Remakes

[NETim]

Been doing some rockin' tonight whilst doing some maintenance on a MRI system. Mightily disturbed the custodial staff I did.



I've long felt that Metallica's cover of "Turn The Page" just kicks the crap out of Seger's original version. Seger's version is for whiners. Metallica's gigawatt cover deftly captures the angry tone it should've destroyed speakers with originally. Gotta love BOC's Astronomy the Metallica way too.



God what a band!



Tim



Oh yeah, is there anyone else out there who thinks a cover of any song is better than the original artist's attempt?

 

[Dieselnut59]

TOTAL different genre of music, but I definately like Daryl Singletary's remake of "Kay" better than the old (I believe) John Wesley Riles (?sp) version.

I also prefer several of the bluegrass remakes of classic country songs.

More along your line, I love the work the group "Hayseed Dixie" does. It makes those headbanging songs likeable for a country boy. They do bluegrass versions of AC/DC and other rockers. Pretty funny and some good pickin too!

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by Dieselnut59



More along your line, I love the work the group "Hayseed Dixie" does. It makes those headbanging songs likeable for a country boy. They do bluegrass versions of AC/DC and other rockers. Pretty funny and some good pickin too!

Sure is!



Also like Travis Tritts' version of the Eagles' song "Take it Easy" better. Has a steel guitar in it like it should have. Gary Allen has done several great remakes.

 

[Andy Perreault]

For those of you who like 70's-80's hard rock, here's one remake for you that I think is WAY better than the original: remember "Radar Love" by Golden Earring? A band in the late 80's named "White Lion" did a remake of that song. It's definitely cool. During the intro, you hear a Harley revving up and going through the gears as it fades off. Lots of floor-rumbling subharmonics. That song is on their "Big Game" album, recorded in 1989.

Here's another one, kind of a unique remake. Paul Rodgers, the singer from Bad Company, did a remake of his own Bad Co. song "Feel Like Makin' Love". I think it is much, much better than the original. It has much more emotion in it.

Andy

 

[DKayser]

NETim, Are you smoking crack? Bob Seger was a 20 year overnight success. I have to think he may have experienced all the things in the song. If there is any whining going on, it is from all those self indulgent pseudo rock stars from the 80`s. When they put in the years that Seger, Mick & the Boys, Nugent, and Thorogood have, then they can sing about how rough the road is. Speaking about Ted Nugent, ya gotta love a rocknroller who starts his shows with the Pledge of Allegiance! Just kiddin about the smoking, We all got different tastes in tunes but the same ones in Trucks.

 

[dslmacdown]

Disturbed

One of the best remakes I have ever heard is Tears for Fears' (I think it was them) "Shout" by Disturbed. Definitely harder and better than the original. Beyond that a lot I think are bad like Garth Brooks "Shameless" from Billy Joel, or Madonna's "American Pie". I also liked Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt"



MAC

 

[nickleinonen]

I also liked Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt"

who orignally performed that song??? i've heard the cash version and it is pretty good. i like the nine inch nails version better but i don't know who was/is the original performer... ?

 

[dslmacdown]

Originally posted by nickleinonen

who orignally performed that song??? i've heard the cash version and it is pretty good. i like the nine inch nails version better but i don't know who was/is the original performer... ?

I am fairly certain NIN performed the song first on their album "The Downward Sprial".



MAC

 

[TPCDrafting]

George Michael's "You gotta have faith" is much better performed by Limp Bizkit.



Lenny Cravitz does "American Woman" pretty good too.

 

[Champane Flight]

Original

Any original song is better than a remake! Just by shear creativity. I have seen remakes done "as good" as the original, but the majority of remakes pale to the original and show a lack of creativity by the artist doing them. Can't write a song themselves, so do a remake for a filler, or just cause they like it. Maybe a form a flattery to copy another persons song?



Cracker remade "Loser" by the Dead, it was as close to the orginal as anyone could ever tell. I liked the licks on Crackers version better than the original. But, was it better? No, not really, just different.

 

[NETim]

response

DKayser, I don't smoke crack. Too much trouble. I just mainline it. Actually, I am a big Seger fan, but his version of "Turn the Page" has always struck me as a whiny plea for sympathy. I mean, he chose the life, he could get out if it were too rough on him. He wrote it. Metallica just did it right.



And CF, I agree with you to a certain degree, but even though the covering band did not pen the music, there is still a fair amount of creative talent in arranging and performing the music.



Many times the cover tain't nowhere near the original but there are times. Another that comes to mind is Aerosmith's version of The Beatles' "Come Together. " They were the "Future Villain Band" in the remake of "The Yellow Submarine. "



Even though The Beatles' version is great, I like the edgy rawness Aerosmith imparted to the song.



Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.



Tim

 

[Rosco]

Speaking of covers, has anyone heard the cover of Don Henleys "Boys of summer" by the Atari's. I think it is really good.

 

[DKayser]

Some good thoughts just now. CF, Gotta agree about the originality remarks. It is one thing to cover songs when a band is in the garage , but for 20 bucks a cd, I want new music. NETim, good sense of humor, Excellent comeback! As much as the originality aspect is critical, Ilike some versions better. I. E. Clapton`s two takes on AFTER MIDNIGHT. I like the slow,acidic version better than the original almost rockabilly style. I have to admit remembering something a teacher told us in trade school: Gentlemen, if we all liked the same thing, we`d all like MY wife! Don.

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by Rosco

Speaking of covers, has anyone heard the cover of Don Henleys "Boys of summer" by the Atari's. I think it is really good.

i like that too... i heard the original version yesterday for the first time. it was good, but the atari's version just goes along a wee bit quicker [i like that part]

 

[Woodenhead]

Alan Jacksons "Under The Influence" album is full of awsome remakes like Pop A Top, Blues Man... So do some of his other albums, Summer Time Blues comes to mind.



Mike

 

[Dieselnut59]

Alan Jacksons "Under The Influence" album is full of awsome remakes like Pop A Top, Blues Man... So do some of his other albums, Summer Time Blues comes to mind.



Mike



I agree, Mike. Being a traditional country and a bluegrass music fan, I am a big fan of Alan Jackson... gotta love the good ole country boy from Jawja!

Back when Kenney Chesney was country, he did a song called "When I close My Eyes"... Good song, but Rhonda Vincent redid it bluegrass and I absolutely LOVE it by her.

Alan Jackson/George Strait's big hit "Murder On Music Row" was a remake of Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time's bluegrass song. I love both versions of that one.

I love acoustic music with lots of fiddle, steel, dobro, banjo, mandolin and bass and guitar without a cord attached (upright bass and acoustic guitar). Don't get me wrong, I do like a little bit of rock and roll, but don't want it mixed in my country music.

I wish someone would do a remake of Marshall Tucker Band's "Fire On The Mountain"... I love that song. It was considered a rock and roll song in its day, but is hard core traditional country by today's standards. That would make a good Alan Jackson song!

 

[Andy Perreault]

I like The Who's version of "Summertime Blues" the best.

As for BAD remakes, I think Faith Hill's version of "Piece of My Heart" just plain sucks! I'll bet there are millions of teeny bopper girls out there who have never even heard of Janis Joplin. Now there's a singer who could put some emotion into her singing!!

Andy

 

[Hohn]

I think SRVs versions of both Little Wing and Voodoo Chile are better than Hendrix's originals.



It's almost sacrilege to be an avid guitarist and say anyone did anything better than Jimi, but SRV was incomparable.



Justin

 

[John]

Andy (Perreault), I saw Golden Earring in concert at the Moore Egyptian Theatre in the early summer of '74 (the year I graduated from high school). Although I haven't heard the version of Radar Love you speak of, I find it hard to believe it could be any better (especially better than Golden Earring's "long" version). BTW, I still have it on an "Import" album.



Generally, I'm not one who prefers a remake of a once great song. I find I usually prefer the original much more.



Case in point:



the song Landslide... by Stevie Nicks... AWESOME! In fact, it's one of my very favorite songs! But the same song performed by the Dixie Chicks is pure crap (IMO) Now maybe if it was sung by someone who actually possessed talent like Leanne Rhimes...

 

[Andy Perreault]

Hi John. I saw Golden Earring warm up for Rush the Long Beach Arena in about 1983. Next time we're together at a NW Bombers gathering, remind me to play that song for you. I have it on a minidisc in my truck.

Andy