Yes, another frivolous post. I’ll get to something serious next week.
When I was a kid in the 60s we thought only the original was worth listening to. Who, we thought, could ever be better than the Beatles? Over time my opinions changed. There are some remakes that are better than the original. Here are two that are better than the original group could ever have thought of doing these songs. (The first is a Beatles failure — a song that was too good for the group.)
The second also has a Spanish flavor:
And as much as I still enjoy The Mamas & The Papas, I really don’t know how the Frankie Laine or Ozzie Nelson versions would compare:
That said, there are times when the remake is better.
August 2nd, 2010 | 6:41 pm | #1
Sergio Mendes???? better???? oh wow, ya gotta be kidding!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkGVccgJrA
August 2nd, 2010 | 6:41 pm | #2
Wow, I’m going to have to disagree.
As I was listening to the first one, my wife asked, “What are you listening to? Why have they ruined a Beatles song?” I’d have to agree…I didn’t like that remake at all.
The Jose Feliciano remake was better, but lacked the passion and intensity of the original. I’ll stick with the Doors.
August 3rd, 2010 | 1:57 pm | #3
The Who covering “Summertime Blues”–much better than the original, I think.
The next two might be a bit more controversial:
I think The Violet Burning redoing “Eleanor Rigby” is better than the Beatles’ version, great though that was.
And I like the P.M. Dawn version of “You Got Me Floating” much better than the Hendrix original.
August 3rd, 2010 | 10:56 pm | #4
Mark Cohn’s latest album (Listening Booth:1970) has a few that qualify.
They’re all covers, so you get to pick and choose which ones.
Links
Blogs
Find Us
Contact