What are the Covers You Like Better than the Original?
- Thread starter Ron Resnick
- Start date
Maybe it’s already been pointed out that virtually all of the jazz recorded in the 50s, 60s , 70s, and on up to today in many cases, are covers.
I like Melody Gardot because much of her body of work is original. But she’s also done some great covers.
Mingus wrote a lot of stuff, as did Dizzy Gillespie, but both also gave us great reinterpretations of the compositions of others.
Where would Jack Wilkins or David Hazeltine fit in if it weren’t for covers.
Right now I’m listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. All covers. All setting a wonderful mood here in my listening room.
One other thought. During COVID, Chrissie Hynde put together a GREAT album of Bob Dylan covers. The album is Standing in the Doorway.
More great Bob Dylan (and other) covers from the early Byrds albums.
Every performer brings their own touch, and great music often shines through different great musicians. Nearly all classical orchestral music is covers spanning literally hundreds of years.
Three cheers for timeless music that refreshes us through the lips and hands of so many gifted artists.
I like Melody Gardot because much of her body of work is original. But she’s also done some great covers.
Mingus wrote a lot of stuff, as did Dizzy Gillespie, but both also gave us great reinterpretations of the compositions of others.
Where would Jack Wilkins or David Hazeltine fit in if it weren’t for covers.
Right now I’m listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. All covers. All setting a wonderful mood here in my listening room.
One other thought. During COVID, Chrissie Hynde put together a GREAT album of Bob Dylan covers. The album is Standing in the Doorway.
More great Bob Dylan (and other) covers from the early Byrds albums.
Every performer brings their own touch, and great music often shines through different great musicians. Nearly all classical orchestral music is covers spanning literally hundreds of years.
Three cheers for timeless music that refreshes us through the lips and hands of so many gifted artists.
Speaking of Chrissie Hynde, the original is great, this one is different, and I like to listen to both:
On the wikipedia page of the song, Hynde is quoted (from liner notes) as stating:
"Like all the other London punks, I wanted to do reggae, and I wrote "Private Life". When I first heard Grace's version I thought 'Now that's how it's supposed to sound!' In fact it was one of the high points of my career – what with Sly and Robbie being the masters, and Grace Jones with her scorching delivery. Someone told me it was Chris Blackwell's idea – thanks Chris!"
So Chrissie Hynde liked the cover better than her original!
On the wikipedia page of the song, Hynde is quoted (from liner notes) as stating:
"Like all the other London punks, I wanted to do reggae, and I wrote "Private Life". When I first heard Grace's version I thought 'Now that's how it's supposed to sound!' In fact it was one of the high points of my career – what with Sly and Robbie being the masters, and Grace Jones with her scorching delivery. Someone told me it was Chris Blackwell's idea – thanks Chris!"
So Chrissie Hynde liked the cover better than her original!
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Hendrix's epic version of this Dylan song:
Bob Dylan liked Hendrix's version better than his own:
faroutmagazine.co.uk
Hendrix was a great fan of Dylan. So the two of them had great respect for each other, as they should!
Bob Dylan liked Hendrix's version better than his own:
The Dylan cover Bob Dylan calls his all-time favourite
From Peter, Paul and Mary to Joan Baez and Roxy Music, many have attempted Bob Dylan covers over the years, but he only champions one of them in his memoir.
Hendrix was a great fan of Dylan. So the two of them had great respect for each other, as they should!
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Maybe this has already been mentioned, but Jennifer Warnes covers of Leonard Cohen beat Leonard’s versions for many people.
And how many Jobim covers are there? There must be dozens of versions of The Girl from Ipanema, for example. Who even remembers who recorded it first without resorting to Google?
The failure of covers says to me that the original artist interpreted their own composition better than those who followed, but this may say as much about the artist covering as it does about the music.
Maybe someone could start a parallel thread on covers that did not work well compared to the original? I would venture a guess that there are more well known good covers than bad, the bad having been dismissed on their release.
And how many Jobim covers are there? There must be dozens of versions of The Girl from Ipanema, for example. Who even remembers who recorded it first without resorting to Google?
The failure of covers says to me that the original artist interpreted their own composition better than those who followed, but this may say as much about the artist covering as it does about the music.
Maybe someone could start a parallel thread on covers that did not work well compared to the original? I would venture a guess that there are more well known good covers than bad, the bad having been dismissed on their release.
And sometimes it’s hard to know what’s a cover when it presents as an original, but isn’t.
An example is https://www.elvis-atouchofgold.com/... have been exactly,Darby claimed back in 1956.
I have heard this before about EP’s business manager. A famous female country music diva tells a story about Colonel Parker negotiating for Elvis to cover one of her songs, and as the deal was done, springing paperwork on her to share the writing credit with Elvis. She said no, and Elvis never covered her song.
An example is https://www.elvis-atouchofgold.com/... have been exactly,Darby claimed back in 1956.
I have heard this before about EP’s business manager. A famous female country music diva tells a story about Colonel Parker negotiating for Elvis to cover one of her songs, and as the deal was done, springing paperwork on her to share the writing credit with Elvis. She said no, and Elvis never covered her song.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
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