Graycap23 said:

Ew. Am I the only one who hates that cover? The "creep, creep, creep, creep" crap is beyond irritating. Also, I feel like Luther completely oversings it -- changing the rhythm, dragging it out (sometimes, it sounds like he briefly forgets the next line), and even using some of that damn whispering. It's just so sterile. His covers are normally very good, but that one leaves me completely cold. FWIW, I heard Luther's first, but I can't stand to listen to it when I can just spin the original instead. Luther hadn't crossed over at that time, but I still feel like took a sexy song and made it "adult contemporary." I will admit I dislike most Stevie covers (especially those not sung by little Mike).

Cinnie said:

Jean DuShon did the original. It's funny you mentioned "...Grapevine," because Marvin's version is the song that kept "For Once in My Life" at #2 on the Hot 100 and R&B charts. Interestingly enough, both songs were originally shelved because Berry Gordy didn't like them.

Harlepolis said:

Nice! I'd never heard that before. I still prefer Sammi Smith's but Gladys' version - arrangement and vocal - is really lovely. She sang a good handful of country songs in the 70s.

AlexdeParis said:

Thanks

Cinnie said:

You're welcome.

Luther A House is Not a Home
Luther Superstar
Luther If this world were mine. . . fuck it, anything Luther put his stank on was better than the original IMO.
Gladys and the Pips Heard it through the grapevine
[Edited 2/16/09 7:50am]

TotalAlisa said:

Oh Lawd

SCNDLS said:

SCNDLS said:

TotalAlisa has admitted in the past that she isn't a Prince fan and found this site while searching for Jacksons'-related info.

i put a spell on you-CCR
blinded by the light-manfried mann
summer breeze-isley brothers
feelin alright-joe cocker
a change is gonna come- al green
all along the watchtower-jimi hendrix
like a rolling stone-jimi hendrix
it's too late-issac hayes
the look of love-issac hayes
don't let me be lonley tonight-issac hayes
by the time i get to phoenix-issac hayes
i'm a man-chicago
so far away-rod stewart
people get ready-jeff beck

RipHer2Shreds said:

Seriously?

Thats one of her most requested songs from her live repertoire.

She and Candi Staton could sing famous country tunes aaaaall day everyday as far as I'm concern

sextonseven said:

Still

Harlepolis said:

You should check out the version by The New Birth. That one is my favorite.

AlexdeParis said:

I have to agree. At first Luther's was alright but that was before I even realized he covered it and his version was the first I heard. Then a few years ago, I learned Stevie did it first and when I listened to it, I almost got mad at Luther for his arrangement. I'm like "the fuck?!"

AlexdeParis said:

U2 - All Along The Watchtower

http://www.youtube.com/wa...3lv5gbMSSY


And no it is NOT the jammed, unrehearsed version from Rattle and Hum, this is a much more polished (but still edgy) version from later on.

Check out Edge's solo at 1:30 onwards One of his finest moments, in my opinion.


I know everyone's all about the Hendrix version, which is of course a classic, but I like this U2 version too.


There are a couple I don't have links to, also:


Johnny Marr (yes, the one from The Smiths) - Don't Think Twice It's Alright

Marr's vocals are very sweet on this, contrasting with the rather bitter lyrical content. Not sure it's quite what Dylan intended, but a great version.

Echo and The Bunnymen - Ticket To Ride

Will Sargent's chiming guitar sound suits this song down to the ground, and of course McCulloch isn't lacking the scouse accent either!
I have a version of this from a Beatles cover CD that came with a magazine, and this song starts with Noel Gallagher of Oasis saying how it is the best Beatles song and he has spent years trying to rip it off.
[Edited 2/16/09 9:12am]

shorttrini said:

Agreed.

AlexdeParis said:

I can see your point about this, but I really enjoy Luther's cover of the song. It's not necessarilly about how he sang it, but I love the musical arrangement much better than Stevie's. Marcus and Luther did a great job with it. I will admit that I didn't care for the song when I first got the album, but when I saw Luther perform it, it made me like it. Of course, he changed the vocal arrangement to the song live and made it much better.

bboy87 said:

D'Angelo's version of Cruisin'

daPrettyman said:

I think the arrangement is crap. The bass feels completely disconnected from everything else, making it way too top-heavy and airy (for lack of a better term). That's a lot of what takes away the sexiness IMO. In the original, the bass drives the song, but there's a cohesive, wall-of-sound sort of feel. Think I'll go spin the original now.

paisleypark4 said:

Since everyone who's said this so far is even younger than I am, can I assume it's because you heard it first? I mean, it's not that far from being a note-for-note copy. Is it coming down to Ron vs. George? That's the decider for me. As much as I love George as a singer, I find his reading too straightforward and earnest. In contrast, Ron plays it coy, which seems to fit the song much better IMO.

AlexdeParis said:

You are right, but that's what I like about the bass line on Luther's. Stevie's version is good to me also, but for different reasons. I really like the way Steve's is haunting and sexy at the same time.

daPrettyman said:

I'm going 2 have 2 listen again.
I've never listened 2 both songs back 2 back.

SCNDLS said:

I agree with the Luther comment. For almost every song except for most of the remakes on "Songs". I generally love Luther's remakes, but Walter Afanassium really f-uped the arrangements on that album. He made the songs sound like Mariah songs and not Luther songs.

Oasis - I Am The Walrus


Maybe not "better than the original", perhaps just as good but for different reasons.

daPrettyman said:

I agree with you completely on Songs. For a man who made a career out of great covers, that was a piss-poor album. The only one I could stand was "Love the One You're With."

I disagree about "If This World Were Mine," but that's mostly because I don't think anyone has ever sang as well as Marvin.

I Can't Make You Love Me ~ Prince original Bonnie Raitt

AlexdeParis said:

Nah, I heard The Isley's version first when I was really young, but I prefer Wham!'s version because George's version of the chorus and the instrumentation

Prince - Betcha By Golly Wow