Music Group 2021-02-18: Our Favorite Covers

Here we have posted covers and their corresponding originals. You ony need to listen to a few bars of the originals.

Lewis: Satisfaction (Devo)

If you want to compare, listen to a few bars of the classic Rolling Stones version.

Added by Mike: This article was interesting. I once heard that Mick Jagger once claimed he liked Devo's Satisfaction better than his own. This appears to be the non-apocryphal version of that story. It's a great read - I plan on bring up some points from it tonight (but didn't want everyone to feel forced to read it prior - maybe as an after-the-fact thing).

Devo did a cover of Ohio. They were attending Kent State in 1970. https://youtu.be/2PwQ6iJ8p08

Keith: Help

Keith intends to do his cover of Help. Compare with the original by the Beatles. .

Mike: Instanbul (not Constantinople)

...by They Might be Giants. For people familiar with this song, you may be surprised that that is the cover. Here is the original.

Mike: Wild World

This one may not count as a cover. Cat Stevens wrote Wild World, but he was not the first to release it. See the link above. Compare with Yusef Cat Stevens version (because it's so great). It starts around 1:40.

The version of this song that I like the best is from the British TV show "Skins", but mainly because it was such an odd juxtaposition for that show's first season finale.

Mary: Celia Cruz -- Obladi Oblada

One of my favorite covers is this salsa compilation album, Tropical Tribute to the Beatles. ( full album -- about 1 hour ) It's the perfect antidote for a gray, cold, snowy/rainy/icy February day in Seattle.

Corrie: Waterloo Sunset (Peter Gabriel)

I love the Kinks, but one of my favorite songs is a Peter Gabrial cover of one of the Kinks' songs. Compare with the original Kinks version.

Liz: Big Day (Phil Manzanera)

My nomination for cover song is "Big Day," written by Phil Manzanera and released on Manzanera's "Diamond Head" album in 1975.

The Sound Opinions podcast guys like the cover of this song done by Yung Wu (an offshoot of The Feelies). This version sounds really good on their podcast but, unfortunately, YouTube's compression algorithm does a number on both this cover and the original. The sound is muddy and you can barely hear the lyrics which make very little sense but are incredibly funny:

    Sister, think I'm returning to Peru
    Wish that I never came here
    They can't pronounce my name here
    Everyone asks me, "Where's Peru?"

If you are a Brian Eno fan, I would suggest that you skip the cover and listen to the original, which [is a great upbeat pop song and] sounds like vintage 1980's Brian Eno to me: Phil Manzanera - Big Day (w Brian Eno).

Bob

Bob recommends some selections: Crosby, Stills & Nash, “Guinnevere”, Miles Davis, ”Guinnevere”. Lovin’ Spoonful, ”Summer In The City”, Quincy Jones, ”Summer In The City”. Howl in’ Wolf, ”Goin’ Down Slow”, Allman Brothers, ”Goin’ Down Slow”. Velvet Underground, ”All Tomorrow’s Parties”, Bryan Ferry, ”All Tomorrow’s Parties”. Billie Holiday, ”Summertime”, Janis Joplin, ”Summertime”. You'll have to look them up on YouTube if you want to hear them. Editor's note: I'd start with Summertime.

 


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