Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Sorry if it has been discussed before, but here's the topic. What made me think of it is the vid i bumped into on youtube. Here it is (sorry, couldn't find another vid, the track was what actually interested me, not the picture). Orbison's a great performer, no doubt. And "Great pretender" is a great song, too. But, imho, they just don't match for some reason. The question is, how many tracks (from 50s and 60s, of course) would you remember when a good performer sang a good song but it just didn't work?
Cheers, SC.

Peter Noone's version of the Skeeter Davis tune, End Of The World, did not work for me.

Herman's Hermits were cute, but I did not find their version of Skeeter's March 1963 song convincing.

In fairness to the Hermits, I believe that the recording was never released as a single and as such thought of as an "album filler", perhaps.

Hollies/Blowin´ in the Wind.

Einar, you've just reminded me of the same band's version of "I am a rock"... Haven't heard their version of "Blowin' in the wind", though (i think).

Can't forget Skeeter, who had that one giant crossover hit and who lost her life to cancer a few years back.

Chet Atkins was her guitarist and producer; her nickname came from her grandfather as a wry comment on her boundless energy as a child.

Sheena, I'm not angry at their "I'm a rock" treatment. You may be right about the way they handle the lyrics. But still, not quite enough to ruin the song (imho).

William Shatner, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds."

Okay, that doesn't count. How about Frank Sinatra with "Something" or Elvis Presley with "Always On My Mind?"

Good choices Mark. I agree on both counts.

Now how about Denny Crain covering Shatner's hits.

Madonna - "American Pie" (okay, doesn't count...but OMG...)

Kiss - "Won't Get Fooled Again"

I don't think anyone could have competed with her version of End Of The World, that being said I enjoyed Herman's Hermits version but Skeeter's was vastly superior.