The Sixties: worst covers?

chingnchime · Post by **chingnchime** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:34 pm

Well, i guess variety is the spice of life. I thought THE SILKIE did a great job on HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY. I've heard that was produced by Lennon & McCartney. I always thought the flute solo sounded sharp (pitchwise) on the Fabs version. As long as I'm here...
The worst-
Gary Lewis and the Playboys version of the Brian Hyland hit, SEALED W/ A KISS. On some liner notes Gary himself said it's the one song of theirs he can't stand to listen to because he goes horribly flat on the word 'September' near the end, 'O let us make a pledge to meet in Septemberrr...'.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 4:39 am

That brings back memories. I remember the first time I hard it; I'd just picked up their "Greatest Hits" album, and when I heard it, I thought, "Ouch!".

I thought Blue Cheer were the worst popular band of the 70s. One of my students recently gave me a copy of one of their albums on CD. I guess he just wanted to harass me. It flew real good, but unfortunately landed in the Pacific.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:15 am

Hendrix's version of 'All Along The Watchtower' took a pretty good song and made it a classic...but there was another version I recall that was a completely uninspired silly-*ss strumfest...I'm thinking Dave Mason, but I could be wrong...

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:25 am

In case of VF their version of You Keep Me Hanging On was definately superior to the original or any that have come since,Phil Collins. They did loads of differing versions, Ticket To Ride, Bang Bang, People Get Ready to name but three.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:44 am

BTW, i've heard from many Creedence fans that this band's version of "The night time is the right time" is just odious (albeit i kinda disagree with that) due to these endless "waah-doo-day"'s. On the other hand, their rendition of "I put a spell on you" is the best version of all i've heard... IMO, of course.
Yep... CD's fly really nice, it's cool to watch them fly by...

jerrymac51 · Post by **jerrymac51** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:27 am

...I'm thinking Dave Mason, but I could be wrong...

If I remember correctly, Dave Mason played rythem guitar on Jimi's recording of Watchtower.

jerrymac

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 4:59 pm

Good one, Jerry! Mason and all of Traffic are all over that album.

When I was 18 I tried to get a job as an understudy to John McQuarrie who engineered the Blue Cheer album with "Summertime Blues." He hated them. He was also the first to show me old albums with Felix Pappalardi(Cream producer, Mountain) with short hair and a fond remembrances. Geeez! I might have been 17!!

rob_mac · Post by **rob_mac** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:21 am

I vote for the Merseybeats version of Long Tall Sally. The singing to my ears is truly horrible.
Which is a shame really as i love a lot of there stuff!

From Rob

rob_mac · Post by **rob_mac** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:41 am

Regarding the hollies version of Blowing in the wind. It was this recording in the summer of 68 with the original line up that contributed to Graham Nash leaving the Hollies. He had already met Crosby and Stills at this point. He hated this recording and when the rest of the band suggested a full album of Dylan songs (Hollies sing Dylan) he was off.
As a postscript to this, many fans love this version (me included) and the Hollies are still singing it in concert up to the present day. As witnessed by me a month ago.

What about the Searchers live version from 1963, I think this is a pretty lifeless performance.

From Rob

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:28 am

The Searchers' live version from '63 - which record is it on, Rob? I've heard their live version of "Blowin' in the wind" which was included in their 30th anniversary collection, and i wouldn't say it was lifeless, to me it's pretty lively and energetic (IMO). But i'd bet you're talkin' about different version, since the one i've heard was from 1965 or later, cause it includes Frank Allen on backing vocals. Never heard any other by them, to be true.

rob_mac · Post by **rob_mac** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 2:08 pm

Sorry about the confusion Sheena. its on the 40th anniversary collection and its from 64 not 63.
I still think it sounds pretty dull, no drums and does not sound much like the Searchers.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:01 am

As i always say, tastes differ, Rob, and i'm not surprised you and me kind of disagree on this one. That's cool. I do like songs without drums though (sometimes), and while i actually prefer the nowadays Searchers' version of "Four strong winds" to their first version recorded in '65, i'd prefer it WITHOUT drums. And i also like "Sounds of silence" by S&G both 'drumless' version (Wednesday morning, 3 am) and the more known version from "Sounds of silence".
BTW, if we're talkin' about Dylan covers... the one i do find dull is Simon&Garfunkel's version of "The times they are a-changin'" from the above-mentioned "Wednesday morning". Sounds kind of lifeless to me.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:19 am

Here's an interesting one from 1958,on topic of worst covers for those who enjoy a quiz element.

This was the second of three flop singles for this UK act who went to number 1 with the fourth
single.
http://s20.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=29MFTEC736QAD2SS8BZAOF0HG7

In total 24 hits from 59 to 66 in UK including 2 number ones, 9 singles made the top 5.

Success was restricted to UK only except for one release which made top 40 in US, in mid sixties, though the song had only been a B side in the UK.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:24 am

Unfortunately, the link fails somehow... BTW, for those who like puzzles - you might try this: http://www.funtrivia.com There's lots of musical puzzles (quizzes) there, but i wouldn't recommend to try it at the office: it might keep you hangin' on for hours...

jerrymac51 · Post by **jerrymac51** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:49 am

... "if we're talkin' about Dylan covers... the one i do find dull is Simon&Garfunkel's version of "The times they are a-changin'" from the above-mentioned "Wednesday morning". Sounds kind of lifeless to me." ...

Funny, of all the Dylan covers by the Byrds, "The times they are a-changin'" is the one that misses the mark IMO.

BTW, Dylan got even with Simon with his cover of "The Boxer".