Part of what makes Millie Jackson and Isaac Hayes’ 1979 disco-funk cover of British-American hard rock supergroup Foreigner’s debut single, “Feels Like The First Time”, work so well is their full-grown adult voices, worldly-wise and full of experience. It’s clearly not their first time. They’ve been around the block a few times. They’ve seen (and […]
The slippery bass-and-guitar rhythm that opens Roy Buchanan’s 1974 cover of Fontella Bass’ “Rescue Me” is nice, but it’s not what gets this recording past this little blog’s First Rule Of Cover Songs*. For that, you have to wait until 0:54 and the first of Buchanan’s stinging guitar solos on his trusty Fender Telecaster which […]
Speaking of greatness, here’s Buddy Guy back in 1969 taking this little blog’s First Rule Of Cover Songs* to new heights as he plays “Mary Had A Little Lamb” for a bunch of Brits who, to judge by the expressions on their faces, seem to be thinking, “this is not how Nanny taught nursery rhymes“. […]
From the soundtrack to the 2021 Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, come Brandi Carlile and Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler from Hamilton) with a version of “I Put A Spell On You” to delight the heart of anyone who’s an aficionado of this little blog’s First Rule Of Cover Songs*. Happy Halloween Eve, y’all. *You’ve […]
We not only get texts, we get texts invoking this little blog’s First Rule Of Cover Songs*. In this case they’re about Darryl Hall and John Oates’ 2004 cover of the funk classic, “Rock Steady”: “Like this version more than the Aretha version because of heavier horn and harmony…heavier bass…when it comes to getting me […]
“You’ve got to bring something new to it” is this little blog’s longstanding First Rule Of Cover Songs and on their 1975 cover of The Beatles’ “I’ve Got A Feeling” the 5th Dimension (backed by the Wrecking Crew) not only bring their trademark five-part harmonies and sunny southern California pop sensibilities, they also bring a […]
“You’ve got to bring something new to it” is this little blog’s longstanding First Rule Of Cover Songs; and Thelma Houston does that and more with ? & The Mysterians’ mid-60s garage rock classic, “96 Tears”. In Houston’s capable hands (and more importantly, voice), it’s transformed into a late disco/early synth-pop anthem of female empowerment, […]
By this time, even people with just a passing acquaintance of this little blog know its First Rule Of Cover Songs*. It’s a particularly challenging rule for old songs because they’ve been around so long that most of what could be done with them already has been done. Or so you might think. Then you […]
Followers of this little blog’s First Rule Of Cover Songs* may at first wonder whether The Modern Jazz Quartet’s version of “England’s Carol” (aka, “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”) does enough to merit inclusion in the category. Sure, there’s the alternate title, the unusual instrumentation, and the trading of lead phrases among bass, vibes, and […]
The backlash against early rock & roll wasn’t just objections to the noise, the rhythm, the hip-shaking, the race-mixing, and the newness of it all; it was also the way these young people wreaked havoc on the treasured songs of their parents’ (and grandparents’) youth. That, in turn, was driven by the imperatives of the […]
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