Best Cover Version Of A John Composition [Archive]

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onothimagen

May 23, 2001, 07:07 PM

Any thoughts on who does good interpretations of John's solo material... I was very pleased that Candlebox covered the outtake version of John's "Steel & Glass" awhile back but otherwise I haven't heard many that blow me away.

Suggestions?

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bearkat77

May 23, 2001, 09:59 PM

Have you ever heard of a show called Your Lucky Break? I was watching it one day when this guy from North Carolina did an almost flawless version of "Imagine". He was really good. I think his name was Rick Vaughn.

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Rellevart

May 24, 2001, 04:55 AM

I'm fond of Roxy Music's take on "Jealous Guy". Right after John's death, they were on German TV singing it and Brian Ferry just had tears streaming down his face....it was amazing....

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Hey, don't you know that I'm....always going back in time....

HMVNipper

May 24, 2001, 08:32 AM

I don't know if it's the "best," but I like Mary Chapin Carpenter's cover of "Grow Old With Me." It was the song my husband and I danced to at our wedding (because at the time we didn't have a CD of "Milk and Honey" and our DJ couldn't use vinyl!). So that particular cover holds a sentimental place in my heart.

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onothimagen

May 24, 2001, 01:29 PM

Oh yes! I agree with Mary's "Grow Old with Me"... Very tender.

When the Threetles were recording John's demos and one was rumored to be "Grow Old With Me" I dreamt that maybe there was an actual studio demo of the tune in existance. But it was not to be.

BUT I did enjoy George Martin's treatment of it on the Lennon Anthology box set. Made me question whether the Threetles should have tried harder to get Sir George to participate in the Anthology sessions.

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darkhorse

May 25, 2001, 03:54 PM

I think Joan Baez' cover of "Imagine" is actually a good one.

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"I'm a dark horse
Running on a dark race course"

May 26, 2001, 12:05 AM

Good one darkhorse, I agree. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsup.gif

Catswalk

Jun 01, 2001, 10:10 PM

Without a doubt for me it's Lenny Kravitz' version of "Cold Turkey". Have you guys heard it? WOW!!! I am convinced that if John were alive today he would have or would be working with Lenny in some fashion.

Check it out, this is a "must hear"!!!!!
http://www.zorothedrummer.com/allaccess/kravitz/coldturkey.htm

Catswalk

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Jun 02, 2001, 03:39 AM

Awesome. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsup.gif

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bearkat77

Jun 02, 2001, 04:27 PM

I'm not much on Lenny Kravitz, but maybe I'll give it a listen.

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Lynner

Jun 03, 2001, 07:03 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By Rellevart:
I'm fond of Roxy Music's take on "Jealous Guy".
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
So am I! I think they did a great job on that one. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

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Ian Iachimoe

Jun 03, 2001, 08:44 PM

I'd agree that the Roxy Music cover is one of the best.

........The worst ? Got to be Working Class Hero by Tin Machine/David Bowie !

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In Love all of life's contradictions dissolve and disappear

Catswalk

Jun 04, 2001, 06:07 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By Ian Iachimoe:
I'd agree that the Roxy Music cover is one of the best.

........The worst ? Got to be Working Class Hero by Tin Machine/David Bowie !

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Speaking of "Working Class Hero", have you heard Cyndi Lauper's version? Very, very good.

The worst that I know of is Randy Travis doing "Nowhere Man".

Joe Cocker's version of "Isolation" is fantastic.

Lou Gramm's version of "Eight Days A Week" is super.

Hall & Oats' version of "Don't Let Me Down" is super fantastic.

I'm not a Michael Jackson fan, but I have to admit that his version of "Come Together" really surprised me!

Al Green's version of "Power To The People" is powerful.

There are more, but I will stop there.

Catswalk http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/cat.gif

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bearkat77

Jun 04, 2001, 07:12 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By Catswalk:
I'm not a Michael Jackson fan, but I have to admit that his version of "Come Together" really surprised me!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm not an MJ fan either, but his version of "Come Together" is pretty good. I still think that Aerosmith did the best cover ever of that song.

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Jun 04, 2001, 07:46 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By bearkat77:
I still think that Aerosmith did the best cover ever of that song.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That he did. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsup.gif

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Catswalk

Jun 04, 2001, 10:25 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By bearkat77:
I'm not an MJ fan either, but his version of "Come Together" is pretty good. I still think that Aerosmith did the best cover ever of that song.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for reminding me. I forgot about Aerosmith! They definitely did the best cover of "Come Together".

Catswalk

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ABCKO

Jun 07, 2001, 02:39 AM

Ian & Catswalk have mentioned Randy Travis' "Nowhere man" & Tin Machine/David Bowie's "Working class hero" as some of the all-tim worst Lennon covers and I agree but...http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/nono.gif

Don't forget (allthough we should...),

"Help" by Bananarama
http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/monkey.gif

"Nowhere man" by Tiny Tim
http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsdown.gif

[This Message Has Been Edited By ABCKO On June 07, 2001 03:18 AM]

ABCKO

Jun 07, 2001, 02:53 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By onothimagen:
Oh yes! I agree with Mary's "Grow Old with Me"... Very tender.

When the Threetles were recording John's demos and one was rumored to be "Grow Old With Me" I dreamt that maybe there was an actual studio demo of the tune in existance. But it was not to be.

BUT I did enjoy George Martin's treatment of it on the Lennon Anthology box set. Made me question whether the Threetles should have tried harder to get Sir George to participate in the Anthology sessions.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm 100% in agreement with you on that one !
http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsup.gif

For me, Aerosmith's version of "Come together" comes in at a close second. My favorite is "I call your name" as sung by Ringo accompanied by Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Joe Walsh & Jim Keltner (not a bad line-up, eh ?). http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsup.gif

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/monkey.gif

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ward

Jun 08, 2001, 02:41 PM

cheap trick does an awsome version o "cold turkey"- I think it's better then lenny kravits'. In my mind it's the most "johnish" sounding cover.

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jami

Jun 10, 2001, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted By Catswalk:
Without a doubt for me it's Lenny Kravitz' version of "Cold Turkey". Have you guys heard it? WOW!!! I am convinced that if John were alive today he would have or would be working with Lenny in some fashion.

Yeah, I love his version! I'm a huge Lenny Kravits fan!

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bearkat77

Jun 10, 2001, 08:52 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By Catswalk:
Someone else mentioned a terrible version of "Help". That reminded me of Kylie Minogue's version of "Help". She was kind of a "Britney Spears" for the U.K. a few years back. I don't think she made it over here.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If you think that's bad, you should hear Dolly Parton's version of "Help!". That's the one thing she really needed then.

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Catswalk

Jun 11, 2001, 12:20 AM

The post above mine reminded me of Cheap Trick's "Magical Mystery Tour". I think it sounds great.

Someone else mentioned a terrible version of "Help". That reminded me of Kylie Minogue's version of "Help". She was kind of a "Britney Spears" for the U.K. a few years back. I don't think she made it over here.

Another good one is "Mama" Cass Elliott's version of "I Call Your Name". Some of you older people might remember...she was with "The Mamas and the Papas". John even said that he really liked her version of the song.

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/musicnotes.gif

Catswalk

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HMVNipper

Jun 12, 2001, 11:18 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By Catswalk:
Another good one is "Mama" Cass Elliott's version of "I Call Your Name". Some of you older people might remember...she was with "The Mamas and the Papas". John even said that he really liked her version of the song.

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/musicnotes.gif

Catswalk

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ooh, yeah, I forgot about that one -- I've always liked it. Then again, I think that Mama Cass had the most sultry voice...fabulous! A pity we lost her so young...

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/rocknroll.gif

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beatlebangs1964

Jun 12, 2001, 08:54 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By ABCKO:
Ian & Catswalk have mentioned Randy Travis' "Nowhere man" & Tin Machine/David Bowie's "Working class hero" as some of the all-tim worst Lennon covers and I agree but...http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/nono.gif

Don't forget (allthough we should...),

"Help" by Bananarama
http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/monkey.gifhttp://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/barf2.gif

"Nowhere man" by Tiny Tim
http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsdown.gif

[This Message Has Been Edited By ABCKO On June 07, 2001 03:18 AM]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The pie truck has been sent on a special run to pelt the above culprits with Pie Flambe. Now I think a special batch of flaming pies are in order for the offenders who created reggae versions of Beatles songs on a collection CD. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/barf2.gif (I don't mean to offend anybody, but I just can't stand reggae). http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsdown.gif

Bananarama has the dubious distinction of being the bull's eye in the dart board and the Apple Bonkers will be on hand to bonk all three Bananas http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsdown.gif on their noggins!

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

beatlebangs1964

Jun 12, 2001, 08:57 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By bearkat77:
If you think that's bad, you should hear Dolly Parton's version of "Help!". That's the one thing she really needed then.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Dolly Parton's ATROCIOUS rendition of "Help!" http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/barf2.gif http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/barf3.gif was barbaric. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/thumbsdown.gif I think she should have been brought up on charges of song slaughter and cruelty to classics.

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

beatlebangs1964

Jun 12, 2001, 09:00 PM

Todd Rundgren did good guitar work in "Strawberry Fields."

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Then we will remember things we said today. Yeah.
-- Beatles, 1964

BB1964

ABCKO

Jun 13, 2001, 02:34 AM

Speaking of "Help" being butchered by other artists...
http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/barf2.gif

One pretty good version of "Help" is the one done by Roy Orbison (late 1970's ?). One voice, one guitar...pity he only did about one minute of it.
http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/cool2.gif

http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/monkey.gif

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ward

Jun 19, 2001, 02:05 PM

jami, listen to cheap tricks' version of cold turkey and tell me which you think is better...I think its on the tribute albumn that came out around 97'

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ABCKO

Jun 26, 2001, 03:43 AM

Another good (but not great) one would be Phil Collin's "Tomorrow never knows" !

But it's so rare that an artist will do a cover and make it as good or better than the original...

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