So, I'm eating dinner at Applebee's with my favorite lady of 18 years and we hear a song made famous by The Supremes, many , many years ago...'You Keep Me Hanging On.' I like the Diana Ross and Supremes version alot but my favorite has always been the psychedlic era's cover by Vanilla Fudge. The version we heard in Applebee's was by some horrendous pop queen and we both agreed it stunk ( or stinks or stank, whatever is proper, it was lousy).
So. I got to thinking, who ever would have thought a hip group of the 60's would cover a Supreme's song and make it work ( although quite different , it is recognizable as the same song, somewhat).
I started thinking while I was waiting for my oriental chicken salad ( hey, when you are together for almost 20 years , conversation tends to be slow , especially when you've spent the whole day together!.. and the football highlights on ESPN bore you), what other bands covered songs by artists very unlike them in style. I came up with these two:
Joni Mitchell's 'This Flight Tonight' performed by Nazareth.
and:
Joan Baez' 'Diamond's and Rust performed by Judas Priest.
Any other's come to your mind?
Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
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Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 1:24 PM EDT
- ZILLAGOD
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Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 1:29 PM EDT
- SlimPickensIII
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One that leaps instantly to mind is 'Sweet Jane' as done by the Cowboy Junkies.
Any number of covers from Cassandra Wilson too. -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 2:02 PM EDT
- GreginMeffa
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Kentucky Woman - Deep Purple -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 2:08 PM EDT
- mrmojo1120
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Woodstock-Joni Mitchell and Crosby,Stills,Nash and Young
Dancing in the streets-Martha and the Vandellas/Van Halen(I won't include the Jagger-Bowie version)
Satisfaction-Devo/Rolling Stones
Many,many old blues standards that were remade since the 60's like
Back door Man -Wille Dixon/The Doors -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 2:10 PM EDT
- Hfxsoxnut
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Bob Seger's 'Turn the Page' by Metallica -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 2:18 PM EDT
- SlimPickensIII
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Crossroads, Robert Johnson:
http://youtu.be/Yd60nI4sa9A
Crossroads, Cream
http://youtu.be/YdwVVI4B3oY
I like'm both actually, but run into alot of blues purists who hate the Cream version, and not because it's been played to death. If you're going to redo a tune, make it your own. Cream had it right and I suspect Mr Johnson would've approved.
Could do the same thing with Travelling Riverside Blues and Zeppelin, although Zeppelin really changed it almost to the point you don't recognize it as the same song. -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 2:24 PM EDT
- MattyScornD
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Ugh, Applebee's.
Lately, I've quite enjoyed Rufus Wainwright's cover of "Across The Universe"...
...and The Cramps' cover of "Psychotic Reaction" (the Count Five).
But tops might be Tori Amos' take on Slayer's "Raining Blood". Must be heard to be believed. -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 2:41 PM EDT
- polar123
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"Crazy Mary" by Pearl Jam is pretty different than Victoria Williams version.
Cracker's "Rainy Days on Monday's," is certainly different from the original Carpenter's version
And who could forget Rocket Man by---
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Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 2:53 PM EDT
- yogafriend
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ohhh, we did something like this a while back and I have to weigh in with one of the best:Sonic Youth's "Superstar" -- (to add to Carpenters' covers along with polar's).BTW, is there an album of covers of Carpenters' songs? I seem to remember it being mentioned more than once on the forum. Anyone? -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 3:03 PM EDT
- MattyScornD
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In Response to Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.:ohhh, we did something like this a while back and I have to weigh in with one of the best: Sonic Youth's "Superstar" -- (to add to Carpenters' covers along with polar's). BTW, is there an album of covers of Carpenters' songs? I seem to remember it being mentioned more than once on the forum. Anyone?
Posted by yogafriend
"If I Were A Carpenter" of which "Superstar" is the best, I think...
...featuring the aforementioned as well as notably Bettie Serveert, Grant Lee Buffalo, American Music Club, et al.
A worthy curio that beats the pants off the originals, IMNSHO.... -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 3:08 PM EDT
- polar123
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If I were a Carpenter," came out I think in 94. It was a really interesting album, featuring many of the best indie bands of the nineties, though my favorite song on the album was done by the great and underrated -non indie, Grant Lee Buffalo "we've only just begun." -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 3:27 PM EDT
- WhatDoYouWantNow
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G n' R's cover of Knockin' on Heaven's Door? -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 3:45 PM EDT
- mrmojo1120
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Light my fire - Doors/Jose Feliciano
Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson/Alien Ant Farm -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 4:22 PM EDT
- devildavid
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Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 5:12 PM EDT
- ZILLAGOD
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Some great ones I had forgotten about, I especially like Devo's redo of the Stones classic.
How about this one, Too Much Joy ( alt./punk band) covering the soft rock classic from the early 70's by Terry Jacks. 'Seasons in the Sun.'
Or Joan Jett's version of AC/DC's 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.' -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 9:12 PM EDT
- gerbs
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Another from the very different but wouldn't do without either category...
Proud Mary - CCR/Ike & Tina Turner -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/26/2011 10:59 PM EDT
- yogafriend
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In Response to Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.:In Response to Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist. : "If I Were A Carpenter" of which "Superstar" is the best, I think... ...featuring the aforementioned as well as notably Bettie Serveert, Grant Lee Buffalo, American Music Club, et al. A worthy curio that beats the pants off the originals, IMNSHO....Thanks, Matty (and Polar) ... I like how your responses were in sync re: Grant Lee Buffalo. I just checked out their track on youtube and it's damn good. Shonen Knife does a track? I (used to) love them, bizarre and crazy. I've got to get hold of this. :D
Posted by MattyScornD -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/27/2011 6:27 AM EDT
- jesseyeric
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This is the most interesting cover song:
Carly Simon - You're So Vain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZmCJUSC6g
Now - the version by Faster Pussycat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41zKVmk4z8Q -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/27/2011 6:30 AM EDT
- jesseyeric
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In Response to Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.:Light my fire - Doors/Jose Feliciano Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson/Alien Ant Farm
Posted by mrmojo1120
Smooth Criminal is a good choice Mojo -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/27/2011 7:15 AM EDT
- undead
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I don't know who did it but the guy that redid Every Breath You Take destroyed it.
The latest version of Wild Horses from the Stones (never found out who sings it) is actually rather well done.
Can someone answer a question for me?
Weird Al Yankovik is known best for redoing popular songs with new words. There is a song on one of his albums entitled The Night Santa Went Crazy.
I always assumed he wrote that song but that is now in question as, one day, whilst driving along and listening to XM's ALT channel, I heard the same exact music but with completely different wording.
The question is who wrote the song?
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Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/27/2011 7:25 AM EDT
- yogafriend
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These two are more than covers -- we're talking remakes here. Both are outstanding, IMHO.If you like (or think you'd like) the fusion of hip hop with a classic, then you might become a fan of:"Sounds of San Francisco" - the Global Deejays"San Francisco Anthem" - San Quinn / Big Rich, et alBoth take the song Scott McKenzie made famous during the flower child generation's hey day, "San Francisco" (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in your Hair) to a whole 'nother level. -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/27/2011 8:59 AM EDT
- GreginMeffa
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"If I were a Carpenter, I'd have shared my sandwich with Karen and we'd both be alive today" - Mama Cass Eliot.
Ok, I'm REALLY sorry about that -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/27/2011 9:38 AM EDT
- lefig
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If I were a Carpenter is a great CD. Got that way back when along with Saturday Morning Cartoons, another cover CD.
Speaking of covers, Cake's versions of I will Survive and Never Gonna Give you Up and War Pigs were all a bit different and good -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/27/2011 9:57 AM EDT
- Mo41083
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Emm Gryner's version of Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train". -
Re: Cover songs by artists who are very unlike the original artist.
posted at 10/27/2011 10:25 AM EDT
- seobrien
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Wicked Messenger - Bob Dylan, Faces, Patty Smith (although she is like Dylan in her own right).
Dr. Wu- Steely Dan, Minutemen
America - Simon & Garfunkel, Yes