Covering Covers Coverage!

So it looks like we're going to post covers one week in April. Why April? I have no idea! What does the picture above have to do with covers? I have no idea yet again!

Well, let's go with the flow and have ourselves some fun with covers, some obscure, some not. Sadly, I can't top the greatness of Raven's version of "Born To Be Wild" this go-around, but at least one of these songs comes damn close.

As with last year's post, it's gonna be ugly. If it works, you'll be able to listen to the original version by clicking the album on the left side and by clicking the album on the right side you'll be able to listen to the artists mangling(?) these classic songs.

1. Mr. Sandman (The Chordettes/Blind Guardian)

2. If I Were A Carpenter (Tim Hardin/Robert Plant)

3. Junior's Farm (Paul McCartney & Wings/Galactic Cowboys)

4. You Don't Own Me (Lesley Gore/Joan Jett)

5. Knife Edge (Emerson, Lake & Palmer/Star One)

6. War Of Man (Neil Young/Ann Wilson with Alison Krause)

7. Maniac (Michael Sembello/Firewind)

8. Animal Magnetism (Scorpions/Testament)

9. Do Ya Think I'm Sexy (Rod Stewart/Carmine Appice feat. Pat Travers)

10. I.G.Y. [What A Beautiful World] (Donald Fagen/Howard Jones)

And now you see why I failed art and design class...

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Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on May 10, 2013 at 11:58am

Blind Guardian - I'll give you this one, at least until the end (as far as the vocal performance goes). I dig the guitar on it from start to finish. Also a good choice that would never make sense, so cool. 1 for 1.

Robert Plant - I don't care for the original. Plant's version is pretty good though. His voice fits it well and the acoustic work is soothing. 2 for 2.

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Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on May 12, 2013 at 2:59pm

Galactic Cowboys - I have never been much of a post-Beatles McCartney fan. This song included. But I'm totally digging the bass tone and the geetar work on this. I may go back and give the original a listen on this song. There's nothing special about the vocal, but it's not bad or anything like that. I'm gonna say 3 for 3 so far.

Joan Jett - I like this cover. It has a vibe that makes me think of Crimson and Clover. I would never know it was Joan Jett if I just heard it somewhere. 4 for 4.

Star One - I'm not crazy about the beginning of this. I have an ELP greatest hits disc but I've never listened to it. I only know one or two of there songs. This get's better about the 2 minute mark. Again, not crazy about the keyboard solo, but when the song is heavy I like it. I'm gonna have to just give a half for this one. 4.5 for 5.

Krauss/Wilson - An Wilson has one of the greatest voices ever. And Allison Krauss isn't too far behind. Her voice is so soft and soothing. I've never heard this Neil Young song. This is the best song so far. This totally gets a full point. I'm serious, this is outstanding. 5.5 for 6.

Firewind - This is one thing I really like about a cover song. I love it when a band covers a song that was so "non-rock" back in the day. This is a total pop song, but they've rocked it up quite well. The other thing that I think is great about cover songs is that it makes you appreciate how cool a song the original was. I wanna go back now and hear the original guitar solo because I haven't heard the original in years. 6.5 for 7.

Testament - I have this Testament album, but not the deluxe edition, so I'm pretty sure I don't have this cover. I also have the Scorpions album, but it's not one I've ever really listened to. What I will say is that this is doing nothing for me. I don't care for the cover and I don't even have a desire to hear the original. 6.5 for 8.

Appice/Travers - A tough thing about covers is doing such a popular original song. And this one was really popular. You can do a faithful cover or you can change it up and try to make it your own. This one is definitely changed up with the plodding pace, but to me it plods too much. Despite the exceptional geetaring, I'd have to say this one is a miss for me. 6.5 for 9.

HoJo - This song has always been just okay with me. And this is one of those very faithful covers. I could take it or leave it, but since I don't necessarily desire hearing it again, I'm giving no points. 6.5 for 10.

Bonus Track - Don't know who this is. Probably Devin Townsend. That's who I'm guessing. Well, the Beach Boys did it better. The bass drumming is what ruins it for me. Otherwise I like it.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on May 10, 2013 at 12:30pm

Does Appice covering Do You Think I'm Sexy? count since he co-wrote it?

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Permalink Reply by Jon on May 10, 2013 at 3:48pm

Sure because it features Pat Travers. My rules. Deal with it.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on May 10, 2013 at 4:13pm

Blind Guardian: Umm this is very weird. Bad choice to cover, thank goodness they laugh at the end of it at least they didn't take it seriously. But wait they actually released it. I'm so confused!

Robert Plant: Another odd choice for a cover. I see where this list is going! But Plant's version is OK, not terrible, not great, just OK

Galactic Cowboys: Juniors Farm is one of my favorite McCartney tunes. Why make fun of it? The opening and ending were odd and the vocals remind me of Weird Al! And the mastering is loud! Who produced this? I'm guessing the same guy who did Death Magnetic.

Joan Jett: This is a very interesting choice for her. I've never heard it. I like it but I don't, Its interesting but its not. Hey! Don't tell me what say!

Star One: This one is actually quite cool, Im not a huge ELP fan, but this is at least familiar to me.

More to come...

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Permalink Reply by Scott on May 12, 2013 at 6:31pm

Ann Wilson: Love this album from Young, classic! She does a great job of reworking this and rocking it up a bit. And vocally how can it get better than Ann Wilson and/or Allison Krauss. Love the harmony, this is real solid work!

Firewind: Maniac huh... All I can think of is the movie Tommy Boy. If it wasn't for the movie there be no redeeming quality for this song. But because Tommy Boy is classic and great, it makes me smile. This cover on the other hand, eh...

Testament: Yuck, I don't like it, but its probably only because I don't like Testament, their style, their vocal, yuck.

Carmine Appice: Interesting! Definitely not get a dance groove, haha! But I do like Travers geetar tones, sound like the classic geetar work I love from him! I like this one, its almost like its not even a cover!

Howard Jones: I love Steely Dan, and by extension solo Fagen. I love Nightfly and IGY. But not real crazy about Jones treatment here, its just OK. I was really hoping this would be a better than just good, it had all the earmarks of a really cool cover. But it is just a really nice version of the song, not bad, not great, but good.

BONUS TRACK: No idea who this might be, but it pretty interesting, that drum machine from hell chorus is pretty funny.

Nice List! Great listening to all these covers its been a fun post!