If you get caught whistling ‘Red Red Wine’, you run the risk of getting lamped by someone. Hardly surprising when you consider the fact that most people associate the song with the terrible UB40. The song was actually originally a firecracking ska number by Tony Tribe and you can listen to it here. It’s a winner. Time to reappraise.
[video:firebladerr1]
![[Post to Twitter]](../../../../wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter-micro3.png "tt twitter micro3 photo"){kind=icon}
I don’t think Dolly Parton’s oeuvre has featured much on the ol’ Toilet. I can semi-remedy that now by pointing you do a delicious cover of her megasmash duet with Kenny Rogers, “Islands In The Stream”.
Now, I know this song is cheesier than a house made of Edam, but I’ve always liked it. And now, thanks to some people called the Constantines teaming up with Feist, I can say so and appear somewhat hip. I don’t think I need to add any more really - just click here and hope it’s still up for your listening pleasure.
[via Lycanthropy]
You know Wu-Tang Clan, right? They’ve nicked a bit of the Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and turned it into “While The Heart Gently Weeps”. Have a listen below - what do you think? Is this sampling culture one step too far (despite it being an “interpolation”, not a sample)? Or are Beatles songs fair game? VOTE! VOTE NOW!
For my money, Louie Louie is the national anthem for rock ‘n’ roll. There’s roughly 129,917,001,666 versions knocking around, and one of the better ones is the wonderful Toots and the Maytals jump up and down reggae rocker. I don’t need to say anymore than that. Press play, and wind your way into the weekend! [video:rockersszzz]
I know I said I didn’t dig Jimi like I should, but when he’s good, he’s irresistible. Way back when, Jimi and the boys played on Lulu’s TV show, and half-way through a tuff enuff rendition of ‘Hey Joe’, they decided to “stop playing this rubbish” and go into a thunderous version of Cream’s ‘Sunshine of Your Love’. Is it better than Spanky Wilson’s version? Who cares! Love ‘em both! Full points to the people who pointed out that ‘Hey Joe’ is a cover too…
[video:birdy974]
It’s hard to believe that Rod Stewart was once one of the coolest men on the planet. Before the leopard skin jumpsuits, Rod was the Mod and, later, frontman to one of the greatest rock groups ever to grace an airwave in The Faces. Here are the boys tackling Bob Dylan’s ‘Wicked Messenger’ and making it sound like a hangover. Fantastic stuff! Now, go and buy The Faces entire back catalogue.
[video: odorono77]
Music News, Under The Covers, Video
Iggy Pop is an old man who owns no tops. None. You will never see this man in a shirt. Ever. Mr.Pop sings songs of a rockular variety, sometimes with his old band The Stooges.
This is a video of Mr.Pop singing Madonna’s “Ray Of Light”, with some folk who may/may not be Stooges. To Madonna. At her induction into some American thing called The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. That’s a nice thing to do, isn’t it? Nice tribute. Madonna doesn’t look overly impressed, however, even though she asked him to do it in the first flaming place.
Interesting to see him wandering through the kitchen afterwards, mind - and he even gets a nice hug from Madonna, which I’m guessing probably felt a little bit muscley. For both parties.
[video: merken]
[via elbo.ws]
Just about everybody in the 60s had a bash at Ray Charles‘ sublime ‘What I’d Say‘. However, one of the best versions is Tom Jones‘ from Beat Club. Now, our Tom hasn’t always been a slightly seedy bugger with an orange face and talk of his ‘Sex Bomb’. There’s a whole host of brilliant Tom Jones records out there aching to rip up a dance floor. Before I get all record collector on you, here’s the boy from the valleys in action!
[video:lmj22]
Okay, this week’s Under The Covers isn’t strictly a cover version, but is something that everyone needs to see all the same. When Pulp released their ‘Bad Cover Version’ single many moons ago, instead of opting for the usual skinny-tie-at-a-gig vid, they produced one of the most memorable videos ever made. Featuring a huge cast of tribute acts, some good, some terrible, the video epitomizes everything both good and bad about the humble cover.
[video: electricringo]
Beth Ditto’s got a cracking set of pipes on her, hasn’t she? It’s kinda nice to hear a woman who can belt it out in a rock band as opposed to all those fey gals hiding behind fringes. Anyway, after the recent news that The Gossip are to release a live CD and DVD, which includes covers of songs by Wham! and Aaliyah, what better time to dig the sound of them taking a wrecking ball to ‘Careless Whisper’?
[http://www.youtube.com/user/266Nikki266]
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The Priscillas@ Left 4 Dead 2 launch, Old Blue Last, London 19.11.09