scholar at St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire):
The Commitments: Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) and Steven ‘Soul Surgeon’ Clifford (Michael Ahern):
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Another Late Addition
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This next video is proof-positive of just how cool David Bowie was. From The Cher Show, Bowie and Cher begin a set collaborating on Young Americans, which is weird enough. But things turn completely bizarre as Young Americans morphs into a very long medley of bad songs. Bowie had to be suppressing laughter throughout yet on the exterior appears way-cool to the nth degree. Now I ask you, how many musicians could have pulled this off without looking completely ridiculous?
David Bowie on The Cher Show (November 23rd 1975):
Delilah was a big hit when I was growing up. I remember having to endure it many a time on the radio. But until actually researching it a bit for the blog, I could not have told you anything pertaining to what it was about. Can you? Well it’s a real killer … literally. It’s about some character who, while approaching his woman’s house for an impromptu visit, spies her through the blinds cavorting about, if you know what I mean. In a rage he beats on her door (“Why, Oh Why, Delilah?), upon entering promptly slices her to ribbons and then begs for her forgiveness. Nice tune.
In searching an apt competitor for John Otway’s version it was interesting to find that virtually everyone who covered this song did so in mocking fashion. Other than Tom I don’t know that anyone took it seriously. Although, when your crooning about heinous atrocities how could you keep a straight face? Given the subject matter it is surprising and unfortunate that my man, Nick Cave, never added his special kind of magic to this number. However, I did come across a cover of Nick belting out, and I kid you not, I Just Stopped in To See What Condition My Condition Was In (but that’s for another post on another day).
The Original
Tom Jones:
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The Cover Songs Competition
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I found five or six excellent covers of Delilah. It was quite difficult choosing who would compete.
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Flogging Molly vs. John Otway
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Flogging Molly:
For reasons you’ll soon find out, Flogging Molly refers to their version as De (That’s All Right) Lilah:
John Otway:
Bit of a long intro but John can be a little verbose during live shows. But what can you do? The guy’s got a lot on his mind and thankfully he’s willing to share it!
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?!!?
Also, keep in mind that if you should spontaneously self-actualize while playing a cover then you could – and probably should – nominate it for Top 10 (i.e. “Impeccable”) consideration.
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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.
Broccoli For Miles And Miles And Miles And Miles And Miles … Oh Yeah!
Disclaimer: Or, perhaps not so much a “Disclaimer” as a “Proclamation”.
Proclamation: No, no, I’m not the town-crier! Proclamation is simply not accurate. Provocation?
Provocation: Wrong again! Damn it all, my intent is not to affront. I’m merely make an admission … Hmmm …
Admission: I don’t like this song much. Yeah I know it’s the Beatles. But I find it to be a bit on the annoying side. Okay, that’s all for now.
The Original
The Beatles:
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The Cover Songs Competition
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John Otway vs. Tufts Beelzebubs
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John Otway:
Tufts Beelzebubs:
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?!!?
Also, keep in mind that if you should spontaneously self-actualize while playing a cover then you could – and probably should – nominate it for Top 10 (i.e. “Impeccable”) consideration.
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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.
cover me impressed 