The Sixties: worst covers?

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:17 am

I mean the cover versions of the songs done in 60s, not the album covers of course. I do understand this kind of topic wouldn't appeal to everybody and i can only hope i wouldn't hurt anybody's feelings by the text below.
My choice of the "worst cover" would be "I am a rock" as done by the Hollies. It's not only because i truly love Simon & Garfunkel and this song, in particular, is probably my second favourite. As it is to me, the Hollies' version lacks "heart and soul", sincerity, imho. It's very well done, but i cannot feel it. And when Alan Clarke starts my favourite verse "I have my books and my poetry to protect me", i just feel very bad. I cannot feel it. I do not believe what the singer says. He's a good singer, indeed, but...
Oh... why did i start it? Quite simple. Little Mousie decided to study Hollies (on Sunday! at midnight!) and "Would you believe" is currently filling every single hole in our flat. The song mentioned is gonna start in some five minutes...
So what would be your choices?

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:42 pm

A great topic Sheena and recently I did a quiz type thing at a party( bored everyone stupid my wife says) in which I basically played cover versions of sixties songs by artists who were famous in sixties but didn't record the originals, concept being A who had the hit B who is this version by. No points if wrong way round, some seemed to enjoy it, in fact one guy asked for a copy of CD so he could do it at some pub type quiz he does, my wife and kids are always somewhat disparaging, of my efforts.

Will try some on here.

Agree with your point on "I am a Rock" song is probably too much of a personal type to be covered by someone else perhaps, hard to convey the feelings the writer was going through perhaps.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:00 pm

On the other hand we should include best covers, for instance off top of my head, I can only think of one cover of a song recorded by Beatles which in my view was superior to the original version by The Beatles, that goes. in my book, to Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas version of Do You Want To Know A Secret, which is better than The Beatles version.

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:08 pm

>>>Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas version of Do You Want To Know A Secret, which is better than The Beatles version.

By Jove!... you may be right. Certainly the tempo is faster. They do a great job on that cover.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:12 pm

I think the Byrds version of "Hey Joe" is pretty terrible, but The Leaves don't do it much better. Never cared much for Ike & Tina's cover of "Proud Mary," either.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 9:56 pm

There was some modern band that did a cover of Elanor Rigby that was interesting. I still like the original better, but this one was interesting. Also, Eddie Veddar doing "You've got to hide your love away" was pretty good, but not better than the original. Most of the ones that are worse than the originals I try to purposely forget.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:33 pm

Greg: "Eleanor Rigby" - do you mean Mick & Mack? Speakin' of Beatles' covers, i love "Cry baby cry" as done by Samiam, but i guess i'm going too far off topic, since the primary intention was to list covers made in 60s.
Dave: 100 % agree on "Proud Mary", i'd even say as done by Ike & Tina, it's just kind of odious.
Roy: funny thing is, we sometimes do this kind of quiz too, and, as my kid says (she knows a lot about this forum but cannot post to it yet due to the fact she only started learning English), when i share my plans to organize another one, "you must've borrowed this idea from some British guy, haven't you?"

NOM, of course.
The best covers? Well, to name just some. "Tricky Dicky" as done by the Mindbenders, Tony Sheridan/Beatles' version of "My Bonnie", and of course, some more by the band whose section of the forum is above this one.

But i'm actually more interested in the worst ones... so i'd also add "Jambalaya" as done by Gerry & the Pacemakers, just kind of boring.

einar · Post by **einar** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:40 am

I agree with Roy, his three last lines about "I'm a rock". But the Hollies' version is far from being on top 50 as far as "worst cover version" goes, Sheena!! It's rather honorable.
I'd nominate their "Blowing in the wind", though. I've never quite understood their rather odd treatment. -Not to mention Jagger/Bowie's "Dancing in the street".

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:57 am

Well Einar, i kind of agree with you, but you see i am very subjective, as well as many other people i believe, especially as far as this song is concerned, so it's understandable... I've never heard their version of "Blowing in the wind", however, i do believe you.

Uh, okay, my other 'nominee' would be - "Twist and shout" as done by Brian Poole. Third most boring cover i've ever heard, perhaps...

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:33 pm

I seem to recall that the Vanilla Fudge covered "Eleanor Rigby." Speaking of VF, in addition to "You Keep Me Hangin' On," they also covered "The Windmills of Your Mind," "Shotgun" by Jr. Walker and even Lee Hazelwood's "Some Velvet Morning." One thing about the Fudge, they weren't about to be lumped into one category when choosing cover material. If you've never heard the "Near the Beginning" LP, it's a good initiation. Turn of the lights and use the strobes to really appreciate it, though! Were the covers better than the originals? Hmmmmm ....

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:11 pm

William Shatner - Lucy in the Sky w/Diamonds
Leonard Nimoy - Proud Mary

At least Shatner's version is something that you can belly ache laugh. There is some value to that!
Nimoy's version was recorded seconds after he woke up.

Both from their solo albums during the Star Trek series when the studios were cashing in on their celebrity.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:17 pm

Mike: do you mean Shatner from 911 program?! (or was it 911? memory fadin'...) Never heard any of the two, but the idea of recording a few seconds after having waken up is nice...

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:22 pm

Yeah that's him. Very strange covers.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:45 pm

There's a Rhino issue of these and many more. I have Nichelle Nichols singing the Star Trek theme! Yep, there are words, and she does a laughable job of it, too.

But at least she avoided margarine commercials.

jerrymac51 · Post by **jerrymac51** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:14 pm

Summertime Blues - Blue Cheer

You've got to hide your love away - the Silkie