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Post by Smurfie on Nov 30, 2019 11:25:51 GMT 1
Let’s flip the coin from the pointless to the unpointless.
These guys normally get it spot on for me:
Say Lou Lou - Instant Crush
Say Lou Lou - Stayin’ Alive
Say Lou Lou - The Look Of Love
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Post by Wanderlust on Dec 1, 2019 11:23:41 GMT 1
Dove 'Don't Dream'. I rather like her vocal delivery on the chorus, the rap parts less so, but this is an inventive take on the original 'Don't Dream It's Over'.
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Post by Wanderlust on Dec 1, 2019 11:28:58 GMT 1
Pet Shop Boys 'Always On My Mind'. Managing to take a rather moping oldie and turn it into a powerhouse disco-house anthem, with stunning synths and orchestral elements.
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 1, 2019 12:48:27 GMT 1
This is a prime example of a great cover version turning the original written about a Cocaine addict (taken to its n'th degree by William Shatner's cover version), and turning it into something far more befitting of (Bernie Taupin's original cryptic) lyrics as a spacey Irish reggae lite lilt:
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Robbie
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Posts: 24,799
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Post by Robbie on Dec 2, 2019 15:51:23 GMT 1
The Stranglers version of 'Walk On By' sounds on paper like it should be a disaster but it isn't, it works very well. So much so that Burt Bacharach who co-wrote the song said he thought it was brilliant cover version.
This is the Top Of Pops appearance that went down in folklore for all the wrong reasons. After filming their performance the band were heading back to their dressing room when a slightly inebriated bass guitarist Jean-Jacques Burnel - not the most reasonable of guys when he's drank a few too many - took an instant dislike to Child who had performed their weedy cover version of 'It's Only Make Believe' and chased after them. Child tried to barricade themselves in their dressing room but Burnel started to smash down the dressing room door! Security quickly arrived and just in time too because Burnel was about to start beating up one of the Atack brothers (the one that married Kate Robbins of 'More Than In Love' and Spitting Image voices fame and whose daughter is Emily Atack). The Stranglers were bundled out of the BBC and promptly banned from Top Of The Pops, a ban that lasted a long time.
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vastar iner
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I am the poster on your wall
Posts: 17,420
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Post by vastar iner on Dec 2, 2019 22:20:22 GMT 1
Was a comparative flop for The Belle Stars. Wonder if that's why Stiff decided to let them do their own material for the follow-up. And they very nearly got a deserved no. 1 from it.
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Post by Earl Purple on Dec 2, 2019 23:31:35 GMT 1
Not sure how many times this song was done previously and how many versions, but I've always thought this one was the standout arrangement.
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Post by Panda on Dec 3, 2019 0:55:34 GMT 1
I've never been a huge Bob Dylan fan so I don't find the idea of covering his songs as sacrilegious as some might. This is Norwegian singer/songwriter Magnet duetting with the underrated Gemma Hayes on Lay Lady Lay:
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Robbie
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Posts: 24,799
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Post by Robbie on Dec 3, 2019 11:03:05 GMT 1
^
The lyrics to Bob Dylan's songs are usually excellent. It's his voice that puts me off. A great songwriter with a poor singing voice.
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Post by Earl Purple on Dec 3, 2019 12:11:11 GMT 1
Bob Dylan often intentionally wrote songs to "give away" i.e. let someone else sing. He was very happy when "Quinn The Eskimo" (a.k.a. "Mighty Quinn") became a UK #1 for Manfred Mann.
He did however have 2 #1s in my chart and Lay Lady Lay was one of them. The other was Like A Rolling Stone which topped my chart for 7 weeks in 1965, the only single to top my chart for 7 weeks in the 1960s.
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Post by Earl Purple on Dec 3, 2019 12:14:49 GMT 1
1981 had a number of cover versions that were #1. Roxy Music's "tribute" with Jealous Guy, Shakin' Stevens having two number ones, Soft Cell's classic cover of "Tainted Love" and Julio Iglesias's Spanish interpretation of "Begin The Beguine". Actually all decent covers even Julio and Shaky.
However for me the ultimate cover of the year that reached number one was:
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Post by Whitneyfan on Dec 3, 2019 19:16:39 GMT 1
It doesn't seem to be on YouTube, but Bjorn Again's version of The Killers' 'Human' is an absolute delight!
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Post by Whitneyfan on Dec 3, 2019 19:38:17 GMT 1
Is it wrong to rather like this one too? 
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Post by Smurfie on Dec 3, 2019 20:11:45 GMT 1
It doesn't seem to be on YouTube, but Bjorn Again's version of The Killers' 'Human' is an absolute delight! Bjorn Again covers of anything are wonderful. Here is my definite highlight: I will I’ll have to draw the line Wurzels though! Always On My Mind in this thread from Wanderlust is definitely a good shout. |
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 3, 2019 21:29:05 GMT 1
A few years ago at the Coachella festival Radiohead were a headline act on one of the nights. They did their set without the song that was their commercial breakthrough; and which had been tarnished by getting successfully sued by the publishers of the Hollies "The Air That I Breathe" due to the bridge on the Radiohead song being a rip off of part of the Hollies 1974 last major hit. From Radiohead headlining on Friday; the act who headlined on Sunday night arranged and got his band to rehearse this definitive 8 minute long version as the encore finale of the festival, whilst removing the offending bridge. So subsequently according to Thom Yorke "Prince taught us the greatest lesson about music and respecting your audience". Offering a timely reminder of David Bowie's correct answer to that music Question "Michael Jackson or Madonna?" DB: "Prince".
Prince - Creep
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Dec 4, 2019 0:53:56 GMT 1
Sylvia Fricker wrote it, and did the original recording with her husband Ian, as a sort of Canadian Country/folk acoustic ballad. Crispian St Peters had the UK hit with it, but We Five did the best version, with a constant build to a climax.
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Post by -Big Dan- on Dec 4, 2019 2:16:01 GMT 1
This Madness cover of a Labi Siffre track must rank as 'actually really quite good'.
Madness 'It Must Be Love'
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Post by Earl Purple on Dec 4, 2019 12:25:21 GMT 1
Usually when it comes to a cover version the original songwriters don't get involved in the new version, but here they were unhappy with the original and decided to give it to a different singer with a different arrangement.
Gladys Knight & The Pips had done the original and reached #2 in the USA with it.
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Post by Smurfie on Dec 7, 2019 21:08:02 GMT 1
This was great back in the early 90’s - I’m sure borneoman would agree: |
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Post by raliverpool on Dec 7, 2019 21:37:26 GMT 1
Which one review on OGWT described as The Beatles with help from a Phil Spector's girl group dressing up an early acoustic Bob Dylan number:
Kirsty MacColl - A New England
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