Some strong choices in here f’sure. I’ll have some fun with this when I have real internet again.
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This is a Bragg cover of Tim Buckley’s Dolphins - which in turn was a version of Fred Neil’s work.
If you don’t get Bragg this will be shite, and perhaps it is, but at the time it showed a softer side of Bill’s work.
Bletch, you were spot on regarding my liking of Nick Cave - I knew my Wild Roses reference wouldn’t have missed. Johnny Cash’s take on The Mercy Seat is excellent, come to that. Anyway, Cave recorded a whole LP of covers way, way back; his version of this song, originally by the late, great Alex Harvey, is fabulous.
I love this - a Cajunised version of a Chuck Berry song. Get that accordian - yeah!
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Two covers of the same song, by the same singer…
On the first, from 1974 (I think), Cale imbues the song with an air of terror and even menace. For a solo live performance he turns it into one of the bleakest songs imaginable.
Originally posted by @Halo-Stickman
Being a teenager through large parts of the seventies I was a fan of David Bowie; therefore, I’m slightly embarrassed to say that I much prefer Lulu’s version of The Man Who Sold The World, mainly because of the saxophone.
Said saxophone being played, and the record produced, by one David Bowie…
Originally posted by @saintbletch
So here’s a relatively new one to me.
Long story, well a story that spans a long period of time anyway. My memory is a bit sketchy as my synapses had cider in them at the time, but a few months before Arthur Lee died, a mate and I went to see him at The Brook. He was the frontman of the band Love. I didn’t know much about him/them before going, but my mate (who is older) was a massive fan. Anyway, it was a great night and even though he was getting on, he put on a great show.
Fast forward to last month and me and the same mate are at a Calexico gig in London and as part of the encore, they played this.
A cover of Love’s Alone again, or…
Was almost spiritually good.
Forever Changes, recorded in 1967 and from which Alone again or… is taken, is a masterpiece. I saw Arthur Lee perform the LP at the RFH about a dozen years ago and he was excellent. I like that Calexico version, mind.
Beautiful
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There was probably a time when I knew about that myself Fowllyd; but if there was, then I’d certainly forgotten about it in the intervening years, so thanks for reminding me!
It is indeed a stunning album, Fowllyd D. Complete, everything belongs, nothing out of place. My mate (also a Halo) is a second-hand record dealer and has a catholic tastes and a massive collection, and Forever Changes is in his Top 10. Praise indeed. And it’s as old as me. Another a-lbum that I marvel at from that era is Tim Buckley’s Drean Letter Live. Full album here - try Phantasmagoria in Two at o7:24.
The clarity of the recording is incredible.
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Yeah, very interesting. Never really thought about the lyrics before, but they are perfect for a really dark interpretation.
John Cale is also from The Wales, isn’t it?
I seem to remember him narrating a Velvet Underground track about a boy in a cardboard box in an incongruously Welsh accent. I thought at the time, there’s lovely for you.
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It’s a shame that this has been so tainted in recent years, but it’s still one of my favourite covers.
If only those that have murdered it in the name of chart success had bothered to ‘listen’ to the words.
A magical interpretation of the ‘laughing’ Leonard Cohen original, brought to life by an artist for whom the song obviously meant something very personal.
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This song reminds me of a holiday in Fiji whilst visiting Australia MANY years ago and of a Australian Jewess call Sharon Freund - and that’s all I have to say about that.
Embarrassed to say that it wasn’t until some years later that I realised Lennon’s was the original.
Perhaps not the most cheery song for a Saturday night; nevertheless, I do like this cover of the S & G classic
Also covered to great effect by my compatriot Mr Cale, isn’t it. Much as I like Jeff Buckley’s version, this one is my favourite. From the same concert as the live version of Hearbreak Hotel that I posted earlier, all found on an LP called Fragments of a Rainy Season. Incidentally, John Cale first recorded this for a Laughing Len tribute LP entitled I’m Your Fan; he knew that Cohen had left a few verses out of his original recording, so he got Cohen to send him the whole lot. His final stanza, for instance, doesn’t appear in the original, but Cale liked it better than the one that Cohen chose. Cohen’s original is less dark which, given his reputation, may come as a surprise.
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A lovely version Fowlly D, but the emotion isn’t there for me.
I’m intrigued by the final verse. It’s the same as Jeff Buckely’s version. Did Buckley copy Cale then? (or vice versa).
Yes, I’m pretty sure that Buckley took the song from Cale’s rendering on I’m Your Fan. At the risk of incurring righteous wrath at posting an original on this thread, here it is:
This is a bit of a classic:
As is this:
Love rock/metal/punk covers. Will no doubt be back to post more 
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