TOP 40 COVERS (UNDER COVER WEEK)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Words Of Wisdom

"I thought I knew what love was, what did I know/Those days are gone forever, I should just let 'em go, but..."

-Don Henley

Welcome to Covers Week at Classic Rock Bottom.  Covers Week was Jon's idea (a great one if I must say so myself), but it was definitely inspired by Chris and Aaron over at the Decibel Geek Podcast.  They did a show a few weeks back called Bizzaro Covers, and we decided we'd share nothing but covers with you this week.

So you get a week off from the usual Album Of The Week and Lost/Forgotten Album Of The Week, plus Scott and Niels are participating with Scott's Hidden Treasures and Videos Of The Week.  

My playlist is comprised of cover versions of songs that were originally Top 40 hits in the U.S.  I think you'll know the majority of the songs.  I cover rock, pop, soul and even a disco song here.  I hope you enjoy it.  And by the way, the pics beside each song and description are of lovely ladies that I wouldn't mind at all being under "the covers" with.

***Click the pic at the top of this thread to hear the playlist***

 

Song: The Boys Of Summer

Artist: The Ataris

Original Artist: Don Henley

Lovely Lady: Scarlett

I would imagine most of you are familiar with this song.  It was huge.  Henley took it to #5 in 1984.  Henley also won a grammy for Best Male Vocal Perfomance for this song.  So why in the world would you wanna cover it?  I can't answer that, but I think The Ataris actually do a pretty good job here.  It's slightly sped up and contains a very noticible lyric change (Black Flag is substituted for Dead Head).

 

Song: Just What I Needed

Artist: Sister Hazel

Original Artist: The Cars

Lovely Lady: Jennifer

Although not quite as big a hit as the previous song, it still broke the top 40.  It reached #27 in 1978 and it's also a staple on Classic Rock Radio stations.   Other than a few vocal inflections, Sister Hazel does a good job of staying true to the original. 

 

Song: Careless Whisper

Artist: Seether

Original Artist: George Michael

Lovely Lady: Jessica

The first true pop song on my list.  This is a little confusing, but for some reason the song was released on a Wham! album (Make It Big) but was billed as a George Michael single.  Beats me.  Anyway, it was a #1 hit.  I know you've heard it, so don't act like you haven't.  Seether rocks it up a bit.  It's still a ballad, but the sax work is replaced with guitar work.

 

Song: I Will Survive

Artist: Cake

Original Artist: Gloria Gaynor

Lovely Lady: Leann

How 'bout a disco song?  This was a #1 hit in 1979.  Cake's version is so cool.  I love the bass and guitar work on this song.  I even like the horns towards the end, they remind me of the Rocky movies for some reason.  There is one profanity, so if you listen at work, wear your headphones.

 

Song: Send Her My Love

Artist: Kip Winger

Original Artist: Journey

Lovely Lady: Jessica

I've always liked this song and I've always liked Kip Winger.  I found this by just fiddling around on the web and I (gasp) downloaded it.  The original is from the 1983 album Frontiers and reached #23 in the U.S.  Obviously, no one is ever gonna top Steve Perry.  It just can't be done.  But this song is built quite well for Kip Winger's voice.  His vocal is really smooth and I'd say he handles it pretty well.

Song: Baker Street

Artist: Foo Fighters

Original Artist: Gerry Rafferty

Lovely Lady: Kate

How 'bout #2 in 1978?  That's where this awesome original song landed.  The original is terrific and the cover isn't bad at all.  The sax is replaced with guitars which work well for this cover.

Song: Use Me

Artist: Hootie & The Blowfish

Original Artist: Bill Withers

Lovely Lady: Charlize

We go the soul route with track number 7.  Use me scored Withers a #2 hit back in 1972.  It's hard to top Bill Withers, but Darius Rucker really nails this cover.  Just listen.  Whoever is doing the backing vocals does a really nice job as well.  I can't say that I'm a huge fan of Hootie & The Blowfish, but they do have a few pretty good songs.  This cover is one of them.

Song: Born On The Bayou

Artist: Broken Homes

Original Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival

Lovely Lady: Carrie

Born On The Bayou was a #2 hit way, way back in 1969 for CCR.  I have no info whatsoever on this band called Broken Homes, but this cover comes from the soundtrack for the Tom Cruise movie Born On The 4TH Of July.

Song: Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

Artist: Ra

Original Artist: The Police

Lovely Lady: Sofia

Well, the previous 3 originals all hit #2, but this song could only get to #3 for The Police in 1981.  Ra is a band I've featured on CRB before, and they got very little love.  I think the consensus from you Bottom Feeders was that you didn't like the vocalist.   As usual, I totally disagree.  This is a pretty straight cover that makes the song a bit heavier.

 

Song: When Doves Cry

Artist: One Less Reason

Original Artist: Prince

Lovely Lady: Faith

So let's end it all with a song that originally hit #1 in 1984.  You all know this original, but now you get to hear a cover.  I doubt you've heard this because One Less Reason is another band I've featured before that didn't get a positive response.  This is a band that I think was unsigned when this was released so the production isn't the greatest.  The biggest change for the song is the appearance of "almost" cookie monster vocals at the end of each chorus.

[Scott]

Speakin' of black, thats the color of the top Jennifer Love is wearing ... 

[RJhog (Admin)]

Your computer screen must be about to go, looks more like melon to me.

[Mike Mills]

1. Boys Of Summer - I've always liked the Don Henly version, but I like hearing it with an up tempo. Ataris, gave it a current feel & a lttle bit of an edge. I like it!

2.Just What I Needed - Love the Cars, they have their own sound & own feel & their their tempo is impecable. With Sister Hazel, the tempo meanders a bit. The voice variations are ok, the guitar is good. It's not a bad cover though, I can listen to it.

3. Careless Whisper - This has always been a catchy song for me. You would never listen to it in public, but you always catch yourself singing along to it in the car. I like the up tempo & heavier sound.  Yeah, add the guitar & remove the sax! Now, I can roll down the windows & crank it up! Well, maybe not.......but, I like this! 

4. I Will Survive - Never really liked the Gloria Gaynor version, but it was always that feel good song that you were constantly hammered with. I believe RJ's right, I'm reminded of Rocky too! (Great Movie, By The Way). Cake, is off & on for me, but I kinda like this!  

5. Send Her My Love - You better bring your A-Game, when you take on a Journey song & quite frankly, Kip Winger didn't! It you can't compete with the vocal style, you should at least change it up & make it your own. Just a bad copy of the original. Didn't work for me!

6. Baker Street - Great song! I agree with Niels, don't mess with Baker Street! With that being said, I think the Foo Fighter's pull it off nicely!  It's a good cover of a Great song!

7. Use Me - Never heard the original, but I'm sure Hootie & the Gang pretty much have the jist of it. Just not a fan of the the song. 

To be continued......

[Mike Mills]

8. Born On A Bayou - I can tolerate the original, but this version is just annoying to me.

9. Every Little Thing She Does Is Majic - This is my favorite cover of the lot! I've always been a fan of the Police & this song, but I really like the heavier version!!! The vocalist exercises a lot more versatility on the song than Sting does. While, I still Love the original, this version Rocks!!! Yeah!!! 

10. When Doves Cry - I Love the original, but this just blows!!! That's a nice way of saying, the song sucked horribly!!!  

Really Liked  1 & 9!!!

These were Good   2,3,4 & 6

These Were Not  5 & 7

These Were Wretched 8 & 10

 6 -4 in favor of the Good!!! Thanks, RJ