Top 10 EC cover versions

25to12 · Post by **25to12** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 1:59 am

If a thread about this already exists, please feel free to delete Mr. Responsible Party.

This is (for some bizarre reason) excluding the man's work on River...

In no particular order;

I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Slow Down
What's So Funny 'bout Peace Love and Understanding
Success
Leave My Kitten Alone
Sad About Girls (counts as a cover to me, even if it's an Attractions solo song)
Roadette Song (excellent live version on the TYG extras)

Alright, maybe that's not 10, but I'm the unenviable position of being unable to think of so many right now. btw, if you didn't notice, I haven't got my hands on Kojak Variety yet, any good?

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:58 am

Hello there. I'd only recommend KV for completism. I find it almost unlistenable. Despite the great band and some great songs, the whole thing is just flat and tedious. I've hardly played it since I got the reissue. 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 like Getting Mighty Crowded. Some of his unexpected live covers are fun, e.g. Pop Life, or Prefab Sprout's Cruel, which he covered at the time of its release, seemingly as a way of making people aware of the then unknown Paddy MacAloon. I also love The Bells on the PTC reissue.

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:42 am

Hi 25to12 and welcome.

If you buy Kojak Variety then make sure you buy the recent 2 disc reissue (as you should do wherever possible anyway!). On the whole I'd agree with Otis - there are far better albums to be bought with your hard earned cash. Almost Blue is in my view a much better covers album (and again, the two disc reissue is far superior).

As far as live cover versions go, there are many many band versions (as opposed to one offs in concert appearances) that could be listed - off the top of my head there are songs like

She's A Woman
Knowing Me Knowing You
I Got You
You Really Got A Hold On Me
One Day I'll Fly Away

which have all featured in shows.

As far as recorded versions go, there is a version of Pop Life which it seems destined that we will never hear which is a shame but apparently Elvis butchered it too much.

I think all you technomological fans should produce a CD box set purely consisting of live and studio cover versions.

Neil. · Post by **Neil.** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:21 am

The first thing that springs to mind for me is Sweet Dreams, which I think is better than Patsy Cline's version by a country mile. Also, Good Year The Roses has far more pain in the vocal than the original.

Elvis's Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood is also my fave version of the song - the Animals version is too jaunty and annoying, and Nina Simone's chops up the melody a bit too much.

There are so many covers, it's hard to choose. I like the haunting World Of Broken Hearts, and the creepy Room Nobody Lives In.

I Stand Accused is fantastic, and I also love a live, badly recorded version of Pretty In Pink which I've got on tape.

I'd love to hear the version of One Day I'll Fly Away - love that song, and can imagine Elvis doing a great vocal for it.

Mikeh · Post by **Mikeh** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:25 am

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.

pophead2k · Post by **pophead2k** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:58 am

I'm a big fan of Kojak Variety myself. I think that several of the covers, especially Must You Throw Dirt in My Face and Everybody's Crying Mercy are first rate.

My all time favorite recorded cover of EC's might just be What Do I Do Now.

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:29 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.

Or is the heat getting to me?

wardo68 · Post by **wardo68** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:38 am

I think this calls for another King Hoarse poll. How's about a ranking of covers, but only from B-sides or albums that are otherwise EC only (no KV or AB)?

And No Coffee Table · Post by **And No Coffee Table** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:41 am

pophead2k wrote:My all time favorite recorded cover of EC's might just be What Do I Do Now.

Mine too... except for the "might" part.

1. What Do I Do Now?
2. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
3. Walking On Thin Ice
4. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
5. He'll Have To Go (live from the Palomino)
6. I'm Your Toy (live with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
7. I Stand Accused
8. Baby It's You
9. Getting Mighty Crowded
10. Psycho (almost live from the Palomino)

snarling pup · Post by **snarling pup** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:59 am

In no particular order...

PLU
What Do I Do Now?
Love That Burns
Everybody's Crying Mercy (2003 Peace Songs version)
Tell Me Right Now
I Can't Stand Up
Getting Mighty Crowded
From Head to Toe
Young Boy Blues
Get Yourself Another Fool

invisible Pole · Post by **invisible Pole** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:41 am

Difficult to choose, but some of my favourites are :
Withered and Died
She Loves The Jerk (GCW bonus disc)
Get Yourself Another Fool
The Ugly Things
All These Things
Please Stay
live version of Knowing Me Knowing You
How Much I Lied

Fishfinger king · Post by **Fishfinger king** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:02 pm

How about?:
Step inside love
End of the Rainbow (basic King of Americana version)
Price of love
Leave my kitten alone (preferably This is tomorrow boot version or B&C bonus, not KV)
What do I do now?
Point of no return
I just don't know what to with myself (live stiffs)
I'll never fall in love again
Getting mighty crowded
I stand accused

Chrille · Post by **Chrille** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 1:40 pm

Favourite:
I Stand Accused

The rest, in chronological order:
Roadette Song (from TYM bonus disc)
My Funny Valentine (from AF bonus disc)
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
Getting Mighty Crowded (from GH!!! bonus disc)
Gloomy Sunday (from Trust bonus disc)
He's Got You (from AB bonus disc)
World Of Broken Hearts (from IB bonus disc)
Leave My Kitten Alone (from B&C bonus disc)
The Room Nobody Lives In (from Spike bonus disc)

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 1:48 pm

Some good reminders here. What Do I Do Now? is indeed a great cover of a class song.

Mikeh: you're appropriating my quote!

stormwarning · Post by **stormwarning** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:37 pm

Ooh I like this one. Here's my ten:

Wild Horses (from CMT Crossroads)
She Moves Through The Fair (JL reissue)
I've Been Wrong Before (Jools Holland '95)
I Can't Stand Up (slow version)
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (C &N)
Full Force Gale
Egypt
Angel Steps Out of Heaven
Love That Burns
Dark End of The Street (live)

I've been gone a while, have I missed much?

-Storm

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:13 pm

Christ, it's Storm! We've been missing you. You've missed lots of more of the same, with good days and bad days. A little bit of reassuring continuity in life for you to find us still here.

Great top 10, though can't think what Egypt is (song, or whereabouts). Full Force Gale is totally fantastic.

So how's Manhattan these days?

Mechanical Grace · Post by **Mechanical Grace** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:53 pm

And how's Joisey?

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:02 pm

A Joisey resident was telling me yesterday that the Joiseyites say it more like Jizey. Hard to represent the slightly strangulated vowel sound, but it seemed odd to me. Coleman Silk in The Human Stain grows up in East Orange, so I am getting to know that neck of the woods. I was told there's an east, south and west, but no north.

Miclewis · Post by **Miclewis** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:46 pm

Some of my favorites

So you Want to be a Rock n'Roll Star (by The Bryds) (Goodbye Cruel World tour)
I Know (by Fiona Apple) in the recent VH1 special
Matter of Time (by Los Lobos)
She Loves the Jerk (by John Hiatt)
Please (by U2) Live on Irish Music Special
My Baby's Gone (with Emmylou Harris)
Sticks and Stones
Brilliant Disguise (by Bruce Springsteen)
They Didn't Believe Me (with the Brodsky Quartet)
My Little Red Book (w/Burt Bacharach)

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:11 am

Another newbie with a great list! Hello to you. Haven' heard several of these, you're obviously some specialist. Looking good. I've never even heard the original of Please let alone the cover! Must amend soon.

Post by **BlueChair** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 8:53 am

1. What Do I Do Now?
2. PLU
3. I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
4. The Ugly Things
5. Running Out Of Fools (B&C outtake)
6. Leave My Kitten Alone (B&C bonus disc)
7. Gloomy Sunday
8. Night Time
9. Love For Sale
10. I Stand Accused

The Deliveryman · Post by **The Deliveryman** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:21 am

1. Egypt
2. What Do I Do Now?
3. Full Force Gale
4. Withered And Died
5. Anyone Who Had A Heart
6. Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven
7. Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie
8. The Ugly Things
9. Slow Down
10. Please Stay

Emotional Toothpaste · Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:56 pm

No one mentioned "Ship of Fools"?

25to12 · Post by **25to12** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:15 am

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.

Writing/typing a few days after first posting here, I'd say my favourite cover of the moment still has to be Sad About Girls on the Trust bonus disc.

I missed out on Getting Mighty Crowded for some reason, EC's version being simply excellent. I also like some of the solo covers on B&C's bonus disc, especially Pouring Water On a Drowning Man and Lonely Blue Boy.

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:19 am

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.