Cover versions unusual , unheard or unlistenable

I have not played this double vinyl album yet.

On account of a dust problem.

Stu

Clayhill - Please, please, please, let me get what I want...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxM_eVYnDg4 

Their cover of The Smiths' Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want is featured on This is England (I prefer this version)

The Smiths - Please, please, please, let me get what I want...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMQbzLrvwlE 

This is one of the best albums of covers to come out in the last few years imo.

Kates take on the Cures Lullaby/ Spiderman is something else.

Stu.

Stu,

Great voice.

Here's also  someone I am  quite happy to recommend to other members. I'm sure you heard of her.

KR

Tony

This new album of covers of old folk songs,only came about  because Lesley worked with Kate Rusby   2 years ago live.

And wanted to put her voice to something diff for a change.

It does work.

Stu.

Humm, not a great fan of LG but I have seen some odd colaborations before that did  come to fruition.  I will check it  out later.

KR

Tony

The video is unwatchable due to two people at death's door sitting in the remains of their dreams, the burnt-out House of Cash.

Enjoy at your own distress.

Jono

Kate Rusby, the Barnsley Nightingale, is a legend - and can do no wrong in my book. She is an artist who if she brings out a new record I buy automatically and am yet to be disappointed.  

Her last album Make The Light is a slight departure from her previous recordings with Kate writing most of the material. Her two Christmas albums are excellent too. My favourite Kate Rusby elpee is hir debut record Hourglass, but her most accomplished recording is Underneath The Stars. 

However, if you want a collection of her songs and the Kate Rusby experience then try her Live From Leeds DVD.  

If you like Kate's music then you may also like the amazing Karine Polwart as well as Emily Smith, Ruth Notman, Polly Palusma,  Jo Mango, Megan Henwood, Bella Hardy, Lucy Ward (quite superb), Jenna Witts, and Jackie Oates (try the Violet Hours) - these ladies are superb, but I think Jackie Oates just shades it as great singer. 

Of course, Bellowhead are more than worth a listen and I'd also recommend the more down to earth Show of Hands. 

Sadly, one Britain's finest folk combo's were Waking The Witch, but they split up a few years ago though Patty has released two good albums - their Boys From The Abattoir is one of the best albums made this century. Their live DVD is worth a listen too, BFTA iis superb. 

There and I haven't even mentioned The Unthanks

And some folk say there is no good music being released these days - compared with the 1980s - we are in a new golden age - just listen to Lady Maisery or Lisa Knapp. 

I'm not the greatest one for live music, but Kate Rusby is definitely somebody to go to see. 

All the best, Guy 

Guy,

I'm really humbled by your knowledge and will definitely  research some of the above mentioned.

KR

Tony 

The Fall , have coverd a suprising amount of songs some "chart busters" like Victoria , Ghost in my House from the Brix era. Some are a little more subtle. Having a bit of a Fall day today so a few worth digging out if you havent heard them before. All done in Mark E Smiths tunefull style ..

White Lightning , Big Bopper

Lost In Music,, hearing is believing

Jingle Bell Rock , bizare but brilliant

and i have to admit i have never heard the origional ,, Mr Pharmacist ..

twp

June and Johnny sitting the remains of the House of Cash, both dead within 6 months, is just too sad.

His return to form with the American Recordings was just a fantastic end to a great career.

Jono

Tony,

Look up "Tar Barrel in Dale" by the Unthanks as starting point into their output.

Jono

Back on topic:

Jose Gonzalez - Teardrop

Susanna and the Magic Orchestra - Love Will Tear Us Apart

Another fine pair of covers.

Jono

Further to earlier recommendations, Johnny Cash's American Recordings album also contains a fantastic cover of U2's One.  Much, much better than the original.

Billy Paul did a great cover of Elton Johns Your Song around 1973/74.

To this day Elton thinks its the best he has heard.

It is good.

Stu.

Tori Amos - 

Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)

A Case of You (Joni Mitchell)

Thank You (Led Zeppelin)

etc etc

For a radical re-working, back to 1973 for Nazareth transforming Joni Mitchell's This Flight Tonight

Nouvelle Vague is a really talented French band who make bossa-nova covers of classic punk/pop songs. Their version of the Dead Kennedy's "Too Drunk to ****" is just hilarious.

On the "I'm Your Fan" album of Leonard Cohen covers (made as a tribute and birthday present for him) the Pixies guitar-laden version of "I Can't Forget" is fantastic, and I prefer it to the original I think. In fact, given the enormous difficulty of making such a record, it's much better than you'd think. John Cale's Hallelujah is really excellent (and deservedly famous).

Edit - Hoop-la's asterisks, For feck's sake.

On "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" on Radio 4, once, Willie Rushton 'sang' a version of "My Old Man's a Dustman" to the tune of "Girl From Ipanema", and produced something so side-splittingly, tear inducingly funny, it cracks me up just thinking about it. Does that count?

Stand By me - this brought a smile to my face. It is priceless. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN-U5aE6Rog&feature=related

Good cover, but the original is superb. Jonny Cash's four albums of mostly cover versions are really good though, and very imaginative, and very honest versions.

I can't say that Tom Jones version of Led Zeppelin's 'Nobody's Fault but Mine' did anything for me, that album was a bit of a damp squib.

I did hear what I thought was a dreadful cover of a song I realy don't like while watching 'The West Wing'.

Tory Amos covering 'I Don't Like Mondays'.

I like the show, but between Snuffy Walden's (ex Thirtysomething) music, and the tracks they pick from general releases, the music does distract from what is otherwise a great programme.

King Crimson's Starless has had several covers - a saccharin string version from Craig Armstrong, a surprisingly dull one by Banco De Gaia and this, an absolute gem by The Unthanks. By singing in in such a dispassionate way, Becky just fills the song with such emotion that I can't listen to it without tearing up.

If you like this, then you'll also love their cover of Robert Wyatt's Sea Song - another Becky production. Sadly, only a live version is on Youtube though this is very close to the feel of the studio one:

Big Black (Steve Albini's 80's band) covering Kraftwerk's 'The Model'. I always thought this was a great take on the song. The studio version is on the very 'rock 'n' roll' titled 'Songs About F***ing'.

The is also The Balanescu Quartet 'Possessed', which is an album of Kraftwerk tracks. Much as I like Balanescu's playing with The Michael Nyman Band, I found 'Possessed' rather unengaging.