[REMOVE ADS]




Results 1 to 30 of 30
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    133
    Rep Power
    168

    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.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    14,979
    Rep Power
    402
    Name:  av-5.jpg
Views: 821
Size:  21.1 KB

    "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.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    133
    Rep Power
    168
    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.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,758
    Rep Power
    197
    Thats a good list keith.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    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.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    133
    Rep Power
    168
    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'.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    4,303
    Rep Power
    210
    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

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    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?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    14,979
    Rep Power
    402
    Name:  av-5.jpg
Views: 739
Size:  21.1 KB

    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
    Last edited by robb_k; 08-11-2010 at 12:05 AM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,282
    Rep Power
    189
    "I heard it through the grapevine" Smokey-Gladys-Marvin.

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

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    634
    Rep Power
    179
    Well, since no one else is saying it, how about Bettye LaVette?

  12. #12
    pshark Guest







    And speaking of I Wanna Testify, Parliament redone that in 74. Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones also has a version

    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

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,127
    Rep Power
    184
    "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

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,756
    Rep Power
    184
    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!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    927
    Rep Power
    176
    Stop! In The Name Of Love - Supremes / Kim Weston
    Soul Serenade - King Kurtis / Willie Mitchell


  16. #16
    My personal favorite:

    We Can Work It Out - The Beatles / Stevie Wonder

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

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,661
    Rep Power
    241
    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.
    Last edited by rovereab; 08-16-2010 at 01:36 PM.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,758
    Rep Power
    197
    I thought Ruby Turners rendition of Joplins "A Woman Left Lonely" was sublime.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,127
    Rep Power
    184
    "How Sweet It Is"--Marvin Gaye/Junior Walker/ James Taylor

    Best,

    Mark

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    21,797
    Rep Power
    460
    Diana's Mountain and Tammi and Marvin's Mountain

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,162
    Rep Power
    178
    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)

  22. #22
    pshark Guest
    The original vers will be the last vid.

    ************************************************** **************


    ************************************************** **************


    ************************************************** *****





    ************************************************** *****

    ************************************************** **************

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    15,830
    Rep Power
    326
    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.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    15,830
    Rep Power
    326
    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!

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    15,830
    Rep Power
    326
    "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
    Last edited by juicefree20; 08-17-2010 at 09:22 PM. Reason: rearranged a few items

  26. #26
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    3,768
    Rep Power
    204
    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.

  27. #27
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    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


  28. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,756
    Rep Power
    184
    Speaking of...[fever]i'm surprised that nobody mentioned[bobby blue bland's]excellent rendition!

  29. #29
    pshark Guest
    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


    Here's a couple of more STAND BY ME


  30. #30
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    16,025
    Rep Power
    352
    oopsies, you are correct, Lean not Stand, my bad....LOL

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

[REMOVE ADS]

Ralph Terrana
MODERATOR

Welcome to Soulful Detroit! Kindly Consider Turning Off Your Ad BlockingX
Soulful Detroit is a free service that relies on revenue from ad display [regrettably] and donations. We notice that you are using an ad-blocking program that prevents us from earning revenue during your visit.
Ads are REMOVED for Members who donate to Soulful Detroit. [You must be logged in for ads to disappear]
DONATE HERE »
And have Ads removed.