Worst Beatle-Song Cover
Bruce Dumes
>So what is the most poorly done cover of a Beatles' song?
>
>My vote goes to Frank Sinatra's martini-soaked "Something" --
>complete with clicks of a cigarette lighter and the inclusion
>of the phrase, "Hey, Jack (I don't know)".
>
Well, George must've been amused by it since he now sings it with the "Jack"
phrase.
But if I were to contribute to this, I would have to say that "Eleanor
Rigby" by Doodles Weaver featured on Dr. Demento's delights is my favorite
worst cover.
Bruce
--
Bruce Dumes | "What happened to that crispy bacon
b...@sw.stratus.com | we had before the war, eh?"
Stratus Computer, Inc. |
Katie Westin
(Bruce Dumes) wrote:
> In article <2e2r56$9...@hpscit.sc.hp.com> mil...@sc.hp.com (Phil Miller) writes:
> >So what is the most poorly done cover of a Beatles' song?
> >
There's a godawful funk version of "Let it Be" playing nonstop at all my
college's dance parties this term. I don't know who plays it but I urge
you all to avoid it as you would a marriage to Yoko.
Kt
Phil Miller
My vote goes to Frank Sinatra's martini-soaked "Something" --
complete with clicks of a cigarette lighter and the inclusion
of the phrase, "Hey, Jack (I don't know)".
philll
Phil Miller
: In article <2e2r56$9...@hpscit.sc.hp.com> mil...@sc.hp.com (Phil Miller) writes:
: >So what is the most poorly done cover of a Beatles' song?
: >
: >My vote goes to Frank Sinatra's martini-soaked "Something" --
: >complete with clicks of a cigarette lighter and the inclusion
: >of the phrase, "Hey, Jack (I don't know)".
: >
: Well, George must've been amused by it since he now sings it with the "Jack"
: phrase.
I didn't know he did that, and of course, it can't be coincidence -- George
must have been "affected" by Frank's rendition. But since George is one with
the subtle sense of humour, it's not clear if he was doing it for amusement,
or if he sang it that way out of respect and appreciation. Anyways, now
I have something to ask George if I meet him.
: But if I were to contribute to this, I would have to say that "Eleanor
: Rigby" by Doodles Weaver featured on Dr. Demento's delights is my favorite
: worst cover.
I'd love to hear Frank do "Rigby".
philll
JPK...@psuvm.psu.edu
2) Ob-la-di Ob-la-da by John Davidson
3) Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by Bill Cosby
4) Elanor Rigby by a guy who was with Spike Jones (odd name)
.
ECL...@mvs.oac.ucla.edu
mil...@sc.hp.com (Phil Miller) writes:
Actually I think this is a great one. My Beatle re-make dinger of all
time is 'Strawberry Fields Forever' covered by, I believe, Bananarama.
Frank
Mike Halter
Also, I once heard a cover of "Help!" on the radio a few years back. It was
some talentless female group, Bananarama I think, and it was utterly
horrendous. I guess everyone else thought so too, since I only heard it once.
Love,
Mike Halter
Member of Dorm-Rec
##########################################################################
## / ## The members of Dorm-Rec ## / ##
## // ######################################################## // ##
## ///// ## Matt J. Martin, Mike Halter, Brian Sager ## ///// ##
## // ## Dave Robledo, and Mike Monahan ## // ##
## / ## dor...@mentor.cc.purdue.edu ## / ##
##########################################################################
Phil Miller
: In article <2e2r56$9...@hpscit.sc.hp.com>,
: mil...@sc.hp.com (Phil Miller) writes:
I actually like Frank's "Something" too, but I can tell that it also will
disturb some people.
philll
Edward V. Michalak
Supremes' cover of A Hard Day's Night (awful!).
--
Ed Michalak
South Jersey's 5th Beatle
Jeremy D. Horowitz
>ECL...@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU wrote:
>: In article <2e2r56$9...@hpscit.sc.hp.com>,
>: mil...@sc.hp.com (Phil Miller) writes:
>: >So what is the most poorly done cover of a Beatles' song?
How about "Eleanor Rigby" as performed by John Denver?
Also "When I'm Sixty-Four", also performed by John Denver.
No, I am not joking.
--Jeremy D. Horowitz
h605...@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
Andy JUDE Sweeney
My Beatles-cover horror is a certain "Strawberry Fields Forever" by a one hit
wonder band called "Candy Flip".
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
bssb...@dct.ac.uk *** Andy "Jude" Sweeney *** Somewhere In Scotland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy JUDE Sweeney
awful. That's one of the worst Beatles covers.
Andy JUDE Sweeney
Aaaaaaaaaarrrrgh!!! I'd forgotten about those ones!
Eleanor Rigby is particularly chronic.
--
Jay Smith
But John Denver did do a pretty good cover of "Mother Nature's Son."
--
Jay C. Smith
Domain/internet: smi...@dg-rtp.dg.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"That guy up there's gotta stop; he'll see us."
Matt Trebelhorn
undoubtedly Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, as performed by William Shatner.
I'm not kidding. I would never suggest that anyone buy this revolting album,
but it has some of the worst music ever recorded. There's a version of
Hey Mister Tambourine Man in which Shatner sounds like he is vaguely psychotic,
pleading with this tambourine man not to leave. Oh, god, is it dreadful.
Peace, Go Reds! Smash State!
Matt ma...@sccs.swarthmore.edu
===
|O-O\\ I say unto you: one must still have chaos in oneself to be able to
|| L || give birth to a dancing star.-Freidrich Nietzsche,Thus Spoke Zarathustra
|| _ || The purpose of art is not to reproduce the visible, but to make visible.
||\_/|| -Paul Klee
|| ||
AC NORTH
bananarama for Comic relief a few years back was Bloody awful! But it
was for a good cause!
Raw Sex & the other one (can't be bothered to type it!) were Dawn
French & Jennifer Saunders taking the piss out of the other womern
group involved.
james lowe 9208 U
NO! The absolute, WORST cover is...
I Saw (Him) Standing There by Tiffany
Is it humanly possible to hear this cover without feeling the need to be
hospitalized?
jim
Chris Walker
> In article <1993Dec9.152402.2534@news> CDWA...@acs.harding.edu (Chris Walker) writes:
> >Here are my top candidates for worst cover of a Beatles tune:
> >
> > 1. The version of "Obla Di Obla Da" used as the theme for the
> > tv show "Life goes on"
>
> Agreed. It was brutal.
>
> > 2. The version of "WIth a little help from my friends" used for
> > some other TV show, can't remember what show right now. The
> > guy definately needs to quit smoking 20 packs a day, and get
> > off the sedatives.
>
> That guy was Joe Cocker! Haven't you seen Woodstock, man? Not nearly as
> good as the Beatles original, but not as bad as you say. (the show was the
> Wonder Years, BTW)
I know. I've already got flamed a couple times about this one. No I wasn't
at woodstock, and I guess mmy tastes are a bit different than a lot of other
Beatles fans. (My favorite album is still "Hard Days Night" with "Abby Road"
comming in a close second.)
>
> > 3. "I saw him standing there" by Tiffany
>
> The worst Beatles cover ever!!!!!!!
>
> > 4. the "Stars on 45" meddly from about 10 years ago, you rember,
> > the one with the disco beat.
>
> Actually, i'm embarassed to admit that i like it...and i've got it on CD!
> Its just so cheezy that i adore it. Also, its a way to hear the Beatles in
> a dance club.
Acctually, the singing and intrumentation is actually pretty god, but
that disco thump in the back ground goes on and on and on and on, and puts a
major strain on my nervous system. If they could get rind of that, I think I
could enjoy Stars On 45 alot. By the way, where the hell did yoy get the cd?
>
> > 5. "Every Little Thing" by Yes
> > 6. "I'm down" by Yes (only available on the recent 4-cd boxed set)
>
> i've never heard either of these, so i'll take your word for it.
>
> jim
_______________________________________________________________________
Chris Walker | The more people I meet, |
e-mail: cdwa...@acs.harding.edu | the more I like my dog |
ma-bell:(501) 268-9132 | Carpe Diem |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ECL...@mvs.oac.ucla.edu
the Movie' with the, gulp, BeeGees? Big BOMB!
There was a movie that had, which will probably lead to another
thread, some great covers on it. The movie was called 'All This
and World War II'. Peter Gabriel did a wicked version of 'Strawberry
fields...'.
Also, on a PBS show about six/seven months ago in tribute to the Beatles
music Los Lobos did a fantastic cover of 'Tomorrow Never Knows.'
Which brings to mind for 'Worst Covers' - Phil Collins 'Tomorrow Never
Knows' and Elton John, 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'.
Frank
Bruce Dumes
>Here are my top candidates for worst cover of a Beatles tune:
>
> some other TV show, can't remember what show right now. The
> guy definately needs to quit smoking 20 packs a day, and get
> off the sedatives.
I think you are talking about Joe Cocker, one of the greatest singers
(IMHO) from the sixties. My advice is to do a little more listening...
This version of WALHFMF is brilliant, and listen also to his heart-stopping
rendition of this tune performed at Woodstock.
I suppose you don't like Ray Charles either.... :-(
P2A88/Michal Szleper
What about the cover of "With a Little Help from my Friends" which
was used as a theme to "The Wonder Years" - full of screaming and
moaning? Don't even know who was the singer. Blah, I hate it.
Cheers.
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
Michal~ Szleper e-mail: mic...@fuw.edu.pl
Max-Planck-Institut fu"r Kernphysik
Postfach 103980 ; D-69029 Heidelberg "All you need is love, love,
phone: (6221) 516-461 Love is all you need..."
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
Chris Walker
tv show "Life goes on"
some other TV show, can't remember what show right now. The
guy definately needs to quit smoking 20 packs a day, and get
off the sedatives.
the one with the disco beat.
6. "I'm down" by Yes (only available on the recent 4-cd boxed set)
Chris Walker
I have'nt lisstened to the sountrack from the moovie "Sgt. Pepper" in a
long time, mainly because most of it is crap. but I thinlk that 90% of it
would definately be in the running for worst cover, especially the Bee Gee's
rendering of "Sgt.Pepper/With a little Help from My Friends".
Phil Miller
: Also, on a PBS show about six/seven months ago in tribute to the Beatles
: music Los Lobos did a fantastic cover of 'Tomorrow Never Knows.'
I caught the end of this show as I was flipping through the channels,
and it seemed intriguing. I wish I knew when they would show it again.
Too bad I missed Los Lobos doing "TNK" -- sounds like an interesting combo.
: Which brings to mind for 'Worst Covers' - Phil Collins 'Tomorrow Never
: Knows' and Elton John, 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'.
I used to dread Elton's "Lucy", but now I appreciate that he at least
transformed it into something differnt (as did Bill Shatner).
philll
Chris Walker
> Speaking of the worst covers of Beatles' tunes:
>
> What about the cover of "With a Little Help from my Friends" which
> was used as a theme to "The Wonder Years" - full of screaming and
> moaning? Don't even know who was the singer. Blah, I hate it.
>
> Cheers.
Thanks. I listted that as one of the worst a couple days ago, and I
expected to get flamed for it, because it's by Joe Coker, but it still sux in
my book. You're the 2nd person to agreee with it. At least now i know I'm not
totally wierd.
>
> *-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
> Michal~ Szleper e-mail: mic...@fuw.edu.pl
> Max-Planck-Institut fu"r Kernphysik
> Postfach 103980 ; D-69029 Heidelberg "All you need is love, love,
> phone: (6221) 516-461 Love is all you need..."
> *-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
_______________________________________________________________________
Fred Lukoff
>Here are my top candidates for worst cover of a Beatles tune:
>
> 1. The version of "Obla Di Obla Da" used as the theme for the
> tv show "Life goes on"
agreed.
> 2. The version of "WIth a little help from my friends" used for
> some other TV show, can't remember what show right now. The
> guy definately needs to quit smoking 20 packs a day, and get
> off the sedatives.
Do you mean Joe Cocker's version used in "The Wonder Years"? I agree
completely; I never could stand that version/
B Lukoff
Jamesa Willer
>In article <2e2r56$9...@hpscit.sc.hp.com> mil...@sc.hp.com (Phil Miller) writes:
>>My vote goes to Frank Sinatra's martini-soaked "Something" --
>>complete with clicks of a cigarette lighter and the inclusion
>>of the phrase, "Hey, Jack (I don't know)".
>Well, George must've been amused by it since he now sings it with the "Jack"
>phrase.
Yeah, but does he introduce it as his tribute to the world's greatest
songwriting team?
jaMesa Willer
[any opinions above should be soaked in lime juice prior to use]
Chris Walker
That's the one I was thinking of. I just drew a blank and couldn;t think
of which show it was, and who sang it. I knew it was soneone famous, just
couldn't remember who. I honestly expected to get flamed for that one, but I
haven't as yet. Honestly I think he sounds like he chain-smokes, which is
probably why he sings SOOOOOOOOOOO slow. It gets on my nerves. Flames welcome.
This is just my personal opinion. Feel free to disagree.
>
> B Lukoff
Michael Manion
: What about the cover of "With a Little Help from my Friends" which
: was used as a theme to "The Wonder Years" - full of screaming and
: moaning? Don't even know who was the singer. Blah, I hate it.
Cocker does all too many covers, and all too poorly. But I am actually
quite fond of this version.
"Feelin' Alright" by Traffic...there's one he REALLY butchers. (Hard to
believe he found a way to screw up such a simple song as that.) But, as
usual, I digress.
____________________________________________________________________________
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_ _ _ _
|\/| |\/|
| |/\| |
~ ~ ~ ~
____________________________________________________________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael Urbanski
>So what is the most poorly done cover of a Beatles' song?
>
>complete with clicks of a cigarette lighter and the inclusion
>of the phrase, "Hey, Jack (I don't know)".
>
>
>
How about William Shatner's Lucy in the Sky w/ Diamonds? I don't know the
original album, but it can be found on the album "Golden Throats" on the
Rhino label. Shatner's flair for overacting can be found on this number.
A must-have for Star Trek fans.
--
| Michael L. Urbanski | (212)783-6843 | DISCLAIMER: None
| Salomon Bros. Inc. | mi...@daffy.sbi.com | of this ever happened.
| 7 World Trade Center | uunet!sbi!daffy!mikeu |
| New York, NY 10048 | |
Phil Miller
: Here are my top candidates for worst cover of a Beatles tune:
:
: 1. The version of "Obla Di Obla Da" used as the theme for the
: tv show "Life goes on"
I liked this tv show (and I hate 98% of tv), but I always had to turn
the channel when the "Obla Di" theme came booming out in surround sound --
it's's so embarrassing.
: 2. The version of "WIth a little help from my friends" used for
: some other TV show, can't remember what show right now. The
: guy definately needs to quit smoking 20 packs a day, and get
: off the sedatives.
I can't take large doses of the "big band" era Cocker, but this is a great
cover. One of the few that has replaced the Beatles version in the general
public's consciusness as the "definitive" version.
: 3. "I saw him standing there" by Tiffany
Unlistenable -- to the max.
: 4. the "Stars on 45" meddly from about 10 years ago, you rember,
I did like the opening chant of "the Beatles go disco, the Beatles go disco"
for camp reasons. (Tiffany wasn't even up to those standards.)
: 5. "Every Little Thing" by Yes
I've never heard this, but it sounds truely horrid.
: 6. "I'm down" by Yes (only available on the recent 4-cd boxed set)
Ditto.
phil (ditto) (ditto)
David Hines
>: >So what is the most poorly done cover of a Beatles' song?
In Australia a buy called John Farnham did a version of "Help" at half
speed, sort of as a slow, pain-filled ballad. It was awful.
Secondly, an album called "Beatle Barkers" which was Beatles toons played
on a sampler which had digital samples of dog barks. Urrrghhhh!
DAVE
(From NZ)
David Hines
>4) Elanor Rigby by a guy who was with Spike Jones (odd name)
Spike Jones was a very funny guy who did send ups of many classical
pieces, the most famous being the William Tell Overture which he
turned into a horse race. He also did one where the theme was "played"
by a man making gurgling noises. John Lennon would have (and maybe
did) approve - it was all very Goon show-ish.
DAVE
(From NZ)
JPK...@psuvm.psu.edu
How about his stirring rendition of She Came in Through the Bathroom Window?
.
Janne H Leminen
: Actual, I thought the Carpenter's version of "Ticket To Ride" was bloody
: awful. That's one of the worst Beatles covers.
I agree!
EFRAIN O. MORALES
writes:
>Here are my top candidates for worst cover of a Beatles tune:
>
> 2. The version of "WIth a little help from my friends" used for
> some other TV show, can't remember what show right now. The
> guy definately needs to quit smoking 20 packs a day, and get
> off the sedatives.
>_______________________________________________________________________
>Chris Walker | The more people I meet, |
>e-mail: cdwa...@acs.harding.edu | the more I like my dog |
>ma-bell:(501) 268-9132 | Carpe Diem |
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
That's from the show "The Wonder Years" and it's performed
by Joe Cocker. IMO, this is a rather good cover! (The show played
another Beatles cover, but I can't remember which song. Also, the show
has a guitarrist, who does most of their music tracks, and he has
arranged for the show many Beatles songs for solo steel string guitar. I can only
remeber "Blackbird" and "Here comes the Sun" as two of such songs.)
I'd be interested in knowing what some other people think
about JC's cover... (BTW, I'm not a JC fan)
Also, What is it that you don't/do like about it?
--Efrain O. Morales
Physics Dept.
Lehigh U., PA
--Efrain O. Morales
Physics Dept.
Lehigh U., PA
Richard Peters
the Beatles switched pronouns in their cover songs, too. Don't want to confuse sexual orientations
I guess (like they were real narratives)!
My Monday pet peeve,
Richard
ECL...@mvs.oac.ucla.edu
p...@dxnhd2.cern.ch (P2A88/Michal Szleper) writes:
>Speaking of the worst covers of Beatles' tunes:
>
>What about the cover of "With a Little Help from my Friends" which
>was used as a theme to "The Wonder Years" - full of screaming and
>moaning? Don't even know who was the singer. Blah, I hate it.
That's Joe Cocker. It's actually a GREAT cover. The spin is
much more bluesy than the original.
---*
Frank .pl
e,
---*
Jim Wong
>remeber "Blackbird" and "Here comes the Sun" as two of such songs.)
>I'd be interested in knowing what some other people think
>about JC's cover... (BTW, I'm not a JC fan)
>Also, What is it that you don't/do like about it?
>
Well, since you asked...
I've always despised Cocker's version of this song; I think the vocals
are overwrought and the arrangement is trite. I shudder whenever I hear
it start.
--
Jim Wong (jim...@owlnet.rice.edu)
P2A88/Michal Szleper
>
>That's from the show "The Wonder Years" and it's performed
>by Joe Cocker. IMO, this is a rather good cover! (The show played
>another Beatles cover, but I can't remember which song.
That was "In My Life", at the end of one of the episodes. Again,
I don't know who the singer was, but it wasn't (IMHO) a great
cover, either. I like the original much, much more.
Cheers.
Phil Miller
: That was "In My Life", at the end of one of the episodes. Again,
: I don't know who the singer was, but it wasn't (IMHO) a great
: cover, either. I like the original much, much more.
That was Judy Collins. I like the original best, too, but a lot
of people know of this song not from the Beatles version, but from her's.
philll
saki
rum...@pinn.nacjack.gen.nz (David Hines) writes:
Jones' and his band's humor was more slapstick and broad than the
Goons' existential and subtle comedy; Jones also relied more on
musical parodies, while the Goons' particular genius was in verbal
repartee (this is not to denigrate any of the Goons' admirable musical
accomplishments, viz., "I'm Walking Backwards For Christmas" and "The
Ying Tong Song"). That said, it's possible that Lennon had been
exposed to Spike Jones via wartime/postwar radiophonic
cross-pollination. But I can't recall John ever mentioning directly
that he liked Spike Jones, though perhaps a quote is buried somewhere.
Of course, both groups had a guy named Spike in them!
I'm still in the dark about what Eleanor Rigby has to do with Spike
Jones, however. :-)
--
"As music critic I have had to subject my eardrums to more than
a little of the cacophony which dominates the hit parade but the
stuff shouted by these Liverpudlian tonsorial horrors left me
particularly unimpressed."-------------saki (dm...@math.ucla.edu)
Bill Shoemaker
least one of Dr. Demento's compilations.
Bill Shoemaker
Bruce Dumes
>I'm still in the dark about what Eleanor Rigby has to do with Spike
>Jones, however. :-)
>
I think the original post had to do with a version of Eleanor Rigby
performed by Doodles Weaver, whose "Professor Feetlebaum" routines
climaxed many a Spike Jones radio show in the 1940's.
Chris Walker
> >: In article <2e2r56$9...@hpscit.sc.hp.com>,
> >: mil...@sc.hp.com (Phil Miller) writes:
>
> >: >So what is the most poorly done cover of a Beatles' song?
>
> In Australia a buy called John Farnham did a version of "Help" at half
Didn't John Farnahm sing with the Litte River Band for an album or two? He
did some ok stuff with them, if it's the same guy Im thinking of.
> speed, sort of as a slow, pain-filled ballad. It was awful.
>
> Secondly, an album called "Beatle Barkers" which was Beatles toons played
> on a sampler which had digital samples of dog barks. Urrrghhhh!
>
> DAVE
> (From NZ)
_______________________________________________________________________
Porritt / Simon John (ISE)
Joe Cocker also covered Bathroom Window, although that one wasn't *too*
bad ....
I agree with Dave (from NZ) that John Farnham really stuffed Help! up,
it's not a soulful song, it's a frantic plea. But anyway.
Simon
Van Swofford
I ran across yet another version of "In My Life" last night while digging
thru the vinyl. It is by Oliver, on the "Good Morning Starshine" album.
I gave it a listen, and it follows the original style. I kinda like it,
but then I'm a little biased - he's family. If anybody else in the world
actually still has this album, give it a listen. You might like it, or
then again, you might hate it!
--
______________________________________________________________________________
"Half of what I say is meaningless....." - John Lennon
Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to determine which half.
ko...@cruzio.com
> I'm still in the dark about what Eleanor Rigby has to do with Spike
> Jones, however. :-)
Elect me king for life if I'm wrong, but I believe the connection
goes something like this: Jones had a vocalist named Doodles Weaver
who, long after Jones' heyday, recorded a solo-with-piano version
of Eleanor Rigby. Weaver played it drunk, repeatedly flubbing the
lyrics.
"Maryilin Higby, er...Jocelyn Frisbee...no that can't be right...
Eleanor Rigby, picks up the mice, engages in vice, er..."
It's actually pretty funny. Maybe the folks over at rec.music.dementia
know what we're talking about.
--
ko...@cruzio.com, a.k.a. Marty Stevens
"Networks are hell, take it from me." -- ch...@cruzio.santa-cruz.ca.us
Chuck Cochems
name), and he did mess up the lyrics a lot..
"Eleanor Rigby... eats all the rice in the church.. (no, no, not eats all
the rice...) Eleanor Rigby, picks up the dice, uh, raises the price, uh,
chops up the ice, uh, traffics advice, no no no, kills all the mice in
the church.. well, that would be cruel, we'd better start all over
again.."
This probably isn't right, but I'm doing it from memory, and it's been a
while. But this was the funny version I heard..
--
zap...@camelot.bradley.edu
My random-sig is unavailable today, you just have to settle for this
stupid .signature...
SPISPOPD RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom Stockman
: In article <203013.346...@pinn.nacjack.gen.nz>
: rum...@pinn.nacjack.gen.nz (David Hines) writes:
: >In <93342.141...@psuvm.psu.edu> <JPK...@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
: >>4) Elanor Rigby by a guy who was with Spike Jones (odd name)
: I'm still in the dark about what Eleanor Rigby has to do with Spike
: Jones, however. :-)
Hmmm, well, I missed this thread 'till I saw this posting.
I just posted this under worst cover songs...seems this guy named
Doodles Weaver used to perform with Spike, in fact, Doodles did the
"announcer" in the William Tell Overture/horse race song.
Doodles also did a send-up of Eleanor Rigby that is *classic*. Ends
with someone slamming the keyboard cover on his poor little fingers...
I've got it on one of Dr. Demento's collections. It's a must.
"Eleanor Rigby...
eats all the rice in the church where her wedding had been...
no no no no no no..."
----------------------------------------------------------------nor
Tom Stockman to...@ihs.com
...and the moral to this story is,
never trust a rich dead man's wife.
- Stan Ridgeway
Tom Stockman
: Cocker does all too many covers, and all too poorly. But I am actually
: quite fond of this version.
Come onnn...all of Cocker's covers are bad? His version of Randy Neuman's
"You Can Leave Your Hat On" was *tremendous*...and "She Came In Through
The Bathroom Window" has been favorably reviewed in this thread...I
think the most interesting cover of that song, might qualify in the
minds of some as the worse Beatles cover, was performed by Jesse Colin
Young and the Youngbloods.
This swingin' version appeared on a vinyl release called "High on a
Ridgetop", an album containing almost all covers of mostly really old
classics...the sad thing about the Beatles cover is that bad as it is,
it's still better than many on the album...there are some TURKEYS on
this disk! And some real gems, too. To tell the truth, I special
ordered it on CD from Japan a few months back.
Joe Cocker doing too many covers, and not very well? Say it ain't so!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Stockman to...@ihs.com
...I thought about going into law, but the phrase
"passing the bar" just sounds too eerie.
- Willie 'n' Ethel
saki
writes:
>Elect me king for life if I'm wrong, but I believe the connection
>goes something like this: Jones had a vocalist named Doodles Weaver
>who, long after Jones' heyday, recorded a solo-with-piano version
>of Eleanor Rigby. Weaver played it drunk, repeatedly flubbing the
>lyrics.
>
>"Maryilin Higby, er...Jocelyn Frisbee...no that can't be right...
> Eleanor Rigby, picks up the mice, engages in vice, er..."
Thanks. Now I understand. I've been a fan of Spike and Co. for some
time, but know his forties work better than offshoots from the
sixties.
Weaver's schtick (if I may use a technical term here) was not so much
playing it drunk as it was trying to ennunciate while negotiating
massive verbal malapropismic impediments, as you've exemplified above.
I don't know if he originated this gag or adapted it from another
comic now lost to us in the shadows of vaudeville. I recently saw a
Warner Bros. cartoon, circa 1938, where a character used this precise
device to announce the results of a horse race; perhaps Spike Jones
mavens can tell us whether Weaver's technique extends back this far in
time.
Comedians were not unknown in the world of the Beatles lampoon.
Witness Peter Sellers, whose "A Hard Day's Night", if memory serves,
was done in an Indian accent. Or at least one of his parodies was....
John Poul Kiefer
.
Chris Walker
In <2ea7bs$e...@hpscit.sc.hp.com> mil...@sc.hp.com writes:
> ECL...@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU wrote:
>
> : Also, on a PBS show about six/seven months ago in tribute to the Beatles
> : music Los Lobos did a fantastic cover of 'Tomorrow Never Knows.'
>
> I caught the end of this show as I was flipping through the channels,
> and it seemed intriguing. I wish I knew when they would show it again.
> Too bad I missed Los Lobos doing "TNK" -- sounds like an interesting combo.
>
> : Which brings to mind for 'Worst Covers' - Phil Collins 'Tomorrow Never
> : Knows' and Elton John, 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'.
>
> I used to dread Elton's "Lucy", but now I appreciate that he at least
> transformed it into something differnt (as did Bill Shatner).
I never thought a whole lot of Elton's Lucy. But i did enjoy Phil Collin's
"Tommorrow never knows", but that may be because I';m a big Phil Collins fan. I
thought faintly sung lyrics from "Somewhere over the rainbow" at the end were
an interesting touch.
>
>
> philll
EFRAIN O. MORALES
al Szleper) writes:
>EFRAIN O. MORALES writes:
>>
>>That's from the show "The Wonder Years" and it's performed
>>by Joe Cocker. IMO, this is a rather good cover! (The show played
>>another Beatles cover, but I can't remember which song.
>
>I don't know who the singer was, but it wasn't (IMHO) a great
>cover, either. I like the original much, much more.
>
I agree with you on the IML cover. (Was that Joan Baez?)
--Efarin O. Morales
Physics Dept.
Lehigh U, PA USA
Brian Leibowitz
>How about the immortal mall-diva, Tiffany, and her version of "I Saw HIM Standing There"? Oh well,
>the Beatles switched pronouns in their cover songs, too. Don't want to confuse sexual orientations
I know that the copyright holder cannot stop someone from covering a song, but
permission IS required if the song is altered. I would guess that changing
the gender or small changes of that nature are allowed, but what is the
law on this. How much change is allowed before you are required to get
permission. Parodies require permission if they change the lyrics, but
a parody like the Doodles Weaver (with Spike Jones) Elanor Rigby would not
require permission because he does not change the lyrics (although he
does interject comments and mis-sings lines and then corrects them - this
might cross the line on changing the song and require permission. [I agree
with DAVE (From NZ) that John would probably approve of this one])
Many artists embellish songs by adding arpeggios or other embellishments -
how does this enter into the permissions situation- how much is altering the
work.
Brian I jest to Oberon and make him smile - Will S.
David Hines
>Bingo. Doodles Weaver.
>I heard a cover of Elanor Rigby on Dr. Demento one night, that was simply
>hilarious. Luckily I had the cassette recorder running at the time.
>The name of the guy who did the song slipped my mind, but I remembered he
>was associated with Spike Jones. Doodles Weaver... I can sleep now.
G'night!
DAVE
(From NZ)
David Hines
>> In Australia a buy called John Farnham did a version of "Help" at half
> Didn't John Farnahm sing with the Litte River Band for an album or two? He
>did some ok stuff with them, if it's the same guy Im thinking of.
Yes. He's a fantastic vocalist, and most of his staff I love. This, however
was just too overdone.
DAVE
(From NZ)
Chris Walker
Next qestion, Didn;t John Farnham replace Glen Shorrock as Lead Vocalist
for LRB? and how many albums was it? After "The Net", I lost track of the
albums they put out.
_______________________________________________________________________
Chris Walker | The more people I meet, |
e-mail: cdwa...@acs.harding.edu | the more I like my dog |
ma-bell:(501) 268-9132 | Carpe Diem |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
In Germany they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because
I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn't
speak up because I wasn't a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me- and
by that time no one was left to speak up.
--Pastor Martin Neinmoeller.
james lowe 9208 U
>Here are my top candidates for worst cover of a Beatles tune:
>
> tv show "Life goes on"
Agreed. It was brutal.
> 2. The version of "WIth a little help from my friends" used for
> some other TV show, can't remember what show right now. The
> guy definately needs to quit smoking 20 packs a day, and get
> off the sedatives.
That guy was Joe Cocker! Haven't you seen Woodstock, man? Not nearly as
good as the Beatles original, but not as bad as you say. (the show was the
Wonder Years, BTW)
> 3. "I saw him standing there" by Tiffany
The worst Beatles cover ever!!!!!!!
> 4. the "Stars on 45" meddly from about 10 years ago, you rember,
> the one with the disco beat.
Actually, i'm embarassed to admit that i like it...and i've got it on CD!
Its just so cheezy that i adore it. Also, its a way to hear the Beatles in
a dance club.
> 5. "Every Little Thing" by Yes
> 6. "I'm down" by Yes (only available on the recent 4-cd boxed set)
i've never heard either of these, so i'll take your word for it.
jim
Phil
>about JC's cover... (BTW, I'm not a JC fan)
>Also, What is it that you don't/do like about it?
I like it! Especially the fact that good 'ol Jimmy Page plays guitar on it!
Phil
>
>That was "In My Life", at the end of one of the episodes. Again,
>I don't know who the singer was, but it wasn't (IMHO) a great
>cover, either. I like the original much, much more.
>
-geoff
Thomas Menner
In article <1993120918...@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU>,
ECL...@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU writes:
|> Are we forgetting the completely forgetable soundtrack to 'Sgt. Pepper
|> the Movie' with the, gulp, BeeGees? Big BOMB!
Two local Pittsburgh DJs had made the comment that the only good thing
about the 'Sgt Pepper' movie/soundtrack fiasco was that it
simultaneously wiped out the careers of the BeeGees and Peter
Frampton. 8-)
That aside, George Burns' cover of "Fixing a Hole" from that same
movie .... *shudder* ... for me is the worst-ever Beatles cover.
Tom Menner I When you're swimming in the creek
Software Engineering Institute I And an eel bites your cheek,
Carnegie Mellon University I That's a moray!
Pittsburgh, PA I - Fabulous Furry Freak Bros.
John Poul Kiefer
I heard a cover of Elanor Rigby on Dr. Demento one night, that was simply
hilarious. Luckily I had the cassette recorder running at the time.
The name of the guy who did the song slipped my mind, but I remembered he
was associated with Spike Jones. Doodles Weaver... I can sleep now.
.
Jeff Morris
>goes something like this: Jones had a vocalist named Doodles Weaver
>who, long after Jones' heyday, recorded a solo-with-piano version
>of Eleanor Rigby. Weaver played it drunk, repeatedly flubbing the
>lyrics.
Yep, this is it, but I don't know if he really played it drunk, it just
sounds that way. The style used on "Eleanor Rigby" is the same style Doodles
used on many records earlier in his career.
The track is available on the out-of-print Warner Brothers album _Dr.
Demento's Delights_ - Dr. D's first album from 1975.
Karen Sprinkle
> I'd love to hear Frank do "Rigby".
Uggh!!!
Karen
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Announcing... [LEISURENet @ 190906] [Internet pil!yensid!<user>@PacBell.COM]
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Karen Sprinkle
> >
> > Also "When I'm Sixty-Four", also performed by John Denver.
I thought Mother Nature's Son by John Denver was bad--fortunately, I've never
heard him do the two mentioned above. There ought to be a law against him
doing any Beatles songs. I also thought some of the cover songs done at the
John Lennon tribute in 1990 in Liverpool were pretty bad.
Karen Sprinkle
> How about his stirring rendition of She Came in Through the Bathroom Window?
I like it!
Karen Sprinkle
This is only my opinion, but UGGH!!! I hate that twang.
Karen Sprinkle
> some other TV show, can't remember what show right now. The
> guy definately needs to quit smoking 20 packs a day, and get
> off the sedatives.
It's Joe Cocker on the Wonder Years (lots of Bestles songs, references on
this show.) I love Joe's version of this song. I also like the way he does
John's Isolation.
Jay Smith
writes:
[re: "With A Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker]
>I love Joe's version of this song.
This is only my opinion, but UGGH!!! I hate that wheeze.
--
Jay C. Smith
Domain/internet: smi...@dg-rtp.dg.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"That guy up there's gotta stop; he'll see us."
Karen Sprinkle
I've posted this before, but I really like his With A Little Help (I'm almost
afraid to admit even to myself probably better than Ringo's which I also
like) and Bathroom Window, but I also like his cover of John's Isolation,
maybe better than John's which again I'm afraid to admit, as performed at the
lennon tribute. I haven't read anyone else's opinions on his cover of
Isolation? What do you all think of it?
Karen Sprinkle
> I don't know who the singer was, but it wasn't (IMHO) a great
> cover, either. I like the original much, much more.
Speaking of In My Life, Meredith Baxter Birney on Family Ties once sang this
song in a very folksy style. AWFUL!
David Hines
>Re: Re: Worst Beatle-Song Cover
>> Joe Cocker doing too many covers, and not very well? Say it ain't so!
>I've posted this before, but I really like his With A Little Help (I'm almost
>afraid to admit even to myself probably better than Ringo's which I also
>like) and Bathroom Window, but I also like his cover of John's Isolation,
>maybe better than John's which again I'm afraid to admit, as performed at the
>lennon tribute. I haven't read anyone else's opinions on his cover of
>Isolation? What do you all think of it?
Yeah, excellent. More anguished and soulful than John's, which is
more wistful IMHO
DAVE
(From NZ)
David Hines
>Speaking of In My Life, Meredith Baxter Birney on Family Ties once sang this
>song in a very folksy style. AWFUL!
Yes! Yes! Most definitely the worst cover ever! I'd forgotten this one.
And all the family sitting in the audience looking proudly at thier mom!
Ugh!!!
DAVE
(From NZ)
Tom Stockman
: In <1221199...@yensid.UUCP> ka...@yensid.UUCP (Karen Sprinkle) writes:
: >> Joe Cocker doing too many covers, and not very well? Say it ain't so!
: >I've posted this before, but I really like his With A Little Help (I'm almost
: >afraid to admit even to myself probably better than Ringo's which I also
: >like) and Bathroom Window, but I also like his cover of John's Isolation,
: >maybe better than John's which again I'm afraid to admit, as performed at the
: >lennon tribute. I haven't read anyone else's opinions on his cover of
: >Isolation? What do you all think of it?
I have yet to hear Joe Cocker do a Beatles cover I didn't like...and I
don't even much care for Joe Cocker.
'Course, probably Joe's best cover ever is You Can Leave Your Hat On,
originally by Randy Neuman, which may tell you all you need to know about me...
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Stockman to...@ihs.com
...and the moral to this story is,
never trust a rich dead man's wife.
- Stan Ridgeway