Superior Motown Covers By Non Motown Artists

[McMotown]

Not a bad cover by George Michael and Mary J Blige cover of Stevie’s As, but Stevie still has it for me.
RanRan this is so hard, but I’m glad you did not start a thread the worst covers of a Motown single as I would be having nightmares.

[phil]

Joan Osborne -"What Becomes of the Broken Hearted"

That was my first idea, marv !

Also, I love "I wish it would rain", by David Sea. Though, a great song is a great song, there're so many covers showing the richness of the Motown catalog.

[RanRan79]

She can sing the label on a can of sardines and make you melt. I tell everyone that the last voices I want playing at my journey's end here on Earth are hers, Patti Austin's and Minnie Riperton's.

That's quite a list Sansradio. I'm not really a fan of Minnie's, but Patti Austin is a beast. And she's still killing it. That's three great voices you've chosen to sing you out of here.

[RanRan79]

Yes, Dianne is a true vocalist and stylist. Listen to how she weaves in and out of the lyrics giving them her own feel. I loved her "Better Days" recording.

"Better Days" is one of my favorite songs.

[RanRan79]

I’m glad you did not start a thread the worst covers of a Motown single as I would be having nightmares.

No doubt that would be a much longer thread. Lol

[marv2]

That was my first idea, marv !

Also, I love "I wish it would rain", by David Sea. Though, a great song is a great song, there're so many covers showing the richness of the Motown catalog.

Phil, she touched a lot of people and helped the Funk Bros. receive some much deserved recognition with her version. I saw her with the Funks supporting Mary Wilson in Riverhead NY. She was great. David Sea is almost a "Temptation" very good singer.

[marv2]

"Better Days" is one of my favorite songs.

Always makes me think of my Grandma.

[copley]

Merrilee Rush's version of 'Reach Out I'll Be There' is IMHO far better than the Four Tops original. As is 'My Whole World Ended [[The Moment You Left Me)' by Kimberly Briggs [[aka Kim Tolliver). Likewise Linda Ronstadt's version of 'Tracks Of My Tears' is the only one I like!

There's lots of great covers that are just as good like the aforementioned ones by Joan Osborne & Laura Nyro. Doris Duke's 'Love Is Here And Now Your Gone' is breathtaking. Grace Jones, Massive Attack & Ella Fitzgerald do amazing versions of 'The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game'. Love Soft Cell's 'Where Did Our Love Go'. Margie Joseph also did a killer version of 'My World Is Empty Without You' as did Marsha Hunt. These are just a few but there are lots more.

[Luciano]

Two that I really like are:

Never Can Say Goodbye - Isaac Hayes
You Keep Me Hanging On - Aretha

[marv2]

Merrilee Rush's version of 'Reach Out I'll Be There' is IMHO far better than the Four Tops original. As is 'My Whole World Ended [[The Moment You Left Me)' by Kimberly Briggs [[aka Kim Tolliver). Likewise Linda Ronstadt's version of 'Tracks Of My Tears' is the only one I like!

There's lots of great covers that are just as good like the aforementioned ones by Joan Osborne & Laura Nyro. Doris Duke's 'Love Is Here And Now Your Gone' is breathtaking. Grace Jones, Massive Attack & Ella Fitzgerald do amazing versions of 'The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game'. Love Soft Cell's 'Where Did Our Love Go'. Margie Joseph also did a killer version of 'My World Is Empty Without You' as did Marsha Hunt. These are just a few but there are lots more.

No! Claude Francois' version was the best in the history of the planet! LOL!

[marv2]

Two that I really like are:

Never Can Say Goodbye - Isaac Hayes
You Keep Me Hanging On - Aretha

i definitely like Isasc Hayes version of "Never Can Say Goodbye".

[Ozmo]

One cover version that I definitely prefer is Ike and Tina Turner's version of the Martha and the Vandellas track 'A Love Like Yours Don't Come Knocking'.

I like the Vandellas' version but love the grandiose Phil Spector production and Tina's dramatic performance.

[phil]

Two that I really like are:

You Keep Me Hanging On - Aretha

I forgot to mention Wilson Pickett's version, for me it's the best one !



Marv, Claude François really dug the Motown songs and he was not worse that Adam Ant, right ? LOL

[marv2]

I forgot to mention Wilson Pickett's version, for me it's the best one !



Marv, Claude François really dug the Motown songs and he was not worse that Adam Ant, right ? LOL

Oh he was 10 times better than Adam Ant! You can tell by the ferociousness in the way Claude sang and performed "Reach Out, I'll Be There" that he understood the "feeling" of the song and put as much Soul into it as he could.....French Soul! Bebe! hehehehehehehe!

[phil]

French Soul! Bebe! hehehehehehehe!

Yes marv,he covered a lot of Motown songs, mostly Four Tops' material.

And did you know he co-wrote "My Way" ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way

[RanRan79]

'My Whole World Ended [[The Moment You Left Me)' by Kimberly Briggs [[aka Kim Tolliver). Margie Joseph also did a killer version of 'My World Is Empty Without You'

I prefer David's "My Whole World Ended" but Kim's is great too. Yes, Margie covered "My World Is Empty" and it's great, but nothing tops the Supremes' version for me. Good stuff though.

[RanRan79]

Two that I really like are:

Never Can Say Goodbye - Isaac Hayes
You Keep Me Hanging On - Aretha

I love Isaac's version of "Never Can Say Goodbye", but I don't think I've heard a bad version of that song. I love the Supremes version, Gloria Gaynor's version, New Birth's version and Vanessa Williams' version. That's just a damn great song.

Love me some Aretha but I'm not a fan of her version of "Hangin On". I do love Kim Wilde's version though.

[RanRan79]

One cover version that I definitely prefer is Ike and Tina Turner's version of the Martha and the Vandellas track 'A Love Like Yours Don't Come Knocking'.

I like the Vandellas' version but love the grandiose Phil Spector production and Tina's dramatic performance.

I hadn't heard this before so I pulled it up to give it a listen. Wow. It's an excellent cover. This is one where I give the edge to Martha and the Vandellas but only because it's been a favorite of mine for so long.

[marv2]

Yes marv,he covered a lot of Motown songs, mostly Four Tops' material.

And did you know he co-wrote "My Way" ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way

I never knew that. Living on the border of Canada and the U.S. growing up, they would only mention Paul Anka , a Canadian as the writer of that song. I learned something today! Thank you Phil!

[marv2]

I love Isaac's version of "Never Can Say Goodbye", but I don't think I've heard a bad version of that song. I love the Supremes version, Gloria Gaynor's version, New Birth's version and Vanessa Williams' version. That's just a damn great song.

Love me some Aretha but I'm not a fan of her version of "Hangin On". I do love Kim Wilde's version though.

What about Vanilla Fudge's version?

[RanRan79]

What about Vanilla Fudge's version?

Oh yes, an excellent cover!

[arr&bee]

i don't remember that one jai.

from around[74-75]i'll have to find it and get the label.

[phil]

I learned something today! Thank you Phil!

You're welcome marv, we learn something new everyday, especially on this forum !

[lakedistrictlad1]

Paul Young's version of 'Wherever I lay my hat' from 1983 blows Marvin out of the water for me.

Paul Young's version is loaded with soul.

[TomatoTom123]

Paul Young's version of 'Wherever I lay my hat' from 1983 blows Marvin out of the water for me.

Paul Young's version is loaded with soul.

Hmm, now that one is interesting. Admittedly, Paul Young's vocal is great and the song sounds better at a slower [[and less jolly) tempo, but the typically ungodly '80s synthesisers are soooo awful IMO. It is soulful but I can't stand how much it sounds like an '80s power ballad!

[RanRan79]

Paul Young's version of 'Wherever I lay my hat' from 1983 blows Marvin out of the water for me.

Paul Young's version is loaded with soul.

I definitely have to go with Marvin here. Paul is great, as usual, and his version is pretty good, but Marvin's version is it for me.

[RanRan79]

Hmm, now that one is interesting. Admittedly, Paul Young's vocal is great and the song sounds better at a slower [[and less jolly) tempo, but the typically ungodly '80s synthesisers are soooo awful IMO. It is soulful but I can't stand how much it sounds like an '80s power ballad!

I love 80s power ballads so this would normally be right up my alley. But I can't get Marvin's version out of my head. Paul Young has some other great cuts that I prefer.

[Ngroove]

Superior, in my opinion:

Laura Nyro and LaBelle "The Bells"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3a66PkWRf4


Not Superior, but extremely decent in its own right:

Otis Redding, "My Girl"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iPtG_O8w8g

Laura Nyro and LaBelle, "Jimmy Mack"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK-X...=RDnyREgIqMCcU

Irene Cara, "Reach Out [[I'll Be There)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUghvzdDoI4

The Fuzz, "Ooo Baby Baby"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XztVUxFTvSM

B5, "All I Do"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jXS_bUMpww

Vanessa Williams, "Dreamin" [[Guinn's, to prove that even this was first a Motown song):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCAMD5AYhGY

[RanRan79]

Superior, in my opinion:

Laura Nyro and LaBelle "The Bells"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3a66PkWRf4


Not Superior, but extremely decent in its own right:

Otis Redding, "My Girl"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iPtG_O8w8g

Laura Nyro and LaBelle, "Jimmy Mack"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK-X...=RDnyREgIqMCcU

Irene Cara, "Reach Out [[I'll Be There)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUghvzdDoI4

The Fuzz, "Ooo Baby Baby"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XztVUxFTvSM

B5, "All I Do"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jXS_bUMpww

Vanessa Williams, "Dreamin" [[Guinn's, to prove that even this was first a Motown song):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCAMD5AYhGY

I love Laura Nyro's version of "The Bells". It is absolutely fantastic. But I love the Originals original even more.

It's been so long since I've given the Fuzz's album a spin. I don't remember what I thought of "Ooh Baby, Baby". But speaking of "Ooh Baby Baby", I think the Honey Cone version is just as good as the Miracles.

B5 did a nice job with "All I Do", but to me Troop's version is superior to the Jackson 5.

[Motorcity]

I've always been partial towards the Nella Dodds version of "Come See About Me": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhsp_QWX2I

Same with Alpha Zoe's cover of "You Beat Me to the Punch": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GslCzDh2aII

Both have lesser fidelity [[on vinyl) than Motown, but I like the rendition better.

[sansradio]

I've always been partial towards the Nella Dodds version of "Come See About Me": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhsp_QWX2I

Same with Alpha Zoe's cover of "You Beat Me to the Punch": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GslCzDh2aII

Both have lesser fidelity [[on vinyl) than Motown, but I like the rendition better.

OMG, Motorcity. I grew up with that Alpha Zoe "...Punch" 45! Being born a decade after Mary recorded it, this was the first version I ever heard. What a treat to see this unearthed!

[Motorcity]

OMG, Motorcity. I grew up with that Alpha Zoe "...Punch" 45! Being born a decade after Mary recorded it, this was the first version I ever heard. What a treat to see this unearthed!

Same here -- almost! I was born forty years too late for either, but I discovered the Alpha Zoe copy first and LOVED it. Mary Wells is a wonder, but I still find myself digging Alpha's more. I am pretty sure she also did some other covers, but am unable to think of what they are right now.

How about Slyvie Vartan? She did more than a few covers, but "The Same Old Song [[Moi Je Danse)" is my fucking fav and dare I say nearly better than Four Tops. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVNIzpMwZyc

[biggestfourtops fan]

No one can top any Four Tops version. They're the one that do the covers better than the original versions of songs they covered.

[Motorcity]

Biggestfourtopsfan? I see... :P

I do agree though, the Four Tops are my fav and most played. Slyvie's version is pretty damn good, though.

[marv2]

No one can top any Four Tops version. They're the one that do the covers better than the original versions of songs they covered.

Now you know that's right! It's been interesting to hear people compare Marilee Rush's version of "Reach Out, I'll Be There" to the monster classic by the Four Tops? I can't......I just can't LOL!!!!

[marv2]

Biggestfourtopsfan? I see... :P

I do agree though, the Four Tops are my fav and most played. Slyvie's version is pretty damn good, though.

Motorcity, I will never try to tell another individual what they should like, but no one has topped the Tops version of that song. It's been used in movies, commercials and just about every sixties party you could find. It all is just interesting to me to learn of other people's tastes.

[marv2]

No one can top any Four Tops version. They're the one that do the covers better than the original versions of songs they covered.

The Four Tops are not only superb, originals....they are also the Kings of Covers! They've hits with some of their cover versions. One of my favorites is the Doors "Light My Fire". They are just too awesome! LOL!

[marv2]

I don't want us to get off track, but allow me to share this as illustration of what I said in my above post........

[Motorcity]

I hope I didn't come off as black and white as it seems I did! The Four Tops are TOPS, but I can't deny that the [[French) versions Slyvie did are just as well played as the Four Tops Second Album in my collection.

Forgive the toe stepping!

[marv2]

I hope I didn't come off as black and white as it seems I did! The Four Tops are TOPS, but I can't deny that the [[French) versions Slyvie did are just as well played as the Four Tops Second Album in my collection.

Forgive the toe stepping!

Motorcity, I had to write a disclaimer early in this thread so that everyone would understand that I was not saying any cover I may mention was better than the original. LOL

[sansradio]

How could I forget to mention Aretha's take on "It's My Turn"? As much as I love Miss Ross's interpretation, Ree straight up took it to CHU'CH.

[zani57]

I know that is radically different from the original version by Martha and the Vandellas, but I thought this was the best cover on Bette Midler's "It's the Girls!" album from a couple years ago --

[Jaap]

And Claud Francois sang Reach Out with the Supremes too. And that's the only version I know that Diana Ross sings the "fast" version of Reach Out.

[Jaap]

One of the weirdest Motown covers [[definitely not superior but interesting in its own right) is the 1983 version of "Stop In The Name Of Love" by The Hollies, which they turned into an anti-nuclear weapon race song--and its actually the last song of The Hollies to chart in the US.

[marv2]

MELISSA MANCHESTER - BAD WEATHER. Not bad. A bit Jazzy.

[RanRan79]

How could I forget to mention Aretha's take on "It's My Turn"? As much as I love Miss Ross's interpretation, Ree straight up took it to CHU'CH.

I love the Queen, but I prefer the Boss on this one. I've come to appreciate Aretha's take on "Aint Nothing Like the Real Thing" in recent years compared to when I first heard it. I do prefer her version of "You're All I Need to Get By" to Marvin and Tammi. I also prefer Diana's "Aint No Mountain High Enough" to Marvin and Tammi's, although I love their version a lot too.

[RanRan79]

MELISSA MANCHESTER - BAD WEATHER. Not bad. A bit Jazzy.

Now this is a worthy cover! The Supremes' version is still tops for me, but this is very good. I dig her arrangement. She also does a wonderful cover of "I Wanna Be Where You Are".

[zani57]

The old Brenda Holloway song "Every Little Bit Hurts" was covered by Linda Ronstadt in the 1980s but the song never made it onto one of her albums --

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fupladeyai...hurts.mp3?dl=0

[splanky]

I thought this was a quite interesting thread, though I really don't
care much about ideas about "superiority"...I've heard a lot of the
covers here and own a few of them. Wilson Pickett's You Keep Me
Hanging On has long been a favorite. I'm just happy that so many
folks have knocked down the erroneous notion that Motown music
is somehow a sacred thing that "shouldn't " be covered by non
Motown artists. As a fact that Motown music has long entered the
jazz pantheon, with Stevie Wonder being the most covered artist,
I've enjoyed this stuff for many years now. I'd be here all morning
listing examples which I won't but as far as R&B/Soul is concerned
I was quite fond of the Junie era Ohio Players cover of Marvin Gaye's
What Goin' On...The nod was well understood and taken...

[sansradio]

I thought this was a quite interesting thread, though I really don't
care much about ideas about "superiority"...I've heard a lot of the
covers here and own a few of them. Wilson Pickett's You Keep Me
Hanging On has long been a favorite. I'm just happy that so many
folks have knocked down the erroneous notion that Motown music
is somehow a sacred thing that "shouldn't " be covered by non
Motown artists. As a fact that Motown music has long entered the
jazz pantheon, with Stevie Wonder being the most covered artist,
I've enjoyed this stuff for many years now. I'd be here all morning
listing examples which I won't but as far as R&B/Soul is concerned
I was quite fond of the Junie era Ohio Players cover of Marvin Gaye's
What Goin' On...The nod was well understood and taken...

Donny Hathaway's "What's Going On" is also spectacular.