Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

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spiritualized
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Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by spiritualized »

Lo and behold, here is the newest game in town, where you nominated the best cover versions in your musical culture and decided that the later version was far better than the original one.
Were your tastes in line with the general consensus, or is it just you ?
Time to find out !

The game will start with all 128 songs pitted against their original versions, in groups of 4, two per week. A couple of songs will not make the cut, as we have 130 unique nominations

You don't have to have nominated to participate.

Please feel free to add any comment, I hope there will be plenty to discuss.

Vote for who you think penned the best version of the song. If the original wins, the cover is eliminated.

In the second round, only cover versions will remain and they will be pitted against each other in a different voting format (to be determined by the number of songs going through the first stage.

The votes will close next Sunday @ 12:00 Western European, get your votes in early ! Good luck & Have FUN !

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire vs Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley vs Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band vs Joan Baez
Mastery - The Bats vs Rose Melberg (YT)


Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir vs The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians)
Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family (YT) vs Sinead O'Connor
Barbara Ann - The Regents vs The Beach Boys
Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand vs Frank Sinatra


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Listyguy
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by Listyguy »

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire vs Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley vs Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band vs Joan Baez
Mastery - The Bats vs Rose Melberg (YT)


Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir vs The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians)
Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family (YT) vs Sinead O'Connor
Barbara Ann - The Regents vs The Beach Boys
Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand vs Frank Sinatra
SL3
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by SL3 »

Fred Astaire re-recorded a lot of his hits with Oscar Peterson in 1952 for a career retrospective album "The Astaire Story" (& there were some fantastic versions on this - definitely one to consider when we do the pre 1960s albums poll) - the version of Nice Work If You Can Get It on the playlist is from this. This is the original from 1937:
https://open.spotify.com/track/3P442dIP ... wr65HpyiDA
SL3
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by SL3 »

Group 17

Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire vs Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
The Billie Holiday cover of this is one of my favourite songs. Hearing it never fails to make me want to dance around the room & I love how Billie Holiday sings this, like she's eyerolling at the lyrics & playing around with the melody to amuse herself, but by "won't you tell me how" she comes across as totally sincere. Love it.

In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley vs Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
This is a tough one as both are fantastic. I'll give it to Nick Cave because hearing his version really made me realise what a great song this is.

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band vs Joan Baez
I always thought Joan Baez wrote this & The Band was a cover! The Band version is more interesting I think.

Mastery - The Bats vs Rose Melberg (YT)
This one I've never heard either version before. Close one but the original gets my vote.


Group 18

Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir vs The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians)
Lol nice one!

Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family (YT) vs Sinead O'Connor
Knew this was a Prince song but never tracked down the original before. Interesting to hear but Sinead owns this one.

Barbara Ann - The Regents vs The Beach Boys
I want to vote for the original as they are so very similar, but I just can't listen to it without hearing the Beach Boys harmonies in my head - so Beach Boys win.

Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand vs Frank Sinatra
Last week's Frank Sinatra cover was a total reinvention of the song. This one feels more like a straight cover & is very slick - I way prefer the Yves Montand original. Bizarrely I don't speak French but the Yves Montand version also comes across as way more sincere.
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Madzong
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by Madzong »

In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band
Mastery - The Bats

Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys
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Miguel
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by Miguel »

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire
In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band
Mastery - Rose Melberg


Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys
Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand
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Rob
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by Rob »

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
I do not have a very strong preference. In this case it isn't even the voice that is the deciding factor, but the bouncing instrumental at the end of the Holiday take.

In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley
Even knowing that Nick Cave is obsessed with Elvis Presley, the one songs of the King you would not think of him to cover would not be the sincere and sentimental In the Ghetto (sadly we haven't gotten Cave doing You're the Devil in Disguise or Jailhouse Rock yet). His cover does work, though. Perhaps the lyrics are a bit too simplistic for someone with a clear intellectual delivery as Cave, but there is a tension in his version that adds to the song. Still, it fits Elvis better, because this is a very populist type of protest song and Elvis is a populist (in the good sense of the word) in heart and soul.

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - Joan Baez
I know I should like the Band version more. It is not just the original, but it's approach is more unique too. Besides, much to the ire of Levon Helm Joan Baez didn't bother to look up the actual the lyrics, turning some to nonsense ("Stonewall's cavalry", for example, became "So much cavalry"). I have both versions in my top 1000, but honesty compels me to admit that indeed I have the Baez higher. I love it to death. Somehow, her soothing voice and the flow of the melody in her version gets to me even after hearing it approximately a 100 times. I think Spotify once claimed that it was my most played song on their service, so there you go.

Mastery - Rose Melberg
While playing this Spotify playlist I for a minute missed the cue that for the cover I had to turn to YouTube, so I was surprised to hear this mild-mannered Bats song being covered by a Russian fanfare. Sadly, this turned out not really to be the case and the Rose Melberg cover is more conventional, albeit also more soothing than the original. I slightly prefer it, but both versions didn't make much of an impression.

Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians)
Well this is certainly something different. I don't know much about the context of the original song, but despite it's big, almost marching sound, I think this is meant to be something of a popular, folk song. The Wedding Present actually turn it into an actual folk rock song and it is great fun.

Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family
This song is so typical of Sinead O'Connor's approach that it almost a surprise to hear that the original isn't that different. In fact, singer St. Paul of The Family has an almost even more wrought vocal take that O'Connor. Both versions are worthy, but I want to give The Family some due here.

Barbara Ann - The Regents
A nonsense doo-wop like song in the style of Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow. As much as I love the Beach Boys' artistry even in something as deeply silly as this, I feel that the more free style and roughness of The Regents fits the song best.

Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand
Luckily Frank Sinatra doesn't sing in French. He does give a moving vocal performance. It becomes basically a typical Sinatra song, but the original remains fresher, because it has more air.

This week my votes were evenly distributed amongst originals and covers, so it changes nothing on the overall score, where covers are still four points ahead.
Henry
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by Henry »

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire vs Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra - TBD
In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley wins over Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band wins over Joan Baez
Mastery - The Bats vs Rose Melberg (YT) - TBD


Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir vs The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians) - TBD
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor wins over The Family (YT)
Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys win over The Regents
Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand vs Frank Sinatra - TBD
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bonnielaurel
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by bonnielaurel »

Group 17
Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
Elvis Presley
Joan Baez
The Bats

Fred Astaire introduced a lot of standards in his films, but Billie Holiday often turned them into jazz with improvisation. Elvis and Joan are the better vocalists.

Group 18
Red Army Choir
Sinead O'Connor
The Beach Boys
Yves Montand

Bill Evans has a great instrumental version of Autumn Leaves, but the best vocal version is still by Yves Montand.
De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.
DaveC
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by DaveC »

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire vs Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley vs Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band vs Joan Baez
Mastery - The Bats vs Rose Melberg


Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir vs The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians)
Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family vs Sinead O'Connor
Barbara Ann - The Regents vs The Beach Boys
Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand vs Frank Sinatra

Back then, I used to tape the Peel Show, and that Wedding Present session was one I saved for some time, although my favourite from the session is 'Katrusya'.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by Cadavaca »

Nice Work If You Can Get It: Fred Astaire vs. Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
In the Ghetto: Elvis Presley vs. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down: The Band vs. Joan Baez
Mastery: The Bats vs. Rose Melberg

Vasya Vasilyok: Red Army Choir vs. The Wedding Present/The Ukrainians
Nothing Compares 2 U: The Family vs. Sinéad O'Connor
Barbara Ann: The Regents vs. The Beach Boys
Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves: Yves Montand vs. Frank Sinatra
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by Safetycat »

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire < Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley > Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band < Joan Baez
Mastery - The Bats > Rose Melberg

Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir < The Wedding Present
Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family < Sinead O'Connor
Barbara Ann - The Regents < The Beach Boys
Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand < Frank Sinatra

Voted for a ton of covers this week!
hero
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by hero »

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire vs Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
Tough one, I'd usually choose Billie Holiday over Fred Astaire every day of the week. But for this specific tune I'd prefer the less jazzy version of Mr Astaire.

In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley vs Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Doesn't matter how much I like Nick Cave, this one suites the king ten times better in my book.

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band vs Joan Baez
Both great but an easy choice for me. One of The Bands better tracks and it suits them well.

Mastery - The Bats vs Rose Melberg (YT)
Good cover but prefer the original with the Bats.

Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir vs The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians)
Never heard the song. Weird inclusion whoever picked it. I'll go with the original.

Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family (YT) vs Sinead O'Connor
My first cover this week. O'Connors version is one of the best tracks of the 90's and a beautiful version. And one of few "Prince" covers that you don't really hear Prince in it. She made her own track from it. With other covers by him you can really hear that it's a Prince track, e.g. Manic Monday.

Barbara Ann - The Regents vs The Beach Boys
I have always loved this version with The Beach Boys, they don't really do a lot with the song, but you get the feeling the just jamming away, having a good time not taking it seriously at all and still their harmonies sounds perfect and a millions times better than that of The Regents.

Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand vs Frank Sinatra
Good old Frankie wins here but it's a tight call. Because I don't speak french it becomes a bit of a voice battle and no one can deliver it better than Frank.
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by Schüttelbirne »

Group 17
9 | Fred Astaire | Nice Work If You Can Get It vs. 8 | Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra | Nice Work If You Can Get It
6 | Elvis Presley | In the Ghetto vs. 14 | Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | In the Ghetto
1 | The Band | The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down vs. 7 | Joan Baez | The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
15 | The Bats | Mastery vs. 16 | Rose Melberg | Mastery

Group 18
4 | The Red Army Choir | Vasya-Vasilyok vs. 2 | The Wedding Present | Vasya Vasilyok
13 | The Family | Nothing Compares 2 U vs. 3 | Sinéad O'Connor | Nothing Compares 2 U
12 | The Regents | Barbara Ann vs. 5 | The Beach Boys | Barbara Ann
11 | Yves Montand | Les feuilles mortes vs. 10 | Frank Sinatra | Autumn Leaves
TheLastEnemy
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by TheLastEnemy »

I keep getting to this too late to vote, made it this time.

My votes are for: Biillie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra; Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds; Joan Baez; The Bats; The Wedding Present; Sinead O'Connor; The Beach Boys; Frank Sinatra

Thanks for keeping this going spiritualized!
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by phil »

Group 17

Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire vs Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra

In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley vs Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band vs Joan Baez

Mastery - The Bats vs Rose Melberg



Group 18

Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir vs The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians)

Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family vs Sinead O'Connor

Barbara Ann - The Regents vs The Beach Boys

Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand vs Frank Sinatra
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spiritualized
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by spiritualized »

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire vs Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
Two vocal jazz versions, I find the original one that tad bit more interesting.

In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley vs Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Difficult one, I think I heard the Bad Seeds version first and whilst I like Elvis' original, I'm more attracted to the cover.

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band vs Joan Baez
I've never liked Baez's voice, so the original takes it. It's such a classic that it's difficult to cover.

Mastery - The Bats vs Rose Melberg (YT)
Didn't know either but being a Bats fan, I'll go for the original


Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir vs The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians)
My nomination - The Ukrainians are a Wedding Present offshoot with Peter Solowka, the Wedding Present's brilliant guitarist at the helm. Originating from Yougoslavian and Ukrainian's families, he created the Ukrainians to cover some of the traditional music from the East. This song is a perfect representation of a westernized version of this classic choir song.

Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family (YT) vs Sinead O'Connor

Barbara Ann - The Regents vs The Beach Boys

Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand vs Frank Sinatra
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by slick »

Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra
In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band
Mastery - The Bats


Group 18
PASS
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys
Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Frank Sinatra
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spiritualized
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Re: Cover Versions vs Originals - Week 9

Post by spiritualized »

Results time !

16 voters this week, a good turnout - ,thank you.


Group 17
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Fred Astaire vs Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra (5-9)
In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley vs Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (12-4)
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band vs Joan Baez (10-6)
Mastery - The Bats vs Rose Melberg (11-4)


Group 18
Vasya Vasilyok - Red Army Choir vs The Wedding Present (The Ukrainians) (3-10)
Nothing Compares 2 U - The Family vs Sinead O'Connor (1-15)
Barbara Ann - The Regents vs The Beach Boys (3-13)
Les Feuilles Mortes / Autumn Leaves - Yves Montand vs Frank Sinatra (8-6)

4 covers make the cut this week : Billie Holiday / The Wedding Present / Sinead O'Connor / The Beach Boys
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