050 Covers that are better than the originals

I’m pretty sure that you’ve all played this game before.

This week Elizabeth from The Roaring Machine has asked us to choose the cover versions that we feel surpass their originals .. which really isn’t easy. Once you have had a listen make sure you leave us a comment about how right or wrong we are!

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Playlist:

(00:00) Vivian Stanshall & The Big Boys - There’s no room to rhumba in a sports car

Tim from The Face of Today

(03:04) The Slits - I heard it through the grapevine

Elizabeth from The Roaring Machine
and Simon from Spoilt Victorian Child

(08:00) Cassettes Won’t Listen - The freed pig

Marcy from Lost in your inbox

(12:59) Majority One - A hard day’s night

Ross from Just Gimme Indie Rock

(16:39) Shonen Knife - Top of the world

FiL from Pogoagogo

(22:12) Magazine - Thank you (falletinme be mice elf agin)

Mark from Cinema du Lyon

(26:34) Fun Boy Three - Our lips are sealed

Colin from And before the first kiss

(30:17) Califone - The orchids

ZB from So the wind won’t blow it all away

(33:48) Siouxsie & The Banshees - Helter Skelter

Crash from Pretending life is like a song

(37:14) Throwdown - Baby got back

Waffles from Waffles Radio

(41:43) D’Angelo - She’s always in my hair

Fraser from BKYLN song of the day

(46:01) Linda Ronstadt - Willing

Natalie from Mini-Obs

(49:59) Dim Stars - Rip off

Bob from Gimme Tinnitus

(53:24) Tom Jones & The Cardigans - Burning down the house

Dan Beahm from Dan Beahm & The Invisible Three

(57:52) The Wedding Present - Make me smile (come up and see me)

Jamie from The Run-Out Groove

(01:02:15) Embrace - How come?

Tom from Other People’s Toys

Thanks to all of you who took part and listened.

Next week’s theme, chosen by The Duke of Straw from The Late Greats, is Cool Choones for Children. We always welcome new contributors so if you’d like to send something child friendly along and aren’t sure what to do then read our FAQ. Take care!

Please leave a comment about the podcast by clicking here.

18 Comments so far
Leave a comment

let me be the first to say that i think this podcast pretty much covers all the bases! (sorry, couldn’t resist)

I love the picture of Liz during her blonde period…
Sultry. Mmm.

Great podcast Tim, and many thanks for allowing me to be a part of it.
I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.

All the very best.

Simon
x

I think The Wedding Present is in the lead for most Contrast Podcast submissions–and they deserve it! Yeah, Weddoes!

Just posted a similar deal over on my website….. I dig your choices… definetly some I overlooked!

Thanks to Tim and everyone for making my wildest covers fantasies come true. I honestly loved every single track, and the teasing about my tweeness was very much appreciated as well. The Orchids and Fun Boy Three went down like a treat.

And can I just say, the CP isn’t looking a day over 49?

Liz x.

Loved that Fun Boy Three cover of Our Lips Are Sealed - somehow managed to sound like an 80’s tune even after translation. Tom Jones & The Cardigans was, well, what can I say there? And I dug the funky sounds of Cassettes Won’t Listen. Thanks, Tim & CPers!

Cassettes Won’t Listen, Sebadoh cover, oh yeah !!!

Totally forgot about the slits cover of heard it through the grapevine. Good one Elizabeth and Simon.

When are you guys getting married then, hee hee !!

I love that shonen knife song, excellent choice. Not had a chance to listen yet but looking forward to it eeee-mensely.

Sooo happy to hear The Slits! And yeah, that’s one of the best album covers ever!

One more thing, my favorite cover may be knocked off by one I just heard at Pitchfork: Patti Smiths bombastic cover of The Rolling Stones Gimme Shelter. It rocks. You can hear it over here:

Pitchfork Patti Smith Review

Thanks, Tim, I am sometimes html challenged!

i just listened to that patti smith cover of gimmer shelter and it’s freaking awesome. she still sounds terrific.

oops–gimme, i meant gimme. : )

A splendid, joyous podcast on soooo many levels!!

Dearest Liz & Simon, I guess we have David’s lawyers to thank for that wonderful Slits track! Punky reggae party indeed…

Dear Mark, Thank You Fasherrin That Love Lee Mack Ah Scene track!

Dearest Fraser, so good to hear you, your impeccably good music taste, and your incontestable logic once again!!

Dearest Crash, what can I say? Oh, yeah!!!

And Dearest Nats, thank you for flying the Ronstadt flag and putting the real Contrast into this week’s Podcast!!!

“Ronstadt flag.” That will keep me laughing all day, FiL. Yes, someone has to put the “Contrast” in “Contrast Podcast,” and this week, it was me. I love old Linda Ronstadt stuff and I’m not ashamed one bit. “Heart Like A Wheel” holds up after all these years.

I forgot to mention that I consider all of my most favorite covers better than the originals. But, Dan, I have trouble with any cover of Talking Heads topping the original. (But you said that, too.) I know, it’s all a matter of personal taste.

That music is absolutely brilliant!

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050 Covers that are better than the originals

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