Well, I see my oxycontin stash is running a little low, which means that my posting will be sporadic around here for a bit until I contact Rush Limbaugh's ex-houseboy.
In the meantime, a project -- guaranteed, a splendid time for all:
Best Beatles Covers.
Which is harder than it sounds, since most Beatles covers suck.
My top seven (in no particular order)
1. "Blackbird" -- Dionne Farris
2. "Eight Days a Week" -- Procol Harum
3. "Across the Universe" -- Rufus Wainwright
4. "I'm Looking Through You" -- Jakob Dylan/The Wallflowers
5. "If I Needed Someone" --The Hollies
6. "And Your Bird Can Sing" -- Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs
7. "On the Wings of a Nightingale" -- The Spongetones (I know, I know)
Jump in, won't you?
Don't think I've heard Dionne Farris' version of it, but the best version of "Blackbird" I've ever heard was by a similarily named artist: Dion, of the Belmonts fame. I don't think it's on any available album, but if you come across it, it's great!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see the Sweet/Hoffs selection, and it's a great song anyways.
ReplyDeleteJust to toss one out there, Ben Harpur and the Innocent Criminals have a neato reggae version of Michelle on the "This Bird Has Flown." I'd say that was a personal fave.
And a few more:
ReplyDeleteJoe Cocker "A Little Help From My Friends"
Aerosmith "Come Together"
Richie Havens "Here Comes the Sun"
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones "Michele"
Not sure how you would catagorize Todd Rundgren's "Faithful"
OK, here's my choice: Tomorrow Never Knows by Dianne Reeves. This was on a Beatles tribute CD on Blue Note called "Strawberry Fields," produced and arranged by jazz great Bob Belden. Don't expect a piano trio/cool vocal arrangement here. This knocks my socks off. Sitar, tympani and angry trumpet!! Killer.
ReplyDeleteSal
NYCD
Aretha Franklin- "Let It Be" and "Eleanor Rigby"
ReplyDeletePaul Weller- "Sexy Sadie"
I'd go with:
ReplyDeleteYou've Got To Hide Your Love Away - Elvis Costello
Don't Pass Me By - Georgia Satellites
Here, There And Everywhere - Emmylou Harris
Not A Second Time - Pretenders
Not A Second Time - Robert Palmer (yep, a second time)
Any Time At All - Blue Ash
Girl - Joe Jackson
She Said She Said - Matthew Sweet
Good Morning, Good Morning - Lolas
Flying - The Residents
Here Comes The Sun - Peter Tosh
Because - Elliott Smith
We Can Work It Out - Stevie Wonder
Across The Universe - Laibach
I am currently digging Lolas "Good Morning, Good Morning" from the 2004 Beatles tribute album "It Was 40 Years Ago"
ReplyDeleteI like Tuck and Patti doing "I Will."
ReplyDeleteThis album is quite good. I especially like The Donnas and the Bens (Kweller, Harper, Lee).
ReplyDeleteMonsoon featuring Sheila Chandra did a nice cover of "Tomorrow Never Knows." There's a clip of it on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of "Tomorrow Never Knows," can't forget that great version by Phil Manzanera, Brian Eno and company on "801 Live"...
ReplyDeleteWOW! That's right. 801 doing TNK is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteSal
NYCD
Jerry Garcia did a soulful version of "Dear Prudence".
ReplyDelete