What in tarnation were they thinking?

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:14 am

Not an earth shattering thread here.

However, I recently heard a "smooth jazz" version of Dave Brubeck's classic "Take Five". And it was being played in 4/4! This meant they had to compensate by leaving gaps in the melody, or repeat little phrases at various points in the song.

The beautiful melody is still there (albeit produced so stringently (astringently?) as to sound quite sterile). I can't figure why the artist would take the most interesting facet of this song out - the 5/4 timing of the original -after all that's why it was titled Take Five!

Anyone else come up with remakes that should never have been?

vito · Post by **vito** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:56 am

I'd nominate whoever did that dreadful version of Henley's Boys of Summer a coupla years ago....

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:06 am

Take Five...Give One Back

rob · Post by **rob** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:08 am

How about Kid Rock doing Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gimmie Back My Bullitts?

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:15 am

Maybe they were hacks and couldn't handle 5/4 timing?

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:04 am

In 1996 I was working for the college radio station and came across a hip-hop kind of version by a group called Teknicolour (sp?) and I think it was in 5/4 but with crazy techno beats and raps, and two saxes playing the melody in two-part harmony. The version was titled "Take 5 (In The Jungle)" ...does that ring a bell?

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:07 am

Other obscene covers... that version of a Ramones song that was on a US TV advertisement in the last few years.

Also anyone that thinks they can cover a Beatles song. I've heard a lot of Beatle covers, and only abot 5% are good.

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:15 am

Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends. Covers don't get any better than this!

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:24 am

When it comes to Ramones' songs done by others, i'd most certainly vote for "The KKK..." as done by Marilyn Manson...
The other possible candidate, in my opinion, would be the Clash's version of "Junco partner". Don't get me wrong, i like Clash, but imho, when it comes to this song, the original is far better than the cover.
I also remember hearing some pretty stupid cover of "In the mood", but cannot remember who it was...

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:30 am

Peter: Have you heard Joe Cocker's cover of "I'll Cry Instead" from 1964? It's so close to the Beatles' original version, I don't know why he bothered!

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:57 am

Somebody, a long time ago, did a vocalized scat-like version of Take Five. Was it Bobby McFerrin?
What did you think of that one?

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:11 am

Status Quo's version of "When You Walk In The Room". They didn't quite massacre the song and if you hadn't heard the Searchers do it you might like it. No comparison, however......

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:24 am

Status Quo's version of "Rockin' all over the world" is also... mmm... not quite as good as the original...

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:27 am

While I'm a major fan of The Zombies, their cover of "Roadrunner" is extremely weak compared to The Pretty Things' definitive version.

alanz · Post by **alanz** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:11 am

I've always thought John Belushi's version of Joe Cocker was better than Joe Cocker's version of Joe Cocker.