Comments on The Dilettante's Dilemma: A Post About Covers

James Brown's "That's Life" is on Live at the Apol...

2007-04-21T13:32:00.000-04:00

James Brown's "That's Life" is on Live at the Apollo vol. 2 . . . which is an amazing album . . .

I forget which song it's in, but there's a great part where James is doing a call and response with the audience . . . "He . . . He, I feel alright . . . one time." He builds the audience up, then takes them down to a simmer, and asks "Audience, are you ready? . . . Dancers, are you ready

This is a juicy topic, isn't it? I used to do this...

2007-04-20T12:48:00.000-04:00

This is a juicy topic, isn't it? I used to do this music club thing where everyone would bring one song on a theme. One time our theme was cover songs that are better than the original. Here were the selections (not all of which I agree with). If you want to read my comments at the time, they're here.

1. Richard Cory

James Brown's version of Frank Sinatra's "That's L...

2007-04-20T09:58:00.000-04:00

James Brown's version of Frank Sinatra's "That's Life."

Whoa...what record is that on?

Keith, that FYC cover is one of my favorites. It should certainly show up on the covers playlist v1.1.

Oh yeah, and James Brown's version of Frank Sinatr...

2007-04-20T09:40:00.000-04:00

Oh yeah, and James Brown's version of Frank Sinatra's "That's Life." Two of my favorite artists . . . I don't think anyone understood timing and arrangement of songs as well as those two.

b

I love your audience participation music posts ;)...

2007-04-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

I love your audience participation music posts ;)

Of course when you think of covers, everyone always thinks of Hendirx' version of "All Along the Watchtower." And while it is wonderful, I think Dylan understood the talent in performing an excellent cover when he basically ceded the song to Hendrix, noting that he liked Jimi's version better, and that it became Jimi's song, not his.

A few that I love:Holly Cole Trio, "Trust in Me"Fi...

2007-04-19T22:45:00.000-04:00

A few that I love:

Holly Cole Trio, "Trust in Me"

Fine Young Cannibals, "Suspicious Minds"

Billy Bob Thornton & Earl Scruggs, "Ring of Fire"

Lyle Lovett, "Stand By Your Man"

Maria Muldaur, "That Same Old Obsession"

Patti Labelle & Travis Tritt, "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby"

Pet Shop Boys, "Go West"

Shonen Knife, "Top

Oh man, there are way too many to even begin to be...

2007-04-19T16:58:00.000-04:00

Oh man, there are way too many to even begin to be systematic about it.

(I disagree, a bit, with Radosh, in that it's possible to make a good cover out of a bad song by ways other than changing the production sound: you can rearrange it, or emphasize one good element in an otherwise sucky song, etc.)

Anyway, some great ones off the top of my head:

The Dickies, Nights