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Northern Soul Cover Versions


Duke

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This has probably been done before but I wonder if people wouldn't mind sharing their insight....

I was thinking about Paul Weller's cover of 'If I could only be sure' and how it was a redeeming feature of his album Studio 150 and I began to wonder how many other artists had covered relatively obscure NS records. 'Tainted Love' Soft Cell is perhaps the obvious example of a pop artist bringing a soul record to the attention of the wider record buying public. What other examples can people think of?

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pretty unlikely cover version - although undoubtedly marc almond knew his music - originally a great Jack Hammer Lp track, released only in Sweden on 45.

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Ohio players cover of "love slipped through my fingers" and Ella Fitzgerald's "get ready" are both nice alternatives.

Sorry mate not being petty but I'd rule out Ohio Players because all of those versions of that song (and according to the producer there were ten or so) were cut at almost the same time so not really a cover, and they all use the same backing track.

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Guest in town Mikey

Apologies I cant view the links.

Fave cover of a soul record is Flying Lizards - Money.

Worst I've heard was a boy band kid doing a cover of Stop Sign. I love Kolla to bits, but I wouldnt have heard this if she hadnt mentioned it on Soul Source when it was released. I shuddered just remembering.

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Guest daz mycroft

should have stuck to washin' his levis down the launderette!!

thats a rather crap version but in my opinion Gregory Issacs version of "open the door toyour heart" is far inferior to this. (sorry reggae fans )

Edited by daz mycroft
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Apologies I cant view the links.

Fave cover of a soul record is Flying Lizards - Money.

Worst I've heard was a boy band kid doing a cover of Stop Sign. I love Kolla to bits, but I wouldnt have heard this if she hadnt mentioned it on Soul Source when it was released. I shuddered just remembering.

Sorry Mike

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Sorry mate not being petty but I'd rule out Ohio Players because all of those versions of that song (and according to the producer there were ten or so) were cut at almost the same time so not really a cover, and they all use the same backing track.

Duly noted Mr S, I had assumed it was a cover as I heard it later and I think the OP's vocals have a later feel if you know what I mean.

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Gabriella Cilme - "On a magic carpet ride" from the Soulboy movie... pretty good version as far as I'm concerned. Marylin Manson "Tainted Love"... about as raucous as you could get! The Paris Sisters "Long after tonight is all over"... well c'mon, at least Dusty's version was soulful. Etc etc etc :thumbup:

Steve

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The Fall/Mark E. Smith covered two R. Dean Taylor records - 'There's a Ghost In My House' & 'Gotta See Jane' - but their versions are far from soulful.... :facepalm:

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If you want to hear some good covers of 60's soul songs (songs that were popular in UK mod clubs in the mid 60's -- original versions & / or the covers) just pick up any Georgie Fame album from that period ............

Between about 1963 & 1968 Georgie cut versions of "Bring It On Home To Me", "Green Onions", "Let The Good Times Roll", "Sitting In The Park", "Funny (How Time Slips Away)", "Shop Around", "I Love The Life I Live", "Baby Please Don't Go", "Sunny", "Ride Your Pony", "Night Train", "My Girl", "Sweet Thing", "Point Of No Return", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", "Pride And Joy", "Knock On Wood", "Lovey Dovey", "See Saw", "Soul Stomp", "Monkey Time" & more.

........... here he is in 66 ............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo4Mnjhy3kw

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No one mentioned The tight bottomed Kylie, and her version of 'Time Will Pass You By'?

If anyone has and it's in the videos, I apologise, as I can't actually see them at work where I'm writing this.

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  • 1 year later...

I used to have a friend who was quite wealthy - but he was also quite tight with his money. He used to commission copies of paintings by artists that he liked. One that I remember was an Egon Schiele reclining nude. It was a very good copy - but it looked like pornography. It had lost something in the mix.

Similarly with cover versions of some of our music, they tend to fall into two categories: The first is the direct copy and the second is the interpretation.

 

Saying that "If I could only be sure" was a redeeming feature of Paul Weller's album really falls into the first group, he took a great piece of art and copied it. No real brownie points there. A bit like the Schiele copy though, it leaves me cold. Maybe I am just being unfair but I can't really see that he brought anything into the mix. A bit like Lulu singing 'Shout'. I see all these songs a bit like Theophilus P Wildebeeste trying to ape soul singers. Something for Winstanley's playlist maybe.

 

The second group, the interpretation requires less emotional involvment. 'Tainted Love', Soft Cell, etc. What's that got to do with it? Maybe the Brighouse and Rastrick band do a version of 'Time will pass you by', who cares?

 

In the spirit of the post, have a listen to this. Some people try to tell me it's Northern'. Guess what I think? :)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wT9r7eO35w

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