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THURSDAY

'American Pie' - Mad Donna ©Kaye Adams

no words necessary

Joy Division - 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', needlessly murdered by Paul Young

Duran Duran did a whole album of cover versions of songs which influenced them including 'White Lines' by Grandmaster Flash. Don't do it indeed ☺

Left my list in the office ©Henri Hannah
More to follow ©Joe in Linlithgow

'Better' by Tom Baxter (covered by Boyzone).

Oh Rod, why ever would you think you could improve on Motown originals?

The Same Old Song - the Four Tops

and I remember hearing on the radio at work - by the time it was about halfway through I felt an overwhelming urge to hit the abs. alc. bottle.

You keep hitting that stuff you won't be able to tell your ars. from your elb.

a bugbear. I'm sure noone else cares.
Barry Manilow Could It Be Magic
whateva. The majestic wonderfulness that is Barry Manilow should never have been a vehicle for projecting an already successful BOYBAND into anywhere whilst sneeringly .... ach. I can't be bothered getting angry. It's a waste of energy. Plus, I do rather like some of Take That's efforts. Conflicted much? As if it matters.
jaded doll

I know it's a bit of a GIO favourite but...Cash + Strummer should've left 'Redemption Song' well alone...sacrilege!!!

Maybe Elton John shouldn't have let Sinead O'Connor cover 'Sacrifice' as she does a far better version!

Velvet Revolver's Bodies....

#10

But you would surely concede the Donna Summer version is the bees knees?

regardez-vous

henri

Any cover version by boy band/X factor/Pop Idol contestant should be banned.

This shouldnt work...

'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' (AC/DC) - Lesley Gore

#8 that certainly was the sort of conflict I was thinking of while my ears were being torn apart.

which reminds me, we won't be having any Christmas carols, but I know who gets my vote for worst covers album of 2010.

And Paolo, the Paisley one, not ours, please don't do Caledonia again. Leave it to Frankie, eh?

Jambalaya (On The Bayou) ~ The Carpenters

I hope nobody suggests that cover of Comfortably Numb

Daaaaaammmmmnnnn...................

Jambalaya (On The Bayou) ~ Kinky Friedman

We've got tonight / bob seger
You've got this. It's one of the three.

Badly beaten up by kenny and sheena

And finished off by ronan and lulu

A good song should stand up to varied interpretations. Bad covers don't mean that a worthwhile version is impossible - you just haven't heard it yet.

Hello.

One of my all time favourite songs is Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground. One of my favourite artists is Bob Dylan. The two don't mix.

Willie Nelson - Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground

I love love love the original (and most of his stuff), and although he did not murder it I would much rather Jamie Cullum had left the following track alone:

Jeff Buckley - Lover, You Shold've Come Over


and Bowie should not have covered his own songs, murdering the originals:

David Bowie - Cat people (Putting Out Fire) soundtrack version

Iggy Pop - China Girl

#10 good call M-D - Mandy would work too.

Born to Run - Springsteen (covered badly by Suzi Quatro)
My way - Sinatra(covered badly by Sid Vicious/Gypsy Kings etc)
Just the way you are - Billy Joel (covered badly by Barry White and others)
Good vibrations - Beach Boys (recreated by Todd Rundgren - why?)
Every time you go away - Hall and Oates (the version by George Benson and Al Jarreau makes the Paul Young version sound good)
When the stars go blue - Ryan Adams (again, the version by Bono and the Corrs (?!) almost makes the Tim McGraw version seem acceptable)
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac (covered badly by the Corrs)

Finally, unsure if this counts as a cover, but Springsteen should have steered clear of "Because the night". It pains me to say that his version falls well short of the "original" by Patti Smith.

For the avoidance of doubt: please play the originals only!

Joe
Linlithgow

'Another Brick in the Wall' ... hung, drawn and quartered by Korn

'Bye Bye Baby' ... Pinky & Perky

#26

Re: Mandy

Joe,

Where should the line be drawn? The song was a hit for Scott English when it was still titled 'Brandy' and Bunny Walters covered it before Barry.

I bet very few songs played on tonight's show will be true originals. Paolo, what odds are you giving?


P.S. Gaie was singing 'Brandy' at #7. "You kissed me and stopped me from shaking; and I need you today, oh brandy!"


>8-D

#24

I wish I had said that.

I'm liking the mini-theme of artists who covered their own songs badly as mentioned by Joe & Norrie. One person who has been both saint and sinner in this respect is Carole King, who is that rare bird, a writer who has a good voice. Not gonna mention the ones she got wrong but here's one where she was wronged in my opinion:-

I Feel The Earth Move - Carole (Yes), Martika (NOOOO)

Other annoying ones:-

Happy Together - Turtles (Please), Jason (No Thanks)

Killing Me Softly - Roberta Flack (Defo), Fugees (AAAGH)

Paul from Ayr

Sparks - 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us'. The song reached number 6 in the UK charts for British Whale (Justin Hawkins from The Darkness).

How???

I feel I must complain about the offence caused by the lack of proper screening of music played by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ before broadcasting. That Depeche Mode number was a shocker and should never have been inflicted on the listening public.

Meanwhile, please play

BRIEFCASE BOOGIE from THING–FISH by FRANK ZAPPA

I don’t know of any cover versions of this, but I’m fairly sure it should never be covered.

Marc Cohn - 'Walking In Memphis' is a great record but the Cher version is terrible.

Ellie Goulding's annihilation of Your Song must rate as the one of the worst ever crimes against music. Completely ignoring melody and chords she ploughs through it with fashionable Lily Allen glottal stops for added street-cred. Nauseating.

You just beat me to it, Glen. A robot could've done a more feeling interpretation.

Feel Like Making love - not with this guy, thank you very much - Kid Rock

making a hash of Bad Company's great song.

Warning! Serial Killer on the loose

Tonight on Crimewatch we are appealing for your help in tracking down a serial killer.

Originally believed to have been leader of a ruthless gang, he has in the last few years gone on a solo killing spree murdering any song he can get his hands on. His killing spree began in earnest in the mid 90's when along with his band of outlaws he slaughtered the Cat Stevens classic 'Father and Son'. In later years he dragged Mr Stevens now known as Mr Islam back to the scene of the crime to make sure it was really dead.

Next victim was 'Words' which had belonged to three ageing gentlemen of the music industry. With the taste of blood in their mouths they then created one of their most heinous crimes by mutilating Baby Can I Hold You the prize possession of a vulnerable female Tracy Chapman. She immediately insured her Fast Car against any unprovoked vandalism.

Seeing themselves as some kind of celebrity tough guys they let the world know that When the going gets tough the tough get going, leaving a devastated Billy Ocean in their wake as they put out their uncompromising message loud and clear. Just before the gangsters split they assassinated Randy Goodrums You needed Me. Randy had given it to Anne Murray and the outlaws had kidnapped it and left it for dead.

Just before the Millennium the leader of this bunch of Vagabonds decided to go it alone and left a trail of destruction which included
Keith Whitley's 'When you say nothing at all'
Garth Brooks 'If Tomorrow never comes'
Kenny Rogers 'She Believes in Me'
and the Goo Goo Dolss 'Iris'

During this time he teamed up with Lulu in what can best be described as a Bonnie and Clyde style attack on Bob Seger's We've got tonight.

After lying low for a couple of years he rejoined his band of outlaws to mutilate Tom Baxter's 'Better'.

This man is dangerous, do not approach.
He can strike at anytime. He is Blond mid 30's and speaks and sings with an Irish Accent.
If you treasure your originals please alert crimestoppers if you have any information as to his whereabouts.


And remember not all singers are as ruthless as he is. Sleep well and please, don't have nightmares.

OK - who is it?

Very good, Paolo - but he's not alone: here's a twosome who sing with Scottish accents. Even more ruthless, some might say. Please don't use the if you are feeling at all fragile.
Kings of Leon didn't deserve this.

When a Man Loves a Woman - one singer, one song - Percy Sledge

Jerry lee Lewis? that would be ridiculous - wouldn't it?

#31 good thinking...

I therefore propose Sailing - Sutherland Brothers. They wrote it but folk don't think it's as good as the cover

#39 I really don't know who it is.

Does anyone else think Bryan Ferry shouldn't do Bob Dylan covers or is it just me?

Appreciate it was for a good cause and all that, but Simon Cowell did REM no favours when he covered 'Everybody Hurts'. But then does Simon Cowell do anyone any favours?

Has anyone else thought on this theme and come to the conclusion that there are infact a few originals that have been improved by being covered?... (Reberta Flack doing The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face... sorry Ewan!) or (The Byrds doing Mr Tabourine Man... sorry Bob!).

Contentious? Debate inducing? I suspect so! Enough to fill two hours of GIO? Gauntlet thrown!

#44
A Grannie Knot

Tonka in gear

#41 No make it stop!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is last nights programme not available on iplayer.
Which of the many ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ compliance rules did it fall foul of apart from having Depeche mode and the Proclaimers back to back.

Some of the second half looked good and i'd quite like to hear it.

In my days playing in bands on the pub circuit in Shropshire (Hi Mike!) in the mid/late 80s, everyone just knew that you did not cover
* The Beatles - Sergeant Pepper

The only time I can ever remember anyone covering it was U2 at Live 8. And that was with Macca, so it's allowed.

Around that time, I was working Saturdays in a music shop, and we definitely had a list of songs you must not cover while trying out the axes in the shop.

So defined was this list that we actually had a sliding scale of fines posted on the wall - attempt any one of these, and you were fined.

We were firm, but fair - if you told us a (musically themed) joke and we laughed, you got money back. However, it was a point of principle amongst the staff never to laugh at any customer's joke, just reply "Very funny sir" with a deadpan face. The only one I can remember ever paying out to was
Q: What do you call someone who hangs around with musicians?
A: A drummer

I can't remember the full list (which evolved over time), but definitely on it were:
* AC/DC - Back in Black
* Beatles - Day Tripper
* Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - I Love Rock & Roll
* Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water
* Aerosmith (with or without Run DMC) - Walk this Way
* U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
* The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary
* Marillion - Kayleigh
* Marillion - Lavender for the keyboardists
* Dire Straits - Money for Nothing

But top of the list - top of any such list - was
* Led Zep - Stairway
(in fact, I think every music shop in the world has a sign up saying "No Stairway")

#20
I have about 4 covers of Comfortably Numb... I think my favourite has to be Luther Wright and the Wrongs who did a whole country version of The Wall.

#49
Glen grassed them up on the last thread. He is the first blogger to successfully moderate the show!

I'm surprised they got away with Oliver's Army the other night. Another song in the sights of the PC Brigade. (You can tell I've been following this topic, cant you?)

#44

I think Bryan Ferry does Dylan better than Dylan.
In fact I think he should re-do the whole back catalogue and the custodians of music history should erase all the originals. Thus allowing future generations and visiting aliens to better appreciate the songs.

#50

The Bee Gees with Paul Nicholas covered Sergeant Pepper in that film.

#51
Adam. you're not seriously suggesting that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ can't afford a sheet of those warning stickers that you find on the front of every modern urban /rap/r'n'b Cd ever produced.











It's r'n'b Jim but not as we know it!

its a great film and the gurl frae dennistoun is at her very best singing 'to sir with love' but what were the 10000 maniacs thinking of when they decided to cover it?
let's hear it for the lulu.

cheers frae the dale.

57 Cheap Trick do the whole Sgt. Pepper album

Unfortunately, I work Thursday evenings so will be unable to hear the show. I'd nevertheless like to dedicate the Rolf Harris version of Stairway to Heaven to all listeners.

Enjoy

DC

#58
Its the original that gets played DC. Or is that what you meant?


WHo produced last night's show?

#53 It has never mattered to me that thirty million people might think I'm wrong. The number of people who thought Hitler was right did not make him right... Why do you necessarily have to be wrong just because a few million people think you are? - FRANK ZAPPA

Adam - you are wrong, I am right.

#60

I want Roxy John to ajudicate!! :)

Last night's show is up on Listen Again. I wonder if there will be a beep......

Anybody covering Dylan is an improvement!

.....yup there is.

#63 Thank f@eck

#64 Wtf!

Suggested by my better half

Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You' flayed to within an inch of its life by Whitney Houston.

I see P. J. Proby is an another spot of bother. This is a man of huge unfulfilled talent (quiet at the back).

I suggest a theme of those performers who showed early promise which for one reason or another was never realised.

I'm sure Tiny Tim would agree

He was big in Japan

#61 Yes, I am sure he will have an unbiased opinion! Cynthia - where are you?

#46 I don't think I have ever heard him.

Think of a young Val Doonican

#67
I remember him performing on opportunity knocks in disguise singing yellow rose of Texas I think. Hughie introduced him as the man in the mask, a former star attempting a comeback who wishes to hide his identity in case he is unsuccessful.

He was unsuccessful both in the show and in concealing his identity.

Off to look for it on you tube....

na it's not there/ Shame!

'you can't hurry love' is a supreme song..........
phil 'geezer' collins......what was that all about then?


cheers frae the dale

#49 I heard some of last night's show on the iplayer. I don't quite understand it, but I feel that the GIO team have stopped acknowledging my requests. The show had about three of my shouts played last night but I got no acknowledgement for any as far as I can tell. Last night's show opener was definately one of mine and the other week I got 'Operator' played to close the show, but no acknowledgement for that either. I feel I may be holding a new record of having a show opener and show closer unacknowledged.

'Anyway', he said, shaking off delusions of persecution, cover versions fall both ways:

One of those that should never have been covered, is, of course,Say Hello Wave Goodbye by David Grey.

Finally, Bryan, an opportunity to repair the damageand finally play Soft Cell - THE 12" Version

Covers that defintately improve on the original:

'Helpless - KD Lang

Light My Fire - Clarence Carter

and, interestingly, a cover which completely revolutionisies the way you hear the track....

Elton John's I'm Still Standing - Vitamin String Quartet

absolutely fantastic - should be given out on the NHS to cheer the population up.

regardez youse

henri

Oh .. almost forgot..

I don't know who did the original but Blue Moon - Bob Dylan is epic.... and Eric and that woman with the eye patch shouldn't have messed about with Knockin On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan

regardez youse

henri

#62... a little harsh Billy.... maybe not the greatest vocal style in the history of music but ask yourself, could the world cope with lyrics of his magnitude and have them sweetly sung at the smae time...

You could be onto a theme there Billy... 'nice lyrics, shame about the voice'... Billy Bragg, Shane McGowan and Morrisey anyone??

#73

So,with this week's court appearance, he's coming up in the world.

another interesting cover mentioned by the spinmeister a few weeks ago was....'angel eyes' (abba) done by the czars........antithesis of the original


cheers frae the dale

#78

There's no one to touch him for spitting out bile on Like A Rolling Stone or Positively Fourth Street.

#62 Dylan is an acquired taste. I tend to cringe when anyone does any of his songs.

Let's limit the show to Dylan covers

Quinn the Eskimo - Manfred Mann

(Is that title PC nowadays?)

Dont Leave Me This Way - Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
(dont know if it is the original or not but its the first version I heard. Paolo?)

Its My Life - Talk Talk

Walk Away Renee - The Left Banke (Four Tops did ok, but this is better)

Wild Horses - Rolling Stones

#82

On GIO he'll be Quinn the *** Eskimo

#76 perhaps the GIO Production team are miffed at

a) lack of hand delivered, freshly baked goodies

or

b) an increase in your speyling errors

#72 Paddy got gymnastic?

#76

Dude, at least you're getting your requests *played*.

And I wouldn't boast about last night's opener as it blocked 2 far better Beatles closers:
* Good Night (closing tracks from sides 1-3 of the White Album also work very well)
* Her Majesty

Previously on the Blog..

Alloa Billy, I owe you an explanation for "The Big Match".
My memory is a bit vague but I think in the 70s there was a big box of BIG matches called The Big Match. The TV comercial showed a bloke watching football on the TV. His wife calls through from the kitchen "Where's the Big Match?" "On the telly" he says. She gives him gyp for being smart. But as it happens the box of matches is in fact sitting on top of the telly.
Something like that..

Of course, putting matches on top of a hot 1970s TV is not the cleverest thing to do, so please don't try it at home.

#76

Henri, at least you are not being credited for stuff you didn't ask for!

pp
Scotch Git

#85

Definately

#86

Goat you.

Val wanted to bring out an album like Gram Parsons' GP but the record company wouldn't allow it.

#90 you mean defintately

Indubitably

#86 Mass porn rag

No - #91

#79 Yup or at least his thirty year quest to find fame again has paid dividends

grass rap, mon

Ready Paolo?

Cross.....

#83 I woould assume so seeing as how it was written by Gamble and Huff and would therefore presume it was offered to one of their own Philly acts before a motown act.



Assime and presume in the one sentence. I'll put on my flak jacket.