Blog Best ever cover versions.?
I often mull over cover versions. Particularly over the past few years where it seemed every chart release appeared to be a cover. Many a time I sat with clenched teeth, hands and buttocks listening to the latest next big things murdering another favourite .We look back on the music of our past, perhaps wrongly sometimes, with rose-coloured specs, (I remember a character on TV’s “The Fast Show” hearing “Billy Don’t Be A Hero” by Paper Lace and exclaiming that they will soon do a remix of that and ruin it!) but can there ever be a version of a song that is better than the original? I think so.
Let me put forward a few of my own favourites as examples for you to compare.
“This Flight Tonight” written and performed by Joni Mitchell. Cover version a brilliant, brutal rendering by Nazareth.
“With A Little Help From Friends”, not one of the Beatles best (Even the celebrated remastered version still sounds twee and plonky). Cover, Joe Cocker. I rest my case.
“Woodstock”, Poor old Joni again. Its too high!! Cover, Matthews Southern Comfort. Nice.
“All Along The Watch Tower” or almost any song by Dylan. Covered by Hendrix. I am a sucker for wah wah!
“House Of The Rising Sun” Dates back many years but the version that made it a hit was by the Animals in 1964, covered by many but the version for me is the guitar drenched stunner from Frigid Pink.
What do you think?
Do you have any?
Roger
