Pick a Classic, Rank its Covers

bob. · 09-17-2010, 05:24 PM

Down From Dover

written by Dolly Parton in the early 60's (when she ruled the world)...but her producer would not let her record it...saying no radio station would ever play a song like this and it would ruin her career.....she finally recorded it and it was released on her 1970 album 'The Fairest of Them All'.... according to Dolly this is one her most requested songs when performing live....and in my opinion is one of the greatest examples of story telling in song there is

Dolly Parton - The Fairest Of Them All - 1970

in 1972 Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood got back together and recorded their second duet album 'Nancy & Lee Again'....they recorded the first cover of this amazing song....but adding the male perspective to a horrible situation....Hazelwood's almost gruff and uncaring voice and almost monotone vocal delivery is perfect for a man who abandons his pregnant lover....and Nancy really brings forth the emotional nightmare... especially at the end when she practically breaks into tears...the light almost 'groovy' music i feel just adds to the atmosphere of the song....this version was sampled in 2004 by The Go! Team

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood - Nancy and Lee Again - 1972

in 1993 shock/noise artist Boyd Rice (NON, Wold Pact, Boyd Rice and Friends) and the beautiful Rose McDowall (Strawberry Switchblade, Current 93, Death In June, Sorrow) got together after touring Japan together and decided to create a concept band called 'Spell'...in which they both express...in their own special way...their love for old pop songs....one of the covers they did on their only album 'Season In the suN' was a cover of Nancy and Lee's duet cover of Dolly Parton's heart wrenching song.....this was the first version of this song i had ever heard.....and since Rose's voice already puts me near cloud 9....after paying attention to the lyrics i was really taken back....and thus had to hear the original(s)

Spell - Seasons In the suN - 1993

in 2008 60's pop icon Marianne Faithful released a cover album called 'Easy Come, Easy Go'...which contains all kinds of great covers from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to Morrissey to Neko Case...but it opens with a cover of Dolly's 'Down From Dover'....with her somewhat 'weathered' voice...and adding a bit or intensity to the music....this shows the haunting nature of this song....and i think also shows its lasting ability

Marianne Faithful - Easy Come Easy Go - 2008

*edit
so sorry i forgot to rank them!

Dolly Parton takes the cake and is the bees knees
Spell comes in second...mainly because i love both Boyd and Rose
Nancy & Lee in third just for their matter of fact approach at the subject
Marianne Fathful in forth...well because i could only find four covers

crushedblind · 09-17-2010, 07:29 PM

House of the Rising Sun

covers:

1. animals!

i honestly believe this performance is the rubric for musical perfection.

2. frijid pink

the darker/fuzzier versions of this song are best!

3. leadbelly

this one's kinda fun though

4. cat power

this one was between cat power/joan baez/nina simone/dolly/dylan but i've got a soft spot for chan plus it's a more interesting version

i ****ing love this song

~~Flower Child~~ · 09-17-2010, 09:33 PM

Dear bob. and crushedblind,
you two were sent from heaven. Wonderful posts. A+

VEGAN, excellent contributions. Even though seeing Hilary and Haylie Duff in a 2nd place position in this thread made my eyes bleed, you're Red Red Wine more than made up for it.

fritter · 09-17-2010, 09:49 PM

someone should probably rank covers of Helter Skelter. I'll start it by putting Motley Crue at #1. You can continue from there.

~~Flower Child~~ · 09-17-2010, 09:55 PM

by the way

Quote:

Originally Posted by crushedblind

1. animals!

i honestly believe this performance is the rubric for musical perfection.

Always have loved and agree with placing.
I don't know why but I just by listening to this song for a long time and not actually seeing the frontman, I had always pictured him to be 7 foot tall, in his 40s, and missing some teeth. I can't believe such power can come from such a pipsqueak. I'm in love with him.

Quote:

2. frijid pink

the darker/fuzzier versions of this song are best!

Loved. Thank you.

Quote:

3. leadbelly

this one's kinda fun though

Loved. Thank you.

bob. · 09-17-2010, 10:28 PM

that leadbelly version is ****ing amazing!....

and the cat power version was also great.....i have to agree with omitting Dolly....her version is somewhat cheap and way to happy

and thank you flower child

~~Flower Child~~ · 09-17-2010, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob.

that leadbelly version is ****ing amazing!....

and the cat power version was also great.....i have to agree with omitting Dolly....her version is somewhat cheap and way to happy

and thank you flower child

No problem.

Yay, this thread is picking up some steam. *ques the Orange Blossom Special*

NOBODY DO HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN. I'm doing that next.

Jedey · 09-18-2010, 08:00 AM

"Time After Time"

The Original

First it was a number 1 hit for Cyndi Lauper, co-written by Lauper and Rob Hyman of The Hooters it has become a multi genre classic.

The Best

For my money the best version is by Miles Davis from his "Your Under Arrest" album.

Second Place

"Time After Time" was recorded by Cassandra Wilson for her tribute to Miles album called "Travelling Miles".

Third Place

One of the most beautiful voices belonged to Eva Cassidy, here she is singing "Time After Time" live.

Honorable Mention

Honorable mention goes to The Hooters since one of their members co-wrote the song with Cyndi Lauper, her original version I would place in 4th or 5th place.

VEGANGELICA · 09-18-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flower Child

VEGAN, excellent contributions. Even though seeing Hilary and Haylie Duff in a 2nd place position in this thread made my eyes bleed, you're Red Red Wine more than made up for it.

Well, it was only because I thought they did better than that Heller person singing "Material Girl."

And they're just so cute!

(Now your eyes will REALLY bleed!

)

They might have improved their version of the song by growling it...but, oh well, not everyone is a good growler.

The Fascinating Turnip · 09-18-2010, 09:03 AM

Some Velvet Morning

Original version by Lee Hazzlewood and Nancy Sinatra:

Haunting and bizarre, almost circus-like. I find that the ending is a bit off, but it's a classic nonetheless.

1. Slowdive

This cover captures the essence of the song beautifully. The sound is rich and full and it's all ethereal and never ending just like shoegaze/dream pop should be.

2. Starpower

This one gets second place because they didn't get rid of that bloody ending. It was a tough call but I had to do it. The orchestral arrangements on this are spot on and it gets rather chaotic, which is amazing.

3. Primal Scream

Completely different approach. Much more hypnotizingly lustful.

4. Beloved Enemy

Apparently a German Gothic Metal band. In any case, I wasn't expecting the lad to start singing like that at all, found it a pleasant cover, rather powerful.
Let's say these last two are tied.

09-17-2010, 05:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	Down From Dover written by Dolly Parton in the early 60's (when she ruled the world)...but her producer would not let her record it...saying no radio station would ever play a song like this and it would ruin her career.....she finally recorded it and it was released on her 1970 album 'The Fairest of Them All'.... according to Dolly this is one her most requested songs when performing live....and in my opinion is one of the greatest examples of story telling in song there is Dolly Parton - The Fairest Of Them All - 1970 in 1972 Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood got back together and recorded their second duet album 'Nancy & Lee Again'....they recorded the first cover of this amazing song....but adding the male perspective to a horrible situation....Hazelwood's almost gruff and uncaring voice and almost monotone vocal delivery is perfect for a man who abandons his pregnant lover....and Nancy really brings forth the emotional nightmare... especially at the end when she practically breaks into tears...the light almost 'groovy' music i feel just adds to the atmosphere of the song....this version was sampled in 2004 by The Go! Team Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood - Nancy and Lee Again - 1972 in 1993 shock/noise artist Boyd Rice (NON, Wold Pact, Boyd Rice and Friends) and the beautiful Rose McDowall (Strawberry Switchblade, Current 93, Death In June, Sorrow) got together after touring Japan together and decided to create a concept band called 'Spell'...in which they both express...in their own special way...their love for old pop songs....one of the covers they did on their only album 'Season In the suN' was a cover of Nancy and Lee's duet cover of Dolly Parton's heart wrenching song.....this was the first version of this song i had ever heard.....and since Rose's voice already puts me near cloud 9....after paying attention to the lyrics i was really taken back....and thus had to hear the original(s) Spell - Seasons In the suN - 1993 in 2008 60's pop icon Marianne Faithful released a cover album called 'Easy Come, Easy Go'...which contains all kinds of great covers from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to Morrissey to Neko Case...but it opens with a cover of Dolly's 'Down From Dover'....with her somewhat 'weathered' voice...and adding a bit or intensity to the music....this shows the haunting nature of this song....and i think also shows its lasting ability Marianne Faithful - Easy Come Easy Go - 2008 *edit so sorry i forgot to rank them! Dolly Parton takes the cake and is the bees knees Spell comes in second...mainly because i love both Boyd and Rose Nancy & Lee in third just for their matter of fact approach at the subject Marianne Fathful in forth...well because i could only find four covers __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

09-17-2010, 07:29 PM	#12 (permalink)
crushedblind real emotional trash Join Date: May 2010 Location: midwest Posts: 78	House of the Rising Sun covers: 1. animals! i honestly believe this performance is the rubric for musical perfection. 2. frijid pink the darker/fuzzier versions of this song are best! 3. leadbelly this one's kinda fun though 4. cat power this one was between cat power/joan baez/nina simone/dolly/dylan but i've got a soft spot for chan plus it's a more interesting version i ***ing love this song __________________ gimme danger little stranger Last edited by crushedblind; 09-17-2010 at 07:50 PM.*

09-17-2010, 09:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
fritter Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 86	someone should probably rank covers of Helter Skelter. I'll start it by putting Motley Crue at #1. You can continue from there. __________________ (that weird meatball-looking thing in my avatar is an apple fritter) Some songs I made: Yo Mama Tom-Toms

09-17-2010, 10:28 PM	#16 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	that leadbelly version is ****ing amazing!.... and the cat power version was also great.....i have to agree with omitting Dolly....her version is somewhat cheap and way to happy and thank you flower child __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

09-18-2010, 08:00 AM	#18 (permalink)
Jedey Veritas vos liberabit Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Musicapolis Posts: 477	"Time After Time" The Original First it was a number 1 hit for Cyndi Lauper, co-written by Lauper and Rob Hyman of The Hooters it has become a multi genre classic. The Best For my money the best version is by Miles Davis from his "Your Under Arrest" album. Second Place "Time After Time" was recorded by Cassandra Wilson for her tribute to Miles album called "Travelling Miles". Third Place One of the most beautiful voices belonged to Eva Cassidy, here she is singing "Time After Time" live. Honorable Mention Honorable mention goes to The Hooters since one of their members co-wrote the song with Cyndi Lauper, her original version I would place in 4th or 5th place. __________________ My Tunes

09-17-2010, 09:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
~~Flower Child~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: classified Posts: 639	Dear bob. and crushedblind, you two were sent from heaven. Wonderful posts. A+ VEGAN, excellent contributions. Even though seeing Hilary and Haylie Duff in a 2nd place position in this thread made my eyes bleed, you're Red Red Wine more than made up for it.

09-18-2010, 09:03 AM	#20 (permalink)
The Fascinating Turnip Moper Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 510	Some Velvet Morning Original version by Lee Hazzlewood and Nancy Sinatra: Haunting and bizarre, almost circus-like. I find that the ending is a bit off, but it's a classic nonetheless. 1. *Slowdive* This cover captures the essence of the song beautifully. The sound is rich and full and it's all ethereal and never ending just like shoegaze/dream pop should be. 2. *Starpower* This one gets second place because they didn't get rid of that bloody ending. It was a tough call but I had to do it. The orchestral arrangements on this are spot on and it gets rather chaotic, which is amazing. 3. *Primal Scream* Completely different approach. Much more hypnotizingly lustful. 4. *Beloved Enemy* Apparently a German Gothic Metal band. In any case, I wasn't expecting the lad to start singing like that at all, found it a pleasant cover, rather powerful. Let's say these last two are tied.