White Singers Covering Soul Songs

[texassoul]

I am putting together a playlist of songs that are covers of soul songs by white artists, i.e Joan Osborne covering "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted", Marc Broussard covering "Take Me To The River", etc. Any help would be appreciated, but I'm only interested in the the soulful, well-done covers, not the disasters!!

[theboyfromxtown]

The Beatles - Money
The Beatles - Please Mr Postman
The Beatles - You Really Got A Hold On Me
Lulu - Shout

[soulster]

There are tons of them! here's a few off the top of my head:

The Locomotion - Grand Funk
Some Kind Of Wonderful - Grand Funk
You Are So beautiful - Joe Cocker
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
You're No Good - Van Halen
Dancing In The Streets - Van Halen
Shop Around - The Captain & Tennille
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
You Can't Hurry Love - Phil Collins
Nathan Jones - Bananarama
Money [[That's What I Want) - The Flying Lizards
Gypsy Woman - Brian Hyland
How Sweet It Is [[To Be Loved By You) - Marvin Gaye
Oh Baby Baby - Linda Ronstadt
Tell It Like It Is - Heart
Hurts So Bad - The Lettermen
Hurts So Bad - Linda Rondstat
What's Going On - Cyndi Lauper
Mercy Mercy Me [[The Ecology) - Robert Palmer
I Didn't Mean To Turn You On - Robert Palmer
I Don't Know Why I Love You - Rolling Stones
Ain't Too Proud To Beg - Rolling Stones

[Kamasu_Jr]

Please check out the Dusty Springfield catalog of songs and take your pick from songs like: Take Another Little Piece of My Heart, I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face, etc.

Also...
I Believe You-The Carpenters
Oh Me Oh My [[I'm A Fool For You, Baby)- Lulu: Technically, I think Lulu might have recorded this first before Aretha. But as theboyfromcrosstown said, Lulu also covered Shout, which was done by the Isley Brothers.
Baby, I Need Your Loving- Johnny Rivers
More Love - Kim Carnes
Work To Do - Average White Band
Helpless; Where Did Our Love Go - Manhattan Transfer
While You're Out Looking For Sugar - Joss Stone
Love Makes A Woman; Shakey Ground - Phoebe Snow
Wherever I Lay My Hat - Paul Young

[smark21]

I would add versions of “Take Me to the River” by Talking Heads and by Annie Lennox.

[Jerry Oz]

Don't know why, but this was the first one that came to mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTcu7MCtuTs

[manny]

"Turn Off The Lights" - La India
"Don't Leave Me This Way" - Communards

[imnokid]

Tom Jones has many

[Jerry Oz]

Tom Jones has many
"Kiss" was hilarious.

[texassoul]

This is what I'm talking about!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA0GcXV2njY&list=FLle-DcLe9E4a0di-zUklYgA&index=556&feature=plpp_video

[Boogiedown]

This is what I'm talking about!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA0GcXV2njY&list=FLle-DcLe9E4a0di-zUklYgA&index=556&feature=plpp_video

I don't think you can top that .

[Nothing But Soul]

"Respectable" - The Outsiders [[originally the by Isley Brothers)
"Time Is On My Side" and "It's All Over Now" - The Rolling Stones [[originally by Irma Thomas and by the Valentinos [[the Womack Brothers), respectively)
"Hang On Sloopy" - The McCoys [[originally by the Vibrations as "My Girl Sloopy")
"Piece of My Heart" - Big Brother & the Holding Company [[originally by Erma Franklin)
"Good Lovin" -The Young Rascals [[originally by the Olympics)
"Lookin' For A Love" - The J. Geils Band [[originally by the Valentinos--later redone again by Bobby Womack)
"You've Made Me So Very Happy" - Blood, Sweat and Tears [[originally by Brenda Holloway)
"Take Me In Your Arms [[Rock Me)" and "Little Darling [[I Need You) - The Doobie Brothers [[originally by Kim Weston and by Marvin Gaye, respectively)
"I Thank You " - ZZ Top [[originally Sam & Dave)
"Wrap It Up" - The Fabulous Thunderbirds [[originally Sam & Dave)
"How Sweet It Is"; "Woman's Gotta Have It" and "Handy Man" - James Taylor [[originally by Marvin Gaye, Bobby Womack and Jimmy Jones, respectively)
"Trying To Live My Life Without You" - Bob Seger [[originally by Otis Clay)

[splanky]

There are a number of things in this thread that are a bit confusing to me. First I'll say to Kam
though I like your list and you're right about Lulu, I'm not sure if I'd include AWB or Joss Stone because neither came from outside of the genres, funk and soul , as Joan Osbourne
did coming from pop rock to Motown. The inside joke of AWB is that they though white were an above average funk/soul [[read black music) band and Joss was singing soul from the
git. By the same token I wouldn't have considered Teena Marie singing Ooo Baby Baby as
going outside of her norm to cover a soul song...
That said, @ manny, I never thought of Puerto Rican India as white and I doubt she thinks of herself that way...
Finally, @ soulster, my man....
How the heck did Marvin Gaye make your list? .....You're going to have to explain that one to me...

[manny]

Janis Joplin covered "Cry Baby", originally by Garnett Mims & The Enchanters.

Elvis Presley covered "Only The Strong Survive", originally by Jerry Butler.

Charanga'76 covered McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" [[as "No nos pararán")

Most recently, Michael Buble covered "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine", originally by Lou Rawls and "Me & Ms. Jones" originally by Billy Paul.

[manny]

Hi, dear Spankly

You're right; I have been seen the picks I have by India [[in the booklet of Masters At Work's "Nuyorican Soul" CD) and she looks as a little black, a little white, "mestiza" or "mulata" [[??) ... i'm feel some stupid writing about this... but that is the topic of this thread... she is anyway a beautiful WOMAN with a soulful voice and her approach to Teddy's song is from her background as salsa / house - latin singer.

[splanky]

Hi, dear Spankly

You're right; I have been seen the picks I have by India [[in the booklet of Masters At Work's "Nuyorican Soul" CD) and she looks as a little black, a little white, "mestiza" or "mulata" [[??) ... i'm feel some stupid writing about this... but that is the topic of this thread... she is anyway a beautiful WOMAN with a soulful voice and her approach to Teddy's song is from her background as salsa / house - latin singer.

Don't feel stupd, feel mistaken as we all are at times. I thought both Phoebe Snow and Bertha "Oh My Angel" Tillman were black once upon a
time, Phoebe even after I saw her picture, I just thought she was very light
skinned like my godmother who could pass for white if she wanted to...

[Ngroove]

Elvis Presley - Hound Dog

The entire Laura Nyro's "It's Gonna Take A Miracle" album - with some of the covers, in my opinion, even better than the originals.

[floyjoy678]

Phil Collins did an album a couple years ago of a bunch of Motown covers including "Love is Like A Heatwave", "In My Lonely Room", "Uptight", "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and some other non-Motown songs like "Do I Love You"[[Ronettes).

[Kamasu_Jr]

Splank, I thought the original poster literally meant white singers covering soul music- period. It didn't specifically say that they had to come from the pop or rock genres. That's why I included Joss Stone and AWB.

[soulster]

Finally, @ soulster, my man....
How the heck did Marvin Gaye make your list? .....You're going to have to explain that one to me...

Oops! I meant to type James Taylor. Shall I fix that post before it's too late?

[phil]

Don't know why, but this was the first one that came to mind:

For me it was this one :


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZe9OtFNt_8

[jack020]

Paul Young was the nexus at which British blue-eyed soul met 1980s synth-pop production. The result was a string of glorious hits, including the chart-topper, "Every Time You Go Away". Young was most convincing as a covers artist: his supple tenor, aided by smart, up-to-date arrangements, revived such worthy tracks as the Chi-Lites' "Oh Girl" and Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat [[That's My Home)".

[splanky]

Okay, Kam, maybe I misunderstood the intent of the original post.
Soulster, I got you, James Taylor did really nice impersonations of Marvin's adlibs too as I
think I've mentioned before...
jack020, Paul Young was good, whatever happened to him?...

[imnokid]

I can highly recommend you seeking out and hearing all of these.
You should be able to find/hear all of these on Youtube

The Faces
If Loving You Is Wrong[[I Don't Want To Be Right)
I Wish It Would Rain
Too Much Woman For A Henpecked Mn

Rod Stewart solo
Bring It On Home To Me/You Send Me
[[I Know I'm) Losing You
I'd Rather Go Blind
[[If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right
It's All Over Now
Oh! No, Not My Baby
People Get Ready
This Old Heart Of Mine
To Love Somebody
Twistin' The Night Away
You Keep Me Hangin' On
[[You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Man [[Alternate)
You're My Girl [[I Don't Want To Discuss It)

And the GREAT Scottish soul singer: Frankie Miller
Stubborn Kinda Fella
Goodnight Sweetheart
Love Letters
With You In Mind
Cry To Me
If You Need Me
Play Something Sweet [[Brickyard Blues)
Shakey Ground
Something About You
When Something Is Wrong With My Baby

[imnokid]

I forgot to post the 2 articles I did on this subject for Sir Shambling's website.
The links to the songs can be downloaded and will fit on one CD.
http://www.sirshambling.com/articles/kevin_2/index.php

http://www.sirshambling.com/articles/roots/index.php

And of course, John's article on the subject.
http://www.sirshambling.com/articles/blue_eyed_soul/index.php

[mr soul]

This is one of my favourites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6TiL7hgzb8&feature=related

[Doug-Morgan]

Theme from Shaft -- Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlMT-oEIQuo

[Doug-Morgan]

But seriously folks, I've always like The Lovemonders' [[Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart) version of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone".


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qAkVQeJzt0

When Ann and Nancy were the "special guest artists" at the Funk Brother's Seattle Concert a few years ago, I was very irritated that they did not do this.

There is a very good acoustic version that the sisters put out during the Unplugged "craze" of the mid 90's. If you can find that EP, could you post it on You Tube?

[splanky]

Never heard Ann and Nancy Wilson sing Papa ...until today, Doug. Thanks for posting that
and you know I always get a kick outta the Ukelele Orchestra....

[Ms Flo]

I find it interesting that no one here mentioned Michael McDonald, who is the epitomy of blue-eyed soul in my opinion. He covered the Stylistics You Are Everything and Stop Look Listen on his two CDs for Motown. These CDs include many covers by the Motown soul artists.

[smark21]

Thanks for the Lovemongers’ clip. Ann Wilson has one of the best voices in the business, bar none. I wish she would dive more into soul type singing as she has the goods. There are a couple of Heart songs in which Ann sang more in the R and B vein rather than rock, such as “Straight On”, “Even It Up” and “Tell it Like it is”.

[texassoul]

I find it interesting that no one here mentioned Michael McDonald, who is the epitomy of blue-eyed soul in my opinion. He covered the Stylistics You Are Everything and Stop Look Listen on his two CDs for Motown. These CDs include many covers by the Motown soul artists.

Yes, yes, yes!

[vcq]

Human Nature? They have several Motown cover albums; their third Motown album "Get Ready" features guest appearances by Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, and Martha Reeves.

http://www.humannaturelive.com/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evskwHR12UU

[mark speck]

"Since I Lost My Baby"--The Outsiders
"You're Welcome, Stop On By"--Paul Young
"Sadie"--James Taylor
"Time Is On My Side"--The Rolling Stones
"Hitch Hike"--The Rolling Stones
"Pain In My Heart"--The Rolling Stones
"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love"--The Rolling Stones
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg"--The Rolling Stones
"Please, Please, Please"--The Who
"Dancing In the Street"--The Kinks
"Someday We're Gonna Love Again"--The Searchers
"Shake"--The Small Faces
"Can I Get a Witness"--Lee Michaels

Best,

Mark

[manny]

Many time ago I heard this nice mix acapella in honor to Gamble & Huff and finally I have found it again [[I don't remembered the name of the vocal group):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eu5AddNBak

Enjoy it!

[Kamasu_Jr]

I liked Bobbie Gentry's version of He Made A Woman Out of Me. I think it suited her better. She sounded more authentic maybe because she was from the south - Mississippi.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0IB7y3TmyU

[jsmith]

Just about every UK pop [[beat) group did covers of US soul / R&B tracks from the early 60's.
If they didn't have an 'in-house' writer [[& most didn't) they would just watch the US charts and cut a quick cover of a new soul artist's track that was just breakin in the US.
That's how the likes of the Moody Blues, Stones, Searchers, Hollies, Hermans Hermits, Amen Corner, Mindbenders, Tremeloes and the like got started.
The solo singers [[Dusty, Lulu, Cilla Black, Billy J Kramer, Sandi Shore, etc weren't far behind either.

[marv2]

Rita Coolidge's version of Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher"....great job!

[Doug-Morgan]

Speaking of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", I was putting a blog together about "Live From Daryl's House", and ran across this really nice version by Daryl Hall with Train.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xorg5SkKvU

[mark speck]

Don't know if this one was mentioned..."Nobody But Me" by the Human Beinz.

Best,

Mark