COVERED BY THE BEATLES VOL.1 - PT.1

I was thinking it might be fun to commemorate the Beatles first arrival in America on Feb.7, 1964 somehow.
Plus I have long been thinking of doing an "every now and then" series based on songs originally done by other artists that were recorded by them, or as it is more commonly known, Covered By The Beatles.
Seemed like this would be a great time to start, so here is Volume One.
Now I initially thought I would simply pull out the first Beatle album, Please Please Me, and just take them as they appear, and then the next album, and the next...
But as I started to do that, I realized I could and should go back even BEFORE that debut album.
So that's what you will hear for openers.
This will hopefully be educational as well as a treat for you, as it was for me, because in some cases you have likely never heard the originals.
So I invite you to join me for the Maiden Voyage of Covered By The Beatles.
I do believe this is gonna be fun!

Here's the link back to those thoroughly enjoyable Beatlemania days and beyond, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1930

Mike

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Comment by Mike Pell on February 2, 2011 at 1:30pm: RJ,

I have had that idea for covers/originals for many years, yet I knew I would HAVE to start with the Beatles.

So we are thinking alike- there was no other way!

When I am done with The Fab Four, you will hear originals for songs you never would imagine!

As I told Niels, I am a huge Beatles fan, The Greatest Group That Ever Existed.

But don't feel bad, I WANTED people to compare and decide which song, the cover or the original, they liked best.

I meant to say it and forgot, and I meant to write and forgot, lol!

Gotta remember to put it in there later tonight.

Plus for the most part, I myself prefer the originals.

That'll Be The Day - it's Buddy Holly and The Crickets, no contest.

Ain't She Sweet - agreed, the Beatles version is definitely better.
Anna - It is very close, but I'll take Arthur Alexander's version by a nose.

Chains - I go with The Cookies version, again not by much.

Boys - easiest one for me, the Shirelles, and it was a B-side, proving the lads were as poor as me as a kid- had to give that other side a few spins to get your money's worth, lol!

The Beatles kept the title but did change some of the lyrics to make it work for them.

Glad you liked it, it is a good idea that finally got it's time, and I can go a pretty long ways with it, even after the Beatles.

Thanks for the comments, the listen, and most of all enjoying the listen, lol,

Mike

Comment by Mike Pell on February 2, 2011 at 1:01pm: Niels,

I am a huge Beatles fan, The Greatest Group That Ever Existed, but I have friends that are bigger and I may talk about them as the series goes along.

And I agree, for the most part I prefer the originals.

By the way, I am playing the aurally superior re-mastered Beatles tracks, so please give a closer listen as they do make a difference.

Yeah, Lennon could rip it, and later tonight you can hear him literally rip up his voice.

Two of the best singers ever, and two other fantastic contributors.

The sum was greater than the parts.

Thanks for the listen and the thoughts,

Mike

Comment by RJhog (Admin) on February 2, 2011 at 9:45am: What a great idea for a show Mike. This same idea would work great for covers in general, but The Beatles are definitely a great place to start. As you know, I don't necessarily think The Beatles hung the moon, but I still have great appreciation for their work. So I'm gonna make everybody mad and say which song, the cover or the original, I like best.

That'll Be The Day - I actually like Buddy Holly and The Crickets version a little better, but not by much. Honestly, I'm not that big a fan of that song in general.

Ain't She Sweet - The Beatles version is definitely better here.

Anna (Go With Him) - This is very close. I'll say the Beatles, but A. Alexander's version is really good as well.

Chains - This would be my favorite of the bunch, and it's The Beatles by another small margin. I'm surprised at how much I like The Cookies version. Great vocals either way.

Boys - I like the Shirells (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) version better. It makes so much more sense when it's done by females. I'm surprised that The Beatles didn't change it to Girls, but what do I know? I can answer that, not much.

Great show Mike, I really love this idea.

Comment by Niels (Mod) on February 2, 2011 at 9:33am: I enjoyed listening to the show. Even though, I'm a Beatles-fan, and I've heard the songs many times before, it struck me, that the "original" versions was far better versions, but okay, "The Quarrymen" was only around 15 years old at the time of the Buddy Holly-cover, so that's "understanderble". But again, also what a great singer, Lennon was. Phew, two of the best singers ever, in the same band, Lennon & McCartney.