Jealous Guy Times Two

John Lennon's song "Jealous Guy," from his Imagine album, is one of his most popular solo songs, even going top 40 in 1988 during the "Oh no he di-int, Albert Goldman!" days. While I liked it well enough, I always thought it could have been done better. Come to find out, I wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Roxy Music did a cover as a tribute to Lennon shortly after his death, going to number 1 in the UK (their only #1). As with so much of later Roxy Music, there's a smooth sophistication that works well, and Bryan Ferry is able to look and sound appropriately hangdog.



What I never realized was that the song could use a little crunch. Thank God Lou Reed found the need and filled it. This is from October 2001, in a John's birthday/9/11 tribute, and considering how few covers Lou's done, it's great to see him take a near-standard and make it all his own.

The Man That Got Away Times Two

Anyone who's not floored by Judy Garland's rendition of "The Man That Got Away" in the movie A Star is Born has lost their soul, and I feel sorry for them.



I wanted to feature Jeff Buckley's version in this twofer, but it's not on YouTube, so I went scouting for a few others. This was the one that impressed me the most - it just happens to be done by a Judy impersonator named Jim Bailey. I think it holds a single candle to the original, which of course is its intent.

Tomorrow Is a Long Time Times Two

"Elvis recorded a song of mine," Bob Dylan once said. "That's the one recording I treasure most."

The song Dylan's referring to is "Tomorrow Is a Long Time." He never recorded a studio version; it was released on his second greatest hits album from a concert he'd given eight years earlier. Here it is, scoring pictures of him with Suze Rotolo, best known as the girl clinging to him on the Freewheelin' Bob Dylan album cover.



Elvis's version was buried on the Spinout soundtrack, despite not being in the movie. He gives it a swampy Southern acoustic feel and That Voice floats above it, eerie and beautiful all at once.



Thought that'd be a nice way to close out 2007. PS - Happy birthday, John!

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me Times Two

On the Agony Booth, my bad-movie-celebration website of choice, we discuss all sorts of other pieces of pop culture. One person asked for suggestions of cover songs that bettered the originals, and another person brought up Elvis Presley's take on the Dusty Springfield classic "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me." I found it hard to believe that anybody could top this...



...but then I heard the King's version, and I have to say, I think he does it.

Ring of Fire Times Two

I've already showcased one excellent cover of the Johnny Cash classic "Ring of Fire," but I didn't think it would hurt to feature a couple more interesting ones.

First we have a live version by Social Distortion, who made the song (if not their own) all theirs for a while.



Then there's the Wall of Voodoo version. It's not quite "Mexican Radio," but it'll do nicely.



Or at least it would if it doesn't cut off with two minutes left in the clip. So to make it up for you, here are a couple of kids totally feelin' it.

Man from the South Times Three

I'm going off to Maine for a few days and won't be back until the end of the week, meaning no updates until Sunday. But I hate to leave you completely in the lurch, so here's nearly an hour an a half to tide you over.

Roald Dahl's best known for all his children's books, but he was a mighty fine storyteller for adults as well. He liked the macabre humor and the last minute plot twist, and he was great at describing people. I still remember the ratty hitchhiker in "The Hitcher," and the wine critic darting his tongue in a glass in "Taste."

One of his stories, "Man from the South," has been turned into a screenplay three times (four if you count Quentin Tarantino's using it in Four Rooms). I think it might be quite informative to stack them up one after another and see their likeness and differences. Don't you? Course you do.

So here's the Alfred Hitchcock Presents version from 1960, starring Peter Lorre and Steve McQueen.



Here's the Tales of the Unexpected version from 1979, starring Jose Ferrer and Michael Ontkean (Slap Shot, Twin Peaks) and introduced by Dahl himself.



Finally, the 1985 pilot for the updated Alfred Hitchcock Presents, with John Huston and Steven Bauer, plus a fairly impressive cast of women.



See you when I get back...

Bowie and friend

David Bowie's had a great career, but it can be argued that he's at his greatest when he's collaborating with somebody. It could be a good guitarist, like Mick Ronson, or a good producer, like Brian Eno, or a good singer, like Bing Crosby.

Here are a couple of concerts where he teamed up with another singer, and the results are great.

"Queen Bitch" comes from Hunky Dory, where Bowie notes, "Some V.U. white light returned with thanks." Lou Reed returned the favor in 1997 at this show in Madison Square Garden.



And here's David, in full-on Ziggy regalia, duetting with Marianne Faithfull, who's disguised as a nun. Thank God for the '70s.

Ain't No Sunshine Times Two

Bill Withers's song "Ain't No Sunshine" has been called a perfect song, and I'm guessing there are few musicians who would disagree. It's been covered a lot, by everyone from Michael Jackson to Kenny Rogers. Here are two of those covers. I like to think of them as "the wrong way" and "the right way."

First, here's Sting, with an oooo-aren't-we-jazzmasters version that couldn't be more earnest if it went to camp. The 'stache ain't helping matters, either.



From the first seconds of Freddie King's clip, you know that this is something different, and not just because of how he wears his guitar strap. This goes right for the gut, and it nails it. I don't even miss the "I know, I know, I know" part. This, my friends, is how to cover a song.

Ticket to Ride Times Two

A little trivia about the Beatles song "Ticket to Ride":

*It's more Lennon than McCartney, but Paul was the one who came up with the lopsided drum pattern

*John would later claim that this was the first heavy metal record.

*It went to #1 in May of '65, replacing "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and being replaced by "Help Me Rhonda."

Here are a couple of diametrically opposed covers; one's by Aleksey Igudesman and Richard Hyung-Ki Joo, from their show "A Little Nightmare Music" (thanks, Zach)...



...and one's by the seminal punk group Husker Du. You've got to wait a good six and a half minutes before the song starts, and I'll understand if you can't wait that long, but I love seeing and listening to Bob, Grant & Greg in their prime.



And what the hell - howzabout a rare vid of the Fabulous Foursome to top it off.

Suspicious Minds Times Two

I was just in a disagreement with someone about the importance of cover songs, and it sent me to the web to find some favorites to back up my point. Here's one of them, a cover of one of Elvis Presley's absolute greatest hits, "Suspicious Minds." Watching this, it's almost incomprehensible why the Fine Young Cannibals didn't make it beyond Next Big Thing status. Roland Gift is absolutely magnetic.



From the sublime to the ridiculous - here's an absolute train wreck of a karaoke version. Between the roaring grunts and the awkward backup performers, it's very difficult to look away. But I don't think I'll have the stomach to watch it too many times...

Abba Fab

Recently I was asked where I stood on the straight/gay scale; I said, "With one being completely straight and ten being completely gay, I'm probably a three point five." There was a moment of surprised silence, and then I added, "I love Abba. What are you going to do?"

So yes, let's have a round for Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anna-Frid, second only to Volvo as Sweden's biggest export earner (yep, even more than the meatballs). There was nothing quite like those killer melodies and shrieking harmonies, and even though they weren't as revered in America as they were elsewhere, the fact remains: Abba crush.

Everyone should have a favorite Abba song, and this is mine:



Whoops - that's not them. Let's try that again:



There's something about "when the pretty birds have flown" that just can't be expressed. I also like that this falls in my vocal range, for cranking when I'm alone in the car or on a karaoke stage. And before I move on, let's just take a second to note how much Bjorn looks like Kato Kaelin.

Now have a gander at this:



It's from French and Saunders, a British export from the folks who created Absolutely Fabulous. I think the laugh track actually improves this, as they love every single affectionate bash, from "Benny's" fake smile near the beginning to "Bjorn's" nose near the end.

Sweet Jane Times Two

Happy birthday to Lou, happy birthday to Lou...

Today marks the day that Lou Reed is old enough to collect Social Security; I'm willing to bet there are an awful lot of people who didn't think he would last this long. In tribute to his having done so, let's look at a couple takes on one of his signature songs, "Sweet Jane."

First we have the Man Himself performing it in Paris in 1974, when he was rockin' the blond hair and sequins.



And now perhaps the most famous of many covers of it, the Cowboy Junkies' take. I think it's kind of funny how Margo Timmins is doing everything she can not to look at the camera.

Words worth a thousand pictures

This has been making its way around the blogs; I first saw it on my friend Mike's blog.

Jarratt Moody, a student at the Savannah College of Arts and Design, had a "motion enhanced typography" assignment; take an audio clip and enhance it by only using words. He chose a minute from Pulp Fiction. This is the result.



People are either loving it or going out of their way to say it's nothing special (most of the latter weighing in on a graphic design blog). I think it's great - the power and intensity come across beautifully.

Now, here's where it gets interesting.



This was posted on YouTube back in May of last year. Nine months before Moody's clip.

Parallel thinking? Or theft?

I'm going on record as saying I don't think there was any copying or plagiarizing going on here. There's plenty of difference between the two clips. But I do find it remarkable that both people chose exactly the same sound bite. And I'd like to see either one of them tackle Joe Pesci's "How am I funny to you?" scene in Goodfellas.

Y'know what, Stuart? I like you!

The Dead Milkmen's best-known song is "Punk Rock Girl," but a good number of their songs matched and even exceeded that peak. One of my favorites was "Stuart," from the same album that housed "Punk Rock Girl," Beelzebubba (my copy had a sticker with an endorsement from Detroit Tiger infielder Jim Walewander). It's basically a rant by an ignorant trailer park resident.

There are two videos of people lip-synching this up on YouTube, and I thought you'd like to do a little comparing and contrasting.



This guy takes a laid-back approach, of a fella sittin' on the porch and shootin' the shit...



...wheras this one is kinda manic and includes some pacing around shots that gives the whole thing a little more variety.

Both equally valid interpretations. Saaaaaaa-lute!

I'm too sexy for this blog

Right Said Fred had exactly one hit song, but it's still resonating with us today. It's a perfect novelty - it's got lyrics that are easily memorable, easily adapted, and idealize what we want to be. Plus it's exactly the right length. Can you think of a song that ended better?

It's also the soundtrack to an awful lot of fan vids. It's great fun matching image to lyric, and any number of subjects have gotten the treatment. Sadly, the Jon Stewart / Stephen Colbert version was pulled from YouTube (trust me, it was fantastic), but there are loads more, starring everyone from Homer Simpson to Harry Potter.

Here are a couple I fancy: wunza Pirates of the Carribean tribute...



...and wunza look at the lads from Liverpool. Watch out for John flashing you 1:38 in.

Rose Marie Times Two

I always wondered how Slim Whitman could sell twenty million records before I ever heard of him. -- Tim Sample

Nowaday probably best known as the guy whose voice made alien heads explode in Mars Attacks!, Slim Whitman was huge in the fifties. Huge. Here's his song "Rose Marie," which was #1 in the UK for eleven straight weeks, a record that wouldn't be broken for 36 years.



And here it is as performed on Late Night with David Letterman by Andy Kaufman, wearing a fake mustache, turban and diaper.

I Am Waiting

There's a new album out by Lindsey Buckingham, former Fleetwood Mac member and maybe the most underrated guitarist of any classic rock band. It's called Under the Skin; it's a good album, and it's got a cover of the Rolling Stones song "I Am Waiting," first heard on the album Aftermath, and later used to good effect in Rushmore.

Let's see the Stones perform it, or at least see Mick sing to a mimed backing track of it, back in 1966 on Ready Steady Go. Inexplicable that Mick doesn't appear until 1:10 in. And you've got to love those glasses Charlie's rocking.



Now for Linds. I'm not crazy about this homemade slideshow presentation by any means, but the music is really worth sharing and comparing. And okay, some of these pictures are pretty cool.

Hey You Guyyyyyys!

For no particular reason, I'm going to put up a double shot of Rita Moreno today.

Like most people my age, my first exposure to RM was on The Electric Company, where she played a number of characters, most memorably the spoiled Pandora and the Nazi director, forever scaring the cue-card holding Marcello (Morgan Freeman) half to death. Here she is performing the "Billy Lick a Lolly" song, which, as soon as you watch it, you're going to have stuck in your head for the rest of the day. You're welcome.



That's not all she did, of course - this is one of the few people to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, and a Grammy. Here's a part of her Emmy-winning performance (1977: Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music) on The Muppet Show.



Sexy and funny at once. See the comments for Spanish translation.

Da pain! Da pain!

Remember when Love Boat and Fantasy Island were on back to back? My folks wouldn't let us stay up for either one, so I never got the full impact, but the ads would always look so cool. I can still hear Ernie Anderson's voice saying, "Then the Loooove Boat saaails."

Of course, the most memorable character from either show has to be Tattoo, played by Herve Villechaize. He made the colossal mistake of thinking he was too big for the show and leaving, only to find there weren't too many roles out there for someone of his physical stature. This led to a downward spiral that ended in suicide in 1993.

But did you know he could sing?

Let's take a vote. Do you prefer his performance of "This Is All I Ask" on The Dinah Shore Show?



Or his performance of "Why Do People Have To Fight" on Mike Douglas?



'Stache or split screen? Either way, I like to think, we all win.

Put on your red shoes & dance the blues

Happy birthday to my sister Rachel, who's not only an awesome writer, she's the biggest David Bowie fan I personally know. To celebrate, here's a video of one of his biggest hits.



And here's a cover version by M. Ward that reinterprets both the audio and the visual in arresting ways. (Buy his CD The Transfiguration of Vincent; you'll not be sorry.)