If you can't improve a great song, do it differently

Recently I have been amusing myself by playing completely different versions of the same song, one being the original. For this to work, the alternative version must differ vastly from the original. This is not a 'What's the best version' thing, but listening to how a song can be really altered by someone else. Good examples are:

Bring it on home to me - Sam Cooke / Eddie Floyd

I just don't know what to do with myself - Tommy Hunt / Cissy Houston

Something you got - Alvin Robinson / Barbara George

He/She ain't gonna do right - Clarence Carter / Barbara Lynn [[Not sure who did the original)

Stand by me - Ben E King / Spyder Turner

Don't play that song - Ben E King / Aretha

I'm gonna make you love me - Dee Dee Warwick / Supremes and Temptations

60 minutes of your love/time - Homer Banks / Johnnie Taylor

Please let me in - JJ Barnes / Johnnie Taylor

Do what you gotta do - Al Wilson / Four Tops

It's all in the game - Tommy Edwards / Four Tops

Who could be loving you - Al Wilson / Jackie Ross

If You can't be true [[find a part time love) - Gene Chandler / Marva Lee

Share your love with me - Bobby Bland / Aretha

Turn on your love light - Bobby Bland / Bill Blacks combo

Lead me on - Bobby Bland / The Internationals

That's how strong my love is - OV Wright / Otis

Take me in your arms [[rock me a little while) - Kim Weston / Isley Brothers

It should have been me - Kim Weston / Yvonne Fair

Get down with it - Bobby Marchan / Little Richard

Baby what you want me to do - Jimmy Reed / Little Richard

Hoochie Coochie man - Muddy / Skip Easterling

Testify - Parliaments / Johnnie Taylor

Tell him/her - Exciters / Dean Parrish

Somebody, somewhere needs you - Darrell Banks / Ike & Tina [[original?)

Don't leave me baby - Maxine Brown / Ray Gant [[original?)

How many more years/You're going to wreck my life - Howlin' Wolf / Guitar Ray

Sick and tired - Fats Domino / Lee Perry

The Bottle - Gil Scott-Heron / Bataan

Fever - L W John / Alvin Robinson

A love like yours [[don't come knocking everyday) - Martha & the Vs / Ike & Tina

Come see about me - Supremes / Junior Walker

Cry to me - Solomon Burke / Betty Harris

Do me right - Detroit emeralds / Denise Lasalle

Dust my broom - Elmore james / Ike & Tina

Funky Broadway - Dyke & the Blazers / Wilson Pickett / Steve Cropper / Gene Dozier [[OK, I know that's just plain GREEDY ! )

I can't get next to you - Temps / Al Green

Get ready - Temps / Syl Johnson

He who picks a rose - Edwin Starr or Temps / Carstairs

I put a spell on you - Screamin Jay / Nina Simone

For your precious love - Jerry Butler / Linda Jones

You've got my mind messed up - James Carr / Quiet Elegance

Please stay - Drifters / Lou Johnson

Little red rooster - Howlin Wolf / Sam Cooke

She blew a good thing - Poets / Donald Height

Soul serenade - King Curtis / Beau Dollar

Spanish Harlem - Ben E King / Aretha

There's gonna be a showdown - Archie Bell / Rance Allen

Let the good times roll - Shirley & Lee / Bunny Sigler

Inner city blues - Marvin Gaye / Grover Washington

Walk on by - Dionne warwicke / Isaac hayes

Lead me on - Bobby Bland / The Internationals

I'm sure there must be many more, anyone got any other suggestions?

Another theme could be How to ruin a song. I'm thinking of Arthur Conleys' version of Shake Rattle and roll.

Attachment 208

"Something You Got" was sung originally by Chris Kenner. That version was quite different from Alvin Robinson's and Barbara George's.

"Somebody Else, Somewhere[[Needs You)" was produced in LA by Frank Wilson and Marc Gorden for LA's Jobete Music Office in 1965. I thought I remember seeing a listing for some Motown artist recording it. That would likely have been done before Wilson was allowed to produce it on his own for another label, or Jobete allow some other record company to have one of their artists record it. That was the standard operating procedure. Kim Weston recorded "You Hit Me [[right Where it Hurt Me)" before it was given out to Alice Clark. The Four Tops recorded "My Heart is Calling You" before H.B. Barnum was allowed to use it with The Magnificents.

Was Loma 2015 released before Revilot 203? I bought both new, but don't remember what order. I guess Ike & Tina's came out in late 1965, and Darrell Banks' in early 1966, but not sure. I wonder who Wilson would have used, at Jobete Music, to sing the demo? Brenda or Patrice Holloway? Gloria Jones? Mary Love? Sandy Wynns? His wife, Barbara Wilson, The Vows, Willie Hutch, Frank, Himself? I would guess the latter.

What about the ORIGINAL artist singing the song in a very different way? Jackie Wilson re-recorded "Lonely Teardrops" as a ballad in 1965. I seem to remember quite a few songs that were sung first as ballads or up-tempos, and later recorded in the reverse style. One of the most drastic was the beautiful ballad, "Unchained Melody", sung in a racing uptempo version, by Vito and The Salutations.

robb_k:
Thanks for correcting me on 'Something you got'. I also should have put his 'Land of 1,000 dances' against Wilson Picketts.
To confuse matters further on 'Somebody somewhere needs you', the same backing track that was used on the Ike & Tina version also turned up on 'Go for yourself' by Larry laster and 'Lighten up baby' by Ty Karim.

Thats a good list keith.

RESPECT - Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin

It's interesting how many times Ree shows up on your list. Never thought about it before but it could be said she is the ultimate artist in being able to sing/interpret a song, turn it left, right and upside down, and make it different.:)

Ms m: How could I have left out 'Respect [[or R-E-S-P-E-C-T). Apparently Otis said 'That girl has taken my song and made it her own'. You're right, she did put a great interpretation on other peoples songs, I am thinking how she made 'Don't play that song' her own. However, it pains me to say I think she made a bad job of 'Son of a preacher man'.
Someone else that did a great job on other artists songs was Nina Simone. I adore her take on 'To love somebody'.

Smokey's quote, "I wrote the song. I THOUGHT I sung it" commenting on Michael Jackson's remake of Who's Loving You is priceless.

Some other nice two fers:

We Can Work It Out - The Beatles/Steve Wonder
Kiss - Prince/Tom Jones
How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore - Prince/Alicia Keys
Nothing Compares To You - The Family/Sinead O'Connor
Walk Like An Egyptian - The Bangles/The Puppini Sisters
In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins/Naturally7
I'll Be Good To You - The Brothers Johnson/Quincy Jones
Mothership Connection - P-Funk/Stanley Clarke
Que Sera, Sera - Doris Day/ Sly and the Family Stone
Lady Madonna - The Beatles/Lenny White
Ticket To Ride - The Beatles/Natalie Cole
Get Ready - The Temptations/ Carl Allen & Rodney Whitaker

Keith H I like her version of Preacher man but I'm quite partial to anything Ree does and I agree about Nina Simonne...she's is another that could turn a song around to make it hers


LOL....I liked that Smokie quote too Chi...MJ really did steal that one away....LOL

Que Sera, Sera....Sly all the way...after I heard that version...who was Doris Day?:)

Attachment 261

Cathy's Clown-Everly Bros. - Ideals
Eleanor Rigby-Beatles - Ray Charles
The White Cliffs of Dover - Vera Lynn - Checkers - Five Keys - Robins
Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland - Checkers - Del-Vikings
White Christmas - Bing Crosby - Drifters - Ravens
The Whiffenpoof Song - Yale University Chorus - Delta Rhythm Boys
Willow Weep For Me - Billie Holliday - Barons - Chad & Jeremy

"I heard it through the grapevine" Smokey-Gladys-Marvin.

Oh, and also the Temptations, Undisputed Truth, and one of the best, Bobby Taylor.

Well, since no one else is saying it, how about Bettye LaVette?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drTjTE8MCBUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tOpwgrqshU&NR=1&feature=fvwp


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKtURqCt-JQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Bd5-APPBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M1JJ8fAXHohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN86d0CdgHQ

And speaking of I Wanna Testify, Parliament redone that in 74. Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones also has a version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-OZ-M2y0Aohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CndE0ICqsos
Also Graham Central Station did 2 great cover songs that imho is better than original,
Detroit Emerald's Feel The Need & Ann Peebles' I Can't Stand The Rain

"To Love Somebody" was mentioned before...there are also nice reinterpretations of that by James Carr and the Sweet Inspirations.

Here's another one..."Chain of Fools"--The Goodtimers/Aretha Franklin/Ron Wood [[great version on the Don Covay tribute CD)/Graham Parker/Joe Cocker

Best,

Mark

I have no problems with an artist reworking a classic song but just do it tastfully...remember some years ago the remake of[my girl]sacrilege...some years ago i wanted to do a remake of the garnett mims classic[a quiet place]but with very few changes,you have to be careful with classics!

Stop! In The Name Of Love - Supremes / Kim Weston
Soul Serenade - King Kurtis / Willie Mitchell

:)

My personal favorite:

We Can Work It Out - The Beatles / Stevie Wonder

Beatles tune is great, Stevie's version is astounding.

Yesterday - The Beatles / Marvin Gaye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwS_YDzxH3M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LVKGNEPnOE

Marvin put so much feeling into this song.

I thought Ruby Turners rendition of Joplins "A Woman Left Lonely" was sublime.

"How Sweet It Is"--Marvin Gaye/Junior Walker/ James Taylor

Best,

Mark

Diana's Mountain and Tammi and Marvin's Mountain

I've collected many covers of my favorite tunes over the years, but there are two that stand out to me as extraordinary. And as an additional challenge, both are covers of well-known Motown songs:

Esther Phillips - Baby I'm For Real [[The Originals)

Johnny Adams - I Wish It Would Rain [[The Temptations)

The original vers will be the last vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ_TmZPJ6Hkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIngFpoX-dI
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF-ofT4wAO8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjuJpdJ8mrI
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGoHiWhWoo8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBHeao4lD_U
************************************************** *****

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFYxItEmwE0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4hXyALR9vI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5yKn9y83Ic

************************************************** *****
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9p-xWBz7NIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE36J1lC9iM
************************************************** **************

R-E-S-P-E-C-T - Otis Redding/Aretha Franklin/The Rotary Connection

As different as Aretha's was from Otis' version, the version by The Rotary Connection was even more drastically different from both. Aretha took Otis' 4 on-on-the-floor stomper, slowed it down, funked it up & created the standard by which all will be compared.

Where Aretha slowed it down, Minnie & The Rotary Connection R-E-A-L-L-Y slowed it down, changing it into a smoldering psychedelic funk cut. I didn't hear their version until more than 3 decades later. As different as it is, I like it. For me, their version follows Aretha's as my next favorite version of the song.

I also have to add both versions of "Sincerely" by The Moonglows.

Talk about a group doing a totally different remake of their own song. Of course, the remake came nearly 20 years after the original & of course, Soul & Funk music were the thing. Either way, I love both versions & have more fondness for the remake, as it was recorded during my time & showed the funky side of The Flamingos.

"Any Other Way" - Chuck Jackson/Jackie Shane/????

The first 2 versions were very MORish, but about 15 years ago, I heard a very funky version of this song on Felix Hernandez' "Rhythm Review". I didn't hear him mention who made it & no one whom I know seems to know what I'm talking about, but this version was one funky jam & for me, far outpaces the versions by Jackson & Shane.

James Brown - "Give It Up [[Or 'Turnit Loose)"/"Give It Up [[Or 'Turnit Loose) Live" from the "Sex Machine Live" LP.

Same song, totally different arrangement & when James drops in the "clap your hands...stomp your feet...in the jungle bruh...", calls on Clyde to lay down some NAAASTY drum licks & then Bootsy to hit that bass...WHEW!!!

I love both versions, especially the simplicity & funk of the original [[errors & all..."start it over again" & "NO, NO...no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no"), but the remake was totally amped-up & the energy was ridiculous!

"Gone Away" - The Impressions/Roberta Flack
"You Turned My Whole World Around" - Barry White/Black Ivory Fea. Diane Ransom
"Look Over Your Shoulder" - The Implements/The O'Jays/The Escorts [[The Escorts in a slaughter!!!)
"I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow" - The O'Jays/The Escorts [[The Escorts in another slaughter!!!)
"Can't Stay Away From You" - The Fascinations/The Impressions [[The Impressions are just too damn tough on this one!)
"Nadine" - The Coronets/The Dells [[Give me The Dells on this one!)

"Let's Get Together Soon" renamed "I Hope That We Can Be Together" - Dusty Springfield/Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes [[No contest, but it's interesting to hear the original by Dusty)

"Keep Growing Strong" renamed "Betcha By Golly Wow" - Connie Francis/The Stylistics [[Ditto!)

"Ooh Baby Baby" - The Miracles/The Fuzz/The Escorts/Linda Ronstadt [[NOBODY, but NOBODY beats The Miracles on this one, but The Escorts are a close runner-up!)

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" - Stevie Wonder/Peter Frampton [[Don't EVEN bother to ask!!)
"Be My Girl" - Michael Henderson/The Dramatics [[Two names L.J. & Ron...nuff said!!!)
"You're No Good" - Betty Everett/Linda Rondstadt
"Hound Dog" - Big Mama Thornton/Elvis Presley [[Sorry folks, but as far as I'm concerned, Big Mama takes this one!)
"How Sweet It Is" - Marvin Gaye/James Taylor [[See Wonder/Frampton!)
"Grazin' In The Grass" - Hugh Masekela/Friends Of Distinction [[Both are great, but F.O.D. wins this one!)
"Heat Wave" - Martha & The Vandellas/Linda Rondstadt [[One question...WHY?!?!?)
"Please Mr. Postman" - Martha & The Vandellas/The Carpenters [[DITTO!!!)

For some original artist remakes & the 1st 2 are a little bit of a cheat, but...

"Dancing In The Streets" remade as "Skating In The Streets" - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas/Martha Reeves [[I love Martha, but DOUBLE DITTO!)
"For Your Precious Love"/"For Your Precious Love [[Live)" - The Impressions/Jerry Butler [[Jerry's live version was a monster!)

"Have You Seen Her" - The Chi-Lites [[Their 1981 version never should've happened!!)
"Rainbow"/"Rainbow '65"/Rainbow '80" - Gene Chandler [[The original version was off-the-chain. but the crowd interaction & Gene's interplay simply raises this one a few notches above)

And the candidates for the best "Remake Of Our Own Recording"...

"Stay In My Corner" & "Oh What A Nite/Night" - The Dells

I recently discovered a Stax CD titled "Soulsville Sings Hitsville" ,A Stax CD from 2008. On it there is an 12 min ,unreleased track from 1973 that's a radical reworked version of Marvin's "Grapevine" recorded by The Bar-Kays. Unique ,to say the least. It sounds like something Norman would have done with The Undisputed Truth. In fact ,after the 2nd or third time I played it ,I wondered how it would have sounded by The Undisputed Truth. The CD is worth searching out. I found mine ,[[a cut -out) ,in a $1.00 store ,though it cost me $2.99. On Amazon ,they run for $5.00.

Pshark Mother's Finest and their version of Mickey's Monkey use to blow the roof off the clubs in the ATL [[before they hit prime time) Love myself some MF:)

Looking through the list and it seems we have missed another obvious tune

Stand By Me
Ben E King, Spykie [[Spyder Turner), Club Nouveau and the list goes on

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

Speaking of...[fever]i'm surprised that nobody mentioned[bobby blue bland's]excellent rendition!

Oh yeah, I like Smokey's vers, but Mothers Finest took it to
a whole nother level! Who would ever thought of doing a hard rock
vers? They got some great pics on their site http://www.mothersfinest.com/flash.html

And as for Club Nouveau, it was LEAN ON ME, not STAND BY ME. But at least you got the ME part right:D
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xreat_club-nouveau-lean-on-me_music

Here's a couple of more STAND BY ME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4_ghOG9JQM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM

oopsies, you are correct, Lean not Stand, my bad....LOL