100 Greatest Cover Versions: The Ultimate Playlist

Robert Webb

McNidder and Grace Limited, Jul 15, 2013 - Music - 196 pages

Which Blondie Top Five was originally a flop for a West Coast power pop band? Who wrote Alice Cooper's 1973 hit 'Hello Hurray', and which folk singer first recorded it? Who launched their career with a tear and a cover of a little known Prince song? Where was Joe Cocker sitting when he came up with the idea of covering 'With a Little Help from my Friends?'. Everybody likes a good song and a good story. The 100 Greatest Cover Versions traces the histories of some of the great songs you may know only as second-hand recordings and explores some unusual and creative takes on a few of pop's well-known tracks. Based on the Independent's popular long-running Story of the Song column, this collection features previously unpublished pieces alongside fully expanded, updated stories. Robert Webb details the background to each song how it was written, who first recorded it and how it came to be covered and explains how, in some cases, the cover version has become more popular than the original. Artists range from Patti Smith to the Happy Mondays, David Bowie to Florence + the Machine, and Stevie Wonder to Robert Wyatt. The book also includes additional further listening suggestions and a bonus track. Whether you download, rip from CD or stream your music, the Ultimate Playlist series provides the perfect accompaniment to your personal compilation. The series aims to guide listeners through large and often bewildering back catalogues of the major artists as well as key genres and styles in popular music. If you love music and you enjoy knowing more about the history behind some of pop's greatest songs, then you will love this book.

Contents

• LOUIE LOUIE: 1
• ITS ALL OVER NOW: 3
• SAILING: 5
• JACKIE WILSON SAID IM IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU SMILE: 7
• THE BOOK OF LOVE: 9
• TAINTED LOVE: 11
• SORROW: 13
• KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG: 16
• I SHOT THE SHERIFF: 18
• ALWAYS ON MY MIND: 20
• DELILAH: 22
• SHES NOT THERE: 24
• MADNESS: 26
• ELOISE: 28
• ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN: 30
• A HARD RAINS AGONNA FALL: 34
• I FOUGHT THE LAW: 36
• STAND BY ME: 38
• GET DOWN AND GET WITH IT: 40
• WALK AWAY RENEE: 42
• DENIS: 44
• LIGHT MY FIRE: 46
• DEAR PRUDENCE: 50
• I GO TO SLEEP: 52
• THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT: 54
• BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX: 58
• YOUNG GIFTED AND BLACK: 60
• MONEYS TOO TIGHT TO MENTION: 62
• TAKE ME TO THE RIVER: 64
• HEY JOE: 66
• HELLO HURRAY: 68
• WILD WORLD: 72
• HUSH: 74
• WALK THIS WAY: 76
• BLINDED BY THE LIGHT: 78
• TWIST AND SHOUT: 80
• HOLD BACK THE NIGHT: 82
• GO NOW: 84
• GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU: 86
• WAR: 88
• LOVE HURTS: 90
• I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE: 92
• SUPERSTITION: 94
• A NEW ENGLAND: 98
• MYSTERY TRAIN: 100
• HOUND DOG: 104
• MY BOY LOLLIPOP: 106
• I FEEL FOR YOU: 108
• STORMY MONDAY: 112
• BIG YELLOW TAXI: 114
• WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS: 116
• CARAVAN OF LOVE: 118
• IM A BELIEVER: 120
• DIRTY OLD TOWN: 122
• FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE: 124
• GLORIA: 126
• AINT NO SUNSHINE: 128
• BLACKWATER SIDE: 130
• FELL IN LOVE WITH A BOY: 132
• MONY MONY: 134
• THIS WHEELS ON FIRE: 136
• BETTE DAVIS EYES: 138
• COMFORTABLY NUMB: 140
• FREAK LIKE ME: 142
• HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE: 144
• HAZY SHADE OF WINTER: 146
• HURT: 148
• NEXT: 150
• MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA: 152
• NOTHING COMPARES 2 U: 154
• ONLY YOU: 156
• PIECE OF MY HEART: 158
• RAY OF LIGHT: 160
• SONG TO THE SIREN: 162
• THE LONG WAY HOME: 164
• VALERIE: 166
• LOUISIANA 1927: 168
• YOUVE GOT THE LOVE: 170
• YOUVE GOT A FRIEND: 172
• LETS STICK TOGETHER: 174
• SUMMERTIME BLUES: 176
• A GOOD YEAR FOR THE ROSES: 178
• ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART: 180
• ROCKIN ALL OVER THE WORLD: 182
• STEP ON: 184
• THE DAYS OF PEARLY SPENCER: 186
• HANDBAGS AND GLADRAGS: 188
• NO MORE I LOVE YOUS: 190
• SAY YOU DONT MIND: 192
• RED RED WINE: 194
• ACROSS THE UNIVERSE: 196
• I CANT GET NO SATISFACTION: 198
• MONEY THATS WHAT I WANT: 200
• WITHOUT YOU: 202
• HALLELUJAH: 204
• HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART: 206
• I CANT STAND UP FOR FALLING DOWN: 208
• PROMISED LAND: 210
• THEY LONG TO BE CLOSE TO YOU: 212
• BABY I LOVE YOU: 214
• SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT: 216

Bibliographic information

• Title: 100 Greatest Cover Versions: The Ultimate Playlist; Volume 1 of Ultimate Playlist
• Author: Robert Webb
• Publisher: McNidder and Grace Limited, 2013
• ISBN: 0857160575, 9780857160577
• Length: 196 pages
• Subjects: Music / Discography & Buyer's Guides; Music / General