Top 10 EC cover versions

25to12 · Post by **25to12** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:05 pm

verbal gymnastics wrote:
25to12 wrote:Someone else likes Slow Down! Brilliant version that, never heard the original (can't recall who actually wrote it though ), and I think better than the Jam's version on In the City.
It was Larry Williams wasn't it?

Reading miclewis' post (welcome by the way!) reminded me of what a fantastic version Elvis sung of Anyone Who Had A Heart on the Painted From Memory tour.

That's the guy! Love Costello's version. Still, there's no faulting Sad About Girls either, but I Can't Stand Up has to be my favourite at the moment.

Miclewis · Post by **Miclewis** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:44 pm

Elvis is so good covering newer songs, like Fiona Apple's "I Know" or harmonizing on Green Day's " Up When Septamber Ends" ( or even Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful"); I kinda wish he would have an annual or bi-annual album of covers of good songs of the year. He could even sell subscriptions for them.

More favorite choices:

1.Running Out of Fools and 2.Please Stay from Kojak Variety
3.Honky Tonk Girl
4.God Only Knows (with the Brodsky Quartet) I like the "A Case for Song" version a little bit better than "Live from Town Hall"
5. At Last (from Piana Jazz)
Sorta cover versions: 6. Hora Decubitus and 7. Blood Count from My Flame Burns Blue
8. Sally Sue Brown
9. The World of Broken Hearts
10. Lost in the Stars

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:21 am

Miclewis wrote:I kinda wish he would have an annual or bi-annual album of covers of good songs of the year. He could even sell subscriptions for them.

Biennial perhaps - two regular cover version albums a year might be too much even for Elvis (although Elvis is everywhere!). But then...

DeathWearsABigHat · Post by **DeathWearsABigHat** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:59 am

can't believe nobody's mentioned It Tears Me Up yet!
and Sleepless Nights (the G.Parsons tribute album version or the live version with Emmylou)
Is Really Mystified a cover?

here's my top 10.................

What's So Funny Bout PL&U
Nothing at the End of the Rainbow
I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself (live Stiffs version)
Broken Bicycles / Junk
The Point of No Return
It Tears Me Up
Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down
Withered & Died
Sleepless Nights
From Head to Toe

and on the subs bench...........
Smile
Ship of Fools
Gloomy Sunday
You're No Good
Really Mystified
I Cant Stand Up for Falling Down
Find Yourself Another Fool
Innocent When You Dream
The Bells (is that a cover? it sounds like one. does anyone know who did the original?)

Post by **BlueChair** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:27 am

DeathWearsABigHat wrote: Is Really Mystified a cover?

"Really Mystified" was originally performed by The Merseybeats on their 1964 self-titled album.

DeathWearsABigHat wrote:The Bells (is that a cover? it sounds like one. does anyone know who did the original?)

"The Bells" is one of Motown's forgotten gems, co-written by Marvin Gaye and originally recorded by The Originals (also in 1964). Laura Nyro does a terrific version on Gonna Take A Miracle.

DeathWearsABigHat · Post by **DeathWearsABigHat** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:33 am

Oh cool, I've just realised that The Bells is the last track on disc 2 of my "Best of Laura Nyro" cd.
Never noticed that before because I've only really ever listened to disc 1.
Anyway I'm listening to it now, thanks for the tip.
Has anyone else got that Good Year for the Roses CD with all the original versions of tunes EC has covered. Isn't about time for a Volume 2 (and 3, and 4.....)

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 11:05 am

Mikeh wrote:I'd only get it after alll other studio LPs, with the exception of For The Stars, which I still can't be bothered to get, and maybe never will.

I really like For the Stars! I think No Wonder is one of EC's best songs that he hasn't recorded. He did it live with the Imposters in Manchester and it was a true highlight.

I love lots of the songs on For The Stars, which i think is unfairly maligned. Green Song, No Wonder and the title track are excellent.
Their version of Broken Bicyles/Junk is great imho.

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 11:14 am

Miclewis wrote:Elvis is so good covering newer songs, like Fiona Apple's "I Know" or harmonizing on Green Day's " Up When Septamber Ends" ( or even Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful"); I kinda wish he would have an annual or bi-annual album of covers of good songs of the year. He could even sell subscriptions for them.

More favorite choices:

1.Running Out of Fools and 2.Please Stay from Kojak Variety
3.Honky Tonk Girl
4.God Only Knows (with the Brodsky Quartet) I like the "A Case for Song" version a little bit better than "Live from Town Hall"
5. At Last (from Piana Jazz)
Sorta cover versions: 6. Hora Decubitus and 7. Blood Count from My Flame Burns Blue
8. Sally Sue Brown
9. The World of Broken Hearts
10. Lost in the Stars

Personally I think he butchered 'God Only Knows'.

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:35 pm

I must get For Ther Stars to hear for myself. Silly of me to have lots of rarer things and ignore this. I have the South Bank Show docu on tape somewhere - that felt enough at the time. revisited Koj Var this week, and it didn't sound as bad as I recalled. Obviously they're hot musicians, but you feel for a selection of 'some of my favourite songs recorded with some of my favourite musicians', it should all sound more exciting. The whole is not greater than the individual parts, and the appeal wears thin over an LP. Also, some magical songs, e.g. I Threw It All Away, end up being a bit dull. There are some good ones, though. I don't find his cover of Waits' Innocent When You Dream really adds anything, but does take quite a lot away.

funstan · Post by **funstan** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:34 pm

My ten would be in no particular order would be:

Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet
I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down
Must You Throw Dirt in My Face
PLU
A Matter of Time
Wheels
Hidden Charms
Leave My Kitten Alone
Psycho
Tonight the Bottle Let me Down

Miclewis · Post by **Miclewis** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:39 pm

It's funny, How could I forget (What's So funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding)?

Elvis' version is so definitive and such an Elvis classic, I forget that he didn't write it.

P.S. There is a great solo, acoustic version of it by Nick Lowe on "The Doings". Though too bad there isn't an official release of Elvis and Nick doing this live as an acoustic duet.

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 4:22 am

Miclewis wrote:It's funny, How could I forget (What's So funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding)?

...

P.S. There is a great solo, acoustic version of it by Nick Lowe on "The Doings". Though too bad there isn't an official release of Elvis and Nick doing this live as an acoustic duet.

There are quite a few bootleg versions of it though. I bet there is a studio version of it which is in a vault somewhere. No doubt the record label didn't want to release it as it was too good (as they did with Baby It's You

)

guidedbyvoices · Post by **guidedbyvoices** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:22 pm

My top few off the top of my head:

She Loves The Jerk
So Young
Get Yourself Another Fool
Gloomy Sunday

oldhamer · Post by **oldhamer** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:39 pm

Miclewis wrote:It's funny, How could I forget (What's So funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding)?

Elvis' version is so definitive and such an Elvis classic, I forget that he didn't write it.

P.S. There is a great solo, acoustic version of it by Nick Lowe on "The Doings". Though too bad there isn't an official release of Elvis and Nick doing this live as an acoustic duet.

No official version, true, though there is this...

My favourites -

Peace, Love and Understanding - the definitive version
I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down
How Much I Lied - I don't dig the Gram Parsons one as much
I like Really Mystified as well, nice to hear him do something that's not too serious!
Remove this Doubt (don't think anyone's mentioned this)
and Must you throw dirt in my face from KV
Also Good Year for the Roses
And The Ugly Things. One of my favourites.

I will doutbless remember some more as soon as I press "Submit"!

oldhamer · Post by **oldhamer** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:40 pm

guidedbyvoices wrote:My top few off the top of my head:

So Young

Yep, forgot that one!