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Cover versions -The Good, The Bad, The Ugly ?


Rick Scott

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1 hour ago, tomangoes said:

Well following on from a thread on here about blue eyed soul,  Simon and Garfunkel's version of their own song ' you don't know where you interest lies ' makes 5 and a penny's version sound great, and Dana Valery sound magnificent!

So ugly, bad, and good in reverse..

Ed

...there isn't a "good" amongst that lot,Ed......:wicked:.....:thumbsup:.....

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Lots of 60's hit soul songs were covered by other artists (& I'm not just talking about the numerous different acts Motown got to cut the same songs).

Back then, LP's by soul artists were mainly an after thought, put together quickly to cash in on a hit single. Many times the acts involved just recorded songs that they were currently including in their live stage act. Most songs, apart from their own, that they would add to their live show were recent hits by other artists.

Thus, around summer 66, an act who was asked to lay down enough tracks for a hasty LP release would cut versions of songs like "Open The Door To Your Heart". Lots of versions out there and not just by US Acts. At that time it was still fashionable for numerous UK groups to included covers of US soul hits in their acts and so some of them even cut covers that mainly escaped on one of their albums.

Some examples of US cover versions ...

 

 

 

 

Edited by Roburt
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23 minutes ago, tobytyke said:

i think all three are great versions, and are a credit to the artists who  must have loved the original versions as much as we all do.

I actually love all three. Rodders version of the Temps 'I'm Losing You' in particular is fantastic. 

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5 minutes ago, autumnstoned said:

Few more good un's:-

The Action - Baby You've Got It b/w Since I Lost My Baby

Junior Parker - Taxman / Tomorrow Never Knows

Georgie Fame - Green Onions / Sweet Thing

Ray Charles - Yesterday / Eleanor Rigby

Bob & Marcia - Young Gifted & Black

Nina Simone - Save Me

 

Sitting In The Park.....

Georgie Fame.

Billy Stewart.  

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31 minutes ago, Roburt said:

Lots of 60's hit soul songs were covered by other artists (& I'm not just talking about the numerous different acts Motown got to cut the same songs).

Back then, LP's by soul artists were mainly an after thought, put together quickly to cash in on a hit single. Many times the acts involved just recorded songs that they were currently including in their live stage act. Most songs, apart from their own, that they would add to their live show were recent hits by other artists.

Thus, around summer 66, an act who was asked to lay down enough tracks for a hasty LP release would cut versions of songs like "Open The Door To Your Heart". Lots of versions out there and not just by US Acts. At that time it was still fashionable for numerous UK groups to included covers of US soul hits in their acts and so some of them even cut covers that mainly escaped on one of their albums.

Some examples of US cover versions ...

 

 

 

 

....I think the Freddy Scott and The Mob versions were pretty good,but I don't think this song really suits Jackie.....

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Guest MBarrett
15 minutes ago, Zed1 said:

I actually love all three. Rodders version of the Temps 'I'm Losing You' in particular is fantastic. 

Phew! I thought for a minute Rod was supposed to be the ugly one. Phew!

I saw the Faces live at least 3 times circa 1972/3 and they were simply one of the most dynamic exciting live acts I have ever seen.

No matter what Rod has done since, good bad or indifferent, I will never forget the brilliance of his output in the early 70s. :)

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8 hours ago, Ladymidnight said:

What would it be if not a cover?

Back in the 60's, a UK act would scan the US charts, pick a great track, cut a quick COVER and get their 45 into UK record shops before the US version escaped here. So the likes of the Love Affair had hits that were just copies of US soul tracks. Many other examples too from the likes of the Searchers, Hollies, Moody Blues & many more.

They were what was commonly known back then as COVER VERSIONS ... as their aim was to 'steal' the hit from the original version. Songs redone some years after the original (many times with a different feel) were usually called a REWORKING.  

Probably, with the passage of time, that more precise definition has faded away BUT I'm ol skool.

Edited by Roburt
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Some great title been thrown up on here up to now some unexpected ones too, great stuff.

 A couple from me.

WILBERT HARRISON - LET'S WORK TOGETHER ( SUE ) 1969

CANED HEAT - LET'S WORK TOGETHER (LIBERTY) 1969

I Love both of these tunes, takes me way back to my youth and early days of record collecting.

 

 

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On 12/18/2017 at 20:52, Roburt said:

Lots of 60's hit soul songs were covered by other artists (& I'm not just talking about the numerous different acts Motown got to cut the same songs).

Back then, LP's by soul artists were mainly an after thought, put together quickly to cash in on a hit single. Many times the acts involved just recorded songs that they were currently including in their live stage act. Most songs, apart from their own, that they would add to their live show were recent hits by other artists.

Thus, around summer 66, an act who was asked to lay down enough tracks for a hasty LP release would cut versions of songs like "Open The Door To Your Heart". Lots of versions out there and not just by US Acts. At that time it was still fashionable for numerous UK groups to included covers of US soul hits in their acts and so some of them even cut covers that mainly escaped on one of their albums.

Some examples of US cover versions ...

 

 

 

 

Don't forget the Capitols LP only track.

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Guest Josep Manuel Concernau Robles

I'm a big fan of the great UK band Incognito from their origin as Light Of The World.

They have done IMHO some covers that are better than the originals:

- "Nights Over Egypt" (originally done by The Jones Girls)

- "Tin Man" (originally done by America)

Another cover I likes a lot and prefer to the original is "Look Over Your Shoulder" by The Escorts (originally by The O'Jays in their late 60's Bell Records era)

Cheers to all.

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Guest Soulatthedale

Certainly not good, but for some reason doesnt sound quite as bad as it did the only time i had the misfortune to hear it at a Soul night many years ago.

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Guest Josep Manuel Concernau Robles

"Time", covered by The Mighty Clods Of Joy, IMHO, is not only better than the original done by Jackie Moore little before but also a true example of high energy, bombastic and shouting style great gospel - soul number with the incredible voice of Joe Ligon:

 

 

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Guest Josep Manuel Concernau Robles

This time a very very "STANDAR": "I Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (I don't know who make the "original"; I likes a lot, as a Philly Soul fan as I am, the one done by The Ambassadors, but my absolute favorite is the one done by the UK crooner, sadly untimely passed away, Mr. MAT MONRO, specially the spanish version, "No puedo quitar mis ojos de ti"; he did some other spanish songs as "Todo pasa, todo pasará"):

 

Edited by josep manuel concernau robles
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Guest Josep Manuel Concernau Robles

Here I am again with another "standard", "Light My Fire" by The Doors (covered hundreds of times from B.J. Thomas to practically any other pop-rock star)

But my all time and absolute favorite is the one by the great CLARENCE CARTER (especially the horns riffs!!)... mellow, mellow deep soul!

 

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