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03 October 2005
Out of Five - Each week a theme, ten songs fitting that theme. Then gone forever. This week, "covers that eclipsed the originals."→[More:]
disclosure: this is one of my projects.
I like! So weird - as I'm downloading the Ted Leo version of Since U Been Gone, the Kelly Clarkson version is playing on our radio station here at work.
I like the idea but respectfully disagree with your choices. My picks:
1. The Who - Summertime Blues
2. John Cale - Hallelujah
3. Lambchop - This Corrosion
4. Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower
5. Johnny Cash - Mercy Seat
6. The Clash - I Fought The Law
7. Sebadoh - Everybody's Been Burned
8. X - Soul Kitchen
9. 16 horsepower - Bad Moon Risin'
10. Siouxsie And The Banshees - Strange Fruit
cali, wouldn't any cover by Johnny Cash be better than the original?
Well, Johnny's cover of "I'm Son Lonesome I Could Cry," while excellent does not eclipse the original by the mighty Hank Williams.
As for other original eclipsing covers:
1.Twist & Shout - Beatles
I love me some Isley Brothers but the Fab 4's rendition blows the original away. It's one of those rare occasions where the white boy cover was better.
2. Good Lovin' - Young Rascals
3. Devil With a Blue Dress - Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
See #1
4. Rock & Roll - Detroit (feat. Mitch Ryder)
Mitch's post Wheels hard rock outfit takes on the Velvets classic. Lou Reed has said "That's What I wanted it to sound like in the first place!"
5. I love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett
Yes, it's a cover. The Arrows original is a fine stomper, but Joanie buries it.
6. I Got You Babe - Dictators
I like Sonny & Cher, but c'mon, it's Handsome Dick & the boys.
7. I'm Not Your Stepping Stone - Monkees
The original was by an outfit called the W.C. Fields Memorial Electric String Band. It's good but the PreFab 4 turn it into a classic kiss-off song.
8. All I Really Want To Do - Byrds
The first Dylan cover that transcends Bob.
9. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
The second Dylan cover that transcends Bob.
10. Shimmy Shimmy KoKo Bop - Chicago Line
Drummer Viv Prince's Pre Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band outfit takes Little Anthony's nice little doo-wop number and beat it into bloody submission.
Cake, "I Will Survive"
They took out all the soul, and somehow made it good anyway. I also considered "Sad Songs and Waltzes," originally a Willie Nelson tune sung by Keith Whitley.
Johnny Cash, "Hurt"
Beats the pants off Reznor's version.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Higher Ground"
Maybe not better, but certainly a strong version in its own right. And gets a lot more airplay.
Sinead O'Connor, "Nothing Compares 2 U"
Even Prince likes her version better.
1. Fiona Apple, Across the Universe
2. Aerosmith, Come Together
3. Jawbox, Cornflake Girl
4. Fountains of Wayne, Baby One More Time
5. Cowboy Junkies, Sweet Jane (sorry, Lou)
6. Season to Risk does a better version of Neil Young's Don't Cry (and I like Neil Young)
7? Pretty much anything by the Minibosses, if that counts
I won't say "eclipsed" on any of these; it's all personal preference. Yeah, the Beatles suck as a band, but not songwriters, I guess (since I seem to like their music when performed by someone else, even Aerosmith).
You should follow it up with originals that are little-known but better than the cover, like Pylon's "Crazy" (later covered by R.E.M.). Though my friend who is actually an R.E.M. fan (and yet still my friend!) likes the cover better.
I would like to change my opinion on the Kirsty MacColl cover. It was better when I was 17 maybe, but memory is a harsh mistress and it appears as if my tastes have changed.
Wow, ditto on Cowboy Junkies' Sweet Jane, and Gypsy Kings Hotel California (though the reversal of style is partly why it's so good, and that relies on the original).
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