Thursdays and Covers

I'm feeling rather Beatlesy today, hopefully you are too.

[MP3] Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends

Probably one of the more famous Beatle covers, Mr. Raspy Voice himself rearranged this Ringo gem in a fashion that added an entirely new layer of depth to the song. Having a voice that is the polar opposite of Starr's is one way to grab a listener's attention, but Cocker's dramatic instrumentation, gospel influenced back-up singers, and guitar lines contributed by Jimmy Page make this cover too good to pass up.

[MP3] Stereophonics - Don't Let Me Down

So what if having an entire soundtrack of Beatle covers takes the wind from Beatle cover-seeking sails? I Am Sam was a great movie with a great soundtrack that, not surprisingly, resulted in some great covers. This Sterophonics version always manages to catch my ear, probably due to my love for the emotionally charged original. Switching from electric guitar to acoustic was a nice touch by the British trio.

[MP3] Jack Blades - Day Tripper

With an aptly named compilation album titled Butchering the Beatles: A Headbashing Tribute, Blades and company take an extremely popular guitar riff and shred it harder than playing a Guitar Hero song on expert. The original was full of high harmonies and had sort of sugar coating - two components that usually don't translate well in a harder version, yet Blades and his crew manage to showcase the song's integrity without distorting it beyond repair.

---

Related Posts