Music Cover songs versus the original track, which ones are better?

[fresh_42]

Dance is a lot more important in eastern Asia than in the West. In the Bali religion dance is at least as important as singing. Japan has great dance, so much so that they are exporting ballerinas to Europe. Tokyo has dozens of dance schools. Ballet, hiphop, tango, hula, and more. Dance groups are among the biggest stars.

I can't help, but I found this funny ... maybe because Line Dance itself is already strange:

 

[morrobay]

 

[morrobay]

 

[Hornbein]

The original. Real good sez I.

Roger Miller sings Me and Bobby McGee. He was there first.

 

[Hornbein]

When I was a teenager we poor young musicians would dig up albums in cutout bins and used record shops. Usually they weren't worth much but every now and then you'd find a gold nugget. A certain amount of status accrued from this. Someone found a Howard Tate record. Possibly the best soul singer ever. He had some success but not much. Who knows why? Some people don't like the lifestyle. It's not for a home-lovin' man.

Janis Joplin made his Get It While You Can famous.

Today I accidentally found out that Howard recorded again late in life. Those impressed by his great talent tracked him down forty years later and persuaded him to take up his career again. He got help from those who remembered. Better than ever says I.



But maybe this cover by Lachy Doley is...you be the judge.

 

[jack action]

So looking for music from my favorite band KISS, I stumble across The Merkins:

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OK, more parody than cover, but there is some good stuff, like "Feastie Boys" (original):

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Or "K.W.A." (original):

​

 

[jack action]

Blind Witness, a group from my hometown! The only death metal song on my playlist:

​

 

[morrobay]

 

[Hornbein]

Beat It on Guzheng

 

[difalcojr]

You will never hear the song the same way again......

Do you think it was because he had just gotten out of the mental hospital from that Twilight Zone episode?

 

[difalcojr]

Which songs were performed, arranged or produced better in a cover than the original version?
Which songs should have been left well alone?

Also, I think restricting the covers just to released singles will restrict some interesting stonkers and stinkers so album tracks are allowed.

Here's a couple for you all to judge? Sorry, but I'm not computer savvy enough to figure out how to post the videos here. Here's the links.

Song is "Down So Low". The original of Tracy Nelson with Mother Earth

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=6400...NTI0QzBFQjk5NTBDRTlEMjIwNiZGT1JNPVZJUkU&ntb=1

Cover by Linda Ronstadt

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=19b1...0I2OEQ4QTYmdmlldz1kZXRhaWwmRk9STT1WSVJF&ntb=1

 

[pinball1970]

L

Here's a couple for you all to judge? Sorry, but I'm not computer savvy enough to figure out how to post the videos here. Here's the links.

Song is "Down So Low". The original of Tracy Nelson with Mother Earth

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=6400...NTI0QzBFQjk5NTBDRTlEMjIwNiZGT1JNPVZJUkU&ntb=1

Cover by Linda Ronstadt

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=19b1...0I2OEQ4QTYmdmlldz1kZXRhaWwmRk9STT1WSVJF&ntb=1

If you go on YouTube, search and select your track, "share" then "copy" you can post on here that will give a thumbnail. Sometimes.

Edit: just tried it.

 

[pinball1970]

Here's a couple for you all to judge? Sorry, but I'm not computer savvy enough to figure out how to post the videos here. Here's the links.

Song is "Down So Low". The original of Tracy Nelson with Mother Earth

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=6400...NTI0QzBFQjk5NTBDRTlEMjIwNiZGT1JNPVZJUkU&ntb=1

Cover by Linda Ronstadt

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=19b1...0I2OEQ4QTYmdmlldz1kZXRhaWwmRk9STT1WSVJF&ntb=1

I don't know a lot about Linda Ronstadt, what I have heard a like.

 

[difalcojr]

She sang mostly covers. Check out the first album she is on. The Stone Poneys. Strong, beautiful voice, she had lots of hits on the radio over the years. I like both versions, but Tracy Nelson's is best I've heard.

Thks for the how-to instructions. Still can't get it to work, though.

 

[pinball1970]

She sang mostly covers. Check out the first album she is on. The Stone Poneys. Strong, beautiful voice, she had lots of hits on the radio over the years. I like both versions, but Tracy Nelson's is best I've heard.

Thks for the how-to instructions. Still can't get it to work, though.

Are you on a phone? I never do the net on a cell phone, far too small and fiddly.

 

[difalcojr]

No, on a desktop. Followed your instructions on the share and copy, but Bing seems to only allow me to paste the link, as far as I can tell. Oh well, you'll have to cut and paste the links, sorry, still no good pics.

Here's then just a couple more for review. Song: "Mama Tried". Original by Merle Haggard. Cover by Grateful Dead. Haggard first. Which is best?

www.bing.com/videos/search?q=music+of+Merle+Haggard%3a++Mama+Tried&qs=n&sp=-1&ghc=1&lq=0&pq=music+of+merle+haggard%3a++mama+t&sc=0-31&sk=&cvid=E8D6305EF65341A088E7D601DAA5F148&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dmusic%2520of%2520Merle%2520Haggard%3a%2520%2520Mama%2520Tried%26qs%3dn%26sp%3d-1%26ghc%3d1%26lq%3d0%26pq%3dmusic%2520of%2520merle%2520haggard%3a%2520%2520mama%2520t%26sc%3d0-31%26sk%3d%26cvid%3dE8D6305EF65341A088E7D601DAA5F148%26ghsh%3d0%26ghacc%3d0%26ghpl%3d%26FORM%3dVDVVXX&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=B2CC4A29554613CFF58DB2CC4A29554613CFF58D&FORM=WRVORC

Dead cover.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...445BF237FF2A055102D9445BF237FF2A&&FORM=VRDGAR

 

[difalcojr]

Here's the previous Mother Earth video

and then the last two:

 

[difalcojr]

Which songs were performed, arranged or produced better in a cover than the original version?
Which songs should have been left well alone?

Also, I think restricting the covers just to released singles will restrict some interesting stonkers and stinkers so album tracks are allowed.

Here's a couple versions of the song "Mona": one the original (I think) classic, the cover a whole lot different.

 

[difalcojr]

Or the song "Fanny Mae". Original by Buster Brown, cover by The Steve Miller Band.

 

[difalcojr]

OK, last one, then I'll stop. Song is "Killing Floor". Original by Howlin' Wolf. Cover by The Electric Flag. With LBJ speaking first. Listen to his words. He was concurrently escalating war. Great opening and then off goes Bloomfield on the guitar. Enjoy.

 

[DaveE]

Anything written by Bob Dylan but performed by someone else. Just saying... that guy can write but just can't sing at all. YMMV

 

[morrobay]

The original by Howlin Wolf sounds suspiciously like Last Night by The Mar-Keys

 

[Hornbein]

Going To A Go Go -- Originally by The Miracles, cover by The Rolling Stones



I think this whole concert from 1982 is great. In 2021 it was released semi-covertly in a "super deluxe" CD set.

 

[pinball1970]

Anything written by Bob Dylan but performed by someone else. Just saying... that guy can write but just can't sing at all. YMMV

Yes a song writer first.
I like most of the singles
Subterranean Homesick Blues

Like a rolling stone

Looks like a woman

Lay lady lay

Knocking on heavens door

I want you

Blowin in the wind
I cannot even remember his version of “All along the watch tower,” Hendrix finest hour in the studio for me.

Mighty Quinn is Manfred Man for me and Mr Tambourine man is the Byrds although I do like his version as well.

 

[BillTre]

Some Dylan singing actually sounds good:
Knocking on Heaven's Door (the Hollywood production for a movie that should have gotten an Oscar in my opinion):

 

[pinball1970]

Some Dylan singing actually sounds good:
Knocking on Heaven's Door (the Hollywood production for a movie that should have gotten an Oscar in my opinion:

I'll check that out Bill

 

[Hornbein]

Bob said "give up smoking and you can sing like Caruso."

 

[difalcojr]

He does sound better on "Knockin' on Heaven's Door". Do you think he quit smoking, maybe? Not a great voice, but neither did Garcia have a good voice. Pigpen was their best vocalist in the beginning, I believe. Here's one I think fits Dylan's nasal voice well. From my favorite album of his.

 

[OCR]

Best Dylan song. . . ever! .



.

 

[difalcojr]

Bob said "give up smoking and you can sing like Caruso."

Here's one I always liked, well, the album version anyway. Found this live Paris 1966 live version, not that good. Listening to his voice in the introduction, though, sounds like he's been smoking a pack/day, maybe. :)

 

[DaveE]

Here's one I always liked, well, the album version anyway. Found this live Paris 1966 live version, not that good. Listening to his voice in the introduction, though, sounds like he's been smoking a pack/day, maybe. :)

Yes, one of my favorites of his. But, again, better when sung by someone else.

 

[robphy]

Unravel (Tokyo Ghoul)

TK from Ling Tosite Sigure ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toru_Kitajima ) - 2014


Asterism ( https://asterism.asia/en/biography/ ) - 2022


Asterism is currently one of my favorite bands.

 

[robphy]

Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata (3rd movement)

Valentina Lisitsa (2009)


Dr. Viossy (2011)


Tina S (2016)

 

[difalcojr]

How about "Bring It on home to me". Sam Cooke, original. Eric Burdon and the Animals, the cover. I like both but can't beat the original.

 

[morrobay]

Indeed I give them about 30%. Its like whites trying to cover Ray Charles: No kan doo. That's Huntington Beach btw

 

[difalcojr]

Anything written by Bob Dylan but performed by someone else. Just saying... that guy can write but just can't sing at all. YMMV

Agree, Judy Collins' cover is better than Dylan's original.
I do like Joni Mitchell originals better than Judy Collins covers of them, though. I
I think Judy Collins cover of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" is even better than his very fine original version too.

 

[Hornbein]

That's Lou Rawls singing "backup." It's really a duet.

 

[difalcojr]

Indeed I give them about 30%. Its like whites trying to cover Ray Charles: No kan doo. That's Huntington Beach btw

Well, the English bands were the first to do American blues. It wasn't played on the radio or popularized at all. Or covered much until the hippies tuned in too. Here's an early cover of what you're talking about, probably referring to. John Mayall, Eric Clapton, John McVie, Hughie Flint. Is that beach in Morro Bay?!

 

[morrobay]

. Huntington Beach pier, Huntington Beach, CA

 

[morrobay]

I give these lads close to 100%

 

[difalcojr]

Agreed. Here's another I want your opinion on. "Hideaway". Really like Freddie King's music and his original version. But Mayall's cover version with Eric Clapton I like just as much, even a bit more. 100% ?

 

[morrobay]

These instrumentals sound about the same.(I have no music technical knowledge ) This style of blues is not particulary my style preference anyway. This leads into Paul Butterfield and a very large field of that style both black and white. For blues I like Jimmy Reed , a completely different blues style. Overall I prefer Ray Charles type soul and Motown.

 

[Hornbein]

Roger Daltry -- Born To Run

 

[difalcojr]

These instrumentals sound about the same.(I have no music technical knowledge ) This style of blues is not particulary my style preference anyway. This leads into Paul Butterfield and a very large field of that style both black and white. For blues I like Jimmy Reed , a completely different blues style. Overall I prefer Ray Charles type soul and Motown.

Yes, everyone has their own style preference. I like Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles and Motown too. Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duets my favorites. Not sure if they covered anyone, but their covers would win. Beautiful harmony.
Yes, blues leads into Butterfield and the U.S. blues scene. It was the Steve Miller Blues Band originally. Butterfield's cover of Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working" with big Sam Lay singing and drums. That one song got everybody jumping for the blues.
30% for Eric Burdon (who had a great voice) in that awfully funny video is about right. The Englishmen looked completely lost on a California beach in a staged, lip-sync video. Hanging with what looked like the film extras cast right out of the Gidget movies. Huntington Beach, thks.

 

[morrobay]

Hanging with what looked like the film extras cast right out of the Gidget movies. Huntington Beach, thks.

Well I'm 3rd generation native Californian. With many years in Laguna Beach . And there was nothing staged about that typical Beach crowd.

 

[difalcojr]

Well I'm 3rd generation native Californian. With many years in Laguna Beach . And there was nothing staged about that typical Beach crowd.

I liked surf music too. All of it, actually, I confess, a lot. Harmonies. Good vibes. Sunny, warm LA. Jimi Hendrix is my favorite rock guitarist; he sang something like 'may you never hear surf music again', but I don't agree with him. "Wipeout" by the Ventures. Lots of good music in every venue. Here's a Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell one since you brought in Marvin Gaye. Not much Motown I've seen on the posts?

 

[OCR]

I liked surf music too.

Best surf music and video. . . ever! .



.

 

[robphy]

Sails of Charon (Scorpions with Uli Jon Roth)

Scorpions - Sails Of Charon - Musikladen TV (16.01.1978)


Yngwie Malmsteen - Sails Of Charon (1996)


Uli Jon Roth - "The Sails of Charon (Scorpions)" (1/31/23) 70000 Tons of Metal

 

[robphy]

Happy Trails (1952 - Roy Rogers and Dale Evans)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Trails_(song)

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans - Happy Trails 1978


Van Halen (1982)

 

[morrobay]