13 Covers I Actually Like
I usually hate covers, so it's taken me an astonishingly long time to put this together. Thanks to MJ, Frank, and Craig for the help finishing it off.
1. Personal Jesus
Original artist: Depeche Mode
Cover artist: Marilyn Manson
Why: It's raw, and it takes an iconic figure like Manson to really pull off this song.
2. A Little Help From My Friends
Original artist: The Beatles
Cover artist: Joe Cocker
Why: Joe can cover anything he wants. Yes, even the Beatles.
3. Ain't That a Shame
Original artist: Fats Domino
Cover artist: Cheap Trick
Why: The energy builds and builds at Budokan.
4. You Can Leave Your Hat On
Original artist: Randy Newman
Cover artist: Tom Jones
Why: The Full Monty.
5. I Need a Lover (Who Won't Drive Me Crazy)
Original artist: John Mellencamp
Cover artist: Pat Benatar
Why: I dunno. Female power maybe...? Or maybe just 'cause I was a big Benatar fan when it came out.
6. Mockingbird
Original artist: Inez and Charlie Foxx
Cover artist: Carly Simon and James Taylor
Why: Sweet baby James, of course.
7. Groovy Kind of Love
Original artist: The Mindbenders
(Diane & Annita were technically first, but the Mindbenders release is the one people know)
Cover artist: Phil Collins
Why: Mostly 'cause I wasn't attached to the first one.
8. You Keep Me Hangin' On
Original artist: The Supremes
Cover artist: The Better Half Dozen a lá Vanilla Fudge
Why: Frank's frantic organ.
9. Malagueña Salerosa
Original artist: Mexican folk song (Elpidio Ramírez, et al.)
Cover artist: Chingón
Why: It rocks!
10. Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
Original artist: Judy Garland/Louis Armstrong
Cover artist: Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole
Why: That beautiful voice.
11. Cold Cold Heart
Original artist: Hank Williams
Cover artist: Norah Jones
Why: She made it very flowing and lyrical.
12. Against All Odds
Original artist: Phil Collins
Cover artist: The Postal Service
Why: 'Cause Craig shared it with me.
13. My Way
Original artist: Frank Sinatra
Cover artist: The Sex Pistols
Why: Theirs has all of the oomph with none of the ooze.
And check out the One I forgot.
Mojo Brew bio
6 months ago
4 comments:
I definitely agree on #13!
Alternatives, perhaps:
#4. You Can Leave Your Hat On. Joe Cocker. Because of that growly voice.
#6. Mockingbird. Taj Mahal and Etta James. Because they had so much fun with it.
Another vote for Joe Cocker cover of "you can leave your hat on", also. very good.
Rodrigo y Gabriella - "Stairway to heaven".
Vanilla Fudge lived on covers and I lived on Vanilla Fudge in '68.
I considered both alternatives, but went with JT for #6 because it's the one that plays in my head when I think of Mockingbird, and with Tom for #4 because it really is the movie that makes me love that song.
Anyway, Joe's cover is covered (ahem) by #2.
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