THIS TOPIC must have been covered here in the past but I can't recall such a thread in recent times ...

We all know how many UK beat groups got their start / had hits by covering US hit R&B songs. The list runs to many; the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Manfred Mann, Moody Blues, Walker Brothers (they were Americans but based in the UK), Searchers, Hollies, Fourmost, Hermans Hermits, Freddie & the Dreamers, Wayne Fontana & Mindbenders, Dave Clark Five, Brian Poole & Tremeloes, Merseybeats & many more.

Lots of solo artists followed suit; Cilla Black, Craig Douglas, Sandie Shore, Georgie Fame, Frankie Vaughn, Dusty Springfield, Kenny Lynch, Cliff Bennett & Rebel Rousers & many more.

I never really got into many & apart from the likes of some Georgie Fame tracks, never collected them. I'd find stuff @ UK boot fairs, 2nd hand shops and buy them (if the price was right) but then sell them on to mates such as Paul Temple.

Some of the above actually cut great versions as covers; Georgie Fame, Dusty, Cliff Bennett, etc + other covers that weren't hits were half decent too (from the likes of Tom Jones, Action, etc. etc.). I suppose the cover of "Yes I'm Ready" by Barbara Kay is sort of OK (but a complete carbon copy of the original).

But for every good UK cover version there were dozens of awful ones. Below are three of the worst (IMO) ... anyone else here have similar 'hates' they'd like to post up ...

A song that many groups / acts performed back in the mid 60's (& later) was the Isley Brothers old cut "Nobody But Me". A UK beat group also had a go at the song & recorded it too ... AND it ain't that good an attempt ...

Here's one that actually added a new twist to the original (though I still much prefer the US original) ...

I would imagine some would dismiss as pop pap, but I quite like this version of the Tommy Sands Northern dancer...

Edited Monday at 17:145 days by Soul-slider

It wasn't always UK Beat groups that made such crap covers -- The Buckingham's took on a British styled name & performed surrounded by UK flags, but they were really from Chicago. I think this version of Cannonball Adderley's jazz & pop chart hit is JUST a bit inferior to Marlena Shaw's version (which came between the two) ... well, it's actually much worse than the two earlier versions even though this was the bigger US pop chart hit ...

I comped up this hour of British 7s that are all US covers a while back.
My lack of good taste has been mentioned more than once, so I'm sure there's some crap on here... ;)

Load of good titles here, you should recognise most of the track titles, got loads more, but cant work out if they are UK written...if Ive got stuff wrong, dont hang me out to dry, all offered with sharing great music in mind...

Mike Stevens & The Shevelles – The Go Go Train / PYE

The Beatstalkers - Ain't No Soul (Left In These 'Ole Shoes) / CBS (awful record!)

Tonny Rich - See-Saw / Astor down under

Jimmy Lloyd - Call On Me / Fontana

John Andrews - It's Just Love / Parlophone

Lee Tomlin - Sweet Sweet Lovin / CBS

Five And A Penny - You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies

King Size Taylor - Somebody's Always Trying

Marilyn Powell - Please Go Away / Fontana

Jon Ford - You've Got Me Where You Want Me / Philips

Lulu - Leave a Little Love / Decca

Emma Rede - I Gotta Be With You / Columbia

Second City Sound - A Touch of Velvet, A String of Brass / Major Minor

Ronnie Jones & The Night-Timers - I Need Your Loving / Decca

Andee Silver - Baby I Need Your Loving / Decca

Beverley Jones - Wait 'Til My Bobby Gets Home / HMV

Hamilton and The Hamilton Movement - Really Sayin Something / Polydor

Susan Holliday - Any Day Now / Pye / Aussie Columbia, one of the Landsdown releses this one, great cover of Chuck...

Elkie Brooks - Nothin Left To Do But Cry / Decca

Keith & Billie - Taste Sour Don't It / Picadilly

The Hipster Image - Can't Let Her Go / Fontana

The Poor Souls - When My Baby Cries / Decca

Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames - Sweet Thing / Columbia LP

The Action - In My Lonely Room / Parlophone

Steve Aldo - Can I Get Witness / Decca

anybody know much about the OAK label? they had a few great groups on the label, I think, Bo Street Runners was on OAK, deffo worth checking out.

Five Of Diamonds - Good Morning Blues / OAK

Blues By Five - Boom Boom / Decca

also Jack Hammer, he wrote and did so much great music, but did he do a few covers in there? maybe hidden on an LP...

Petula Clark - Heart, now this was Released 1965 in UK on PYE and in Oz, asnd as I collect Oz stuff, hense scan, anyhow to my ears is a influence for Holly Saint James on ABC, as you can see carries 'Hatch' so obviously Tony Hatch in the writing credits,, anyhow take a listen, tell us what you reckon?

and finally, maybe some of your experts can answer this, Virginia Vee - No, No No... french only written and sang, love this track, but Ive never worked out where it's from...

oh, and this... Shelley Fabares - Lost Summer Love, the Original version of Lorraine Silver, came out on Aussie Philips in 1965, BUT was scheduled for release on PYE Here, but never came out.

She is married to Mike Farrell of M*A*S*H fame. Was Elvis's first leading lady in 'Girl Happy', Originally released on Vee-Jay Records in the States.

6 hours ago, Mal C said:

oh, and this... Shelley Fabares - Lost Summer Love, the Original version of Lorraine Silver, came out on Aussie Philips in 1965, BUT was scheduled for release on PYE Here, but never came out.

She is married to Mike Farrell of M*A*S*H fame. Was Elvis's first leading lady in 'Girl Happy', Originally released on Vee-Jay Records in the States.

..and strangely, it also has the same B-side as Lorraine Silver's 45.. 'I Know You'll Be There'!!!