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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
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 “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” is my favorite Richard and Linda Thompson song, this one might be the pair’s greatest musical accomplishment …
The Original
Richard and Linda Thompson:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
The Wrockers vs. R.E.M. vs. Redhill Rats vs. Pete and Maura Kennedy
The Wrockers:
R.E.M.:
Redhill Rats:
Pete and Maura Kennedy:
Pete and Maura slightly edged out Nanci Griffith for the final slot, due almost solely to Maura’s unabashed enthusiasm at the song’s outset!
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.
Potpourri du Jour: “We Gotta Get Out of This Place / It’s My Life / Don’t Bring Me Down” – The Animals / “We’re Not Gonna Take It / See Me Feel Me / Listening to You” – The Who / “My Generation / I Can’t Explain / Substitute” – The Who
THE CLASH of Cover Medleys: David Johansen vs. The Smithereens vs. Richard Thompson
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
David Johansen vs. The Smithereens vs. Richard Thompson
David Johansen:
“We Gotta Get Out of This Place” / “It’s My Life” / “Don’t Bring Me Down” (The Animals)
The Smithereens:
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” / “See Me Feel Me” / “Listening to You” (The Who)
Richard Thompson:
“My Generation” / “I Can’t Explain” / “Substitue” (The Who)
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.
Always liked this song back in the day but never knew who did it. Now I do …
The Original
Plastic Bertrand:
Definitive Version
Sonic Youth:
What makes this the definitive version? Well Sonic Youth completely tears this song apart and, since it is my blog, I get to name the definitive version! And it doesn’t hurt that Mssr. Bertrand specifically mentions Sonic Youth in the song …
By the way, this Tannis Root Freedom of Choice release is one of the best new wave / punk tribute cds that you will ever find.
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Richard Thompson vs. The Busters vs. Manic Hispanic
Richard Thompson:
The Busters:
Manic Hispanic:
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 one of those songs that I sit back and think: “How the hell can someone write such a perfect ballad?”
The Original
Richard Thompson:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Dick Gaughan vs. Jack & Amanda Palmer vs. Mary Lou Lord vs. Sean Rowe
Dick Gaughan:
Jack & Amanda Palmer:
Mary Lou Lord:
Sean Rowe:
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.
One of my favorite songs from the 60’s. Brings back great memories of youth, exuberance and debauchery!
The Easy Beats:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Richard Thompson with Judith Owen & Debra Dobkin vs. David Bowie vs. MonaLisa Twins
Richard Thompson with Judith Owen & Debra Dobkin:
David Bowie:
MonaLisa Twins:
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.
A couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor, Is just the kind of mess I’m looking for …
The first time I heard this song I thought it was as brilliant as anything I had ever heard before. The sound was captivating, majestic, perfection! Well 20+ years later and it still sounds as fresh, majestic and brilliant as that evening long ago. And as is typical of a Richard Thompson tune, the lyrics are impeccable. Raw, emotional, desperate yet undeterred, resilient, defiant. A new weekend is upon us and as such the possibilities are endless. Friday on My Mind for a new, grittier generation.
The Original
Richard & Linda Thompson:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Continental Drifters vs. Matt Pond PA vs. Mount Moriah
Continental Drifters:
Matt Pond PA:
Mount Moriah:
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.
I’m Gonna Have Fun in the City, Me And My Girl And Mr. Broccoli
SPACE
What a great song! One of my favorites from the ’60s, a decade that produced an incredible amount of marvelous tunes. Seems every band with a modicum of aesthetic awareness has covered this gem at one time or another. If not recorded and cataloged then at the least live or in practice. Yet, through all its covers, weak and strong, I’ve yet to hear one that exceeds The Easy Beat’s original take.
The Original
SPACE
The Easy Beats:
And check out this great live version. Notice they’re wearing the same natty attire as on the cover of the 45. Why wouldn’t they I suppose?
SPACE
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
SPACE
David Bowie vs. The Space Negros vs Richard Thompson
SPACE
David Bowie:
The Space Negros:
SPACE
Richard Thompson with Judith Owen & Debra Dobkin:
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?!!?
SPACE
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
SPACE
Unrelated But Not Without Ample Merit
SPACE
It’s Murder by Numbers…
A plurality of Democrats, 39%, say John Lennon is their favorite Beatle. Just 15% of Republicans agree. 49% of Republicans name Paul McCartney as their favorite. (Public Policy Polling)
There’s plenty to be read between the lines in this polling. Just saying …
1952 Black Lightening, one of the all-time great ballads.
“Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme…”
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The Original
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Richard Thompson:
Great live version recorded around 2006 when Thompson crashed at my apartment for a few weeks. I dearly love the man but he still owes me $20 dating back to that sojourn!
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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
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Mary Lou Lord vs. Sean Rowe
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Mary Lou Lord:
Sean Rowe:
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?!!?
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Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
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Unrelated But Not Without Ample Merit
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Won’t You Listen to What the Man Says?e)
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” John Lennon as quoted in CNN.com
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 …
cover me impressed 