Cover Me: The Stories Behind the Greatest Cover Songs of All Time

This is my kinda book. Very subjective and fun to read until page128 (of 217). The nit gets intermittently stupid.An interesting contradiction right out of the gate. The preface makes it clear to the writer that cover versions do not include 1950 era white artists doing a song by a black artist not written by the black artist or releasing it contemporaneously with the black artist's version.So, the 1st entry is Elvis doing Hound Dog a few years after Big Mama Thornton's release. It was not written by Thornton [Leiber & Stoller]. Hard to view it as a cover, Not only for the reasons the author set out but because the arrangements are so foreign to each other and there are many variances in the lyrics. Leiber & Stoller admit writing it for Thornton and also proclaiming an initial dislike of Elvis's version. Of course, Elvis made them more $$. And they ended up having Elvis record a lot of their songs. (See Elvis Sings Leiber & Stoller [CD]- - 21 songs.) Elvis was renown for recording a song much like the version he listened to, This book intimates that it was a novelty cover of Hound Dog that attracted Elvis [by Freddie Bell & the Bellboys]. Not sure if the recorded version mirrors the novelty one. But we certainly know he did not troll Thornton. (Just discovered I have a Bell version. Don't know whether it was recorded 1956 or 20 years later though. So it's no help although similar to Presley's.) As with Hendrix below, Presley's is more a cover of the Bell release than Thornton's hence a cover of Bell.#2: Twist & Shout. A true cover and the Beatles are good but I prefer the Isley Brothers.Unchained Melody doesn't strike me of a true cover version. There were many versions throughout the early//mid 50s. None for which any true ownership was established. To me, a cover should make the listener immediately think of the universally known earlier version. e.g. Twist & Shout & With a Little Help from My Friends. It's automatic to think of the Isleys & The Beatles, though neither produced the original.Next is All Along the Watchtower. Another true cover and Hendrix' version is far superior but there's a missing link in this book. No mention of The Alan Bown's version released earlier than Hendrix. It's quite similar to Jimi's (though not nearly as good) and not like Dylan's. So, like Hound Dog, perhaps a third party's influence is due some recognition since this is more a cover of the Bown version.Aretha's Respect is somewhat like Presley's vs Thornton's Hound Dog though not as divergent. She had made changes to Redding's original.. Because of the changes and perhaps the atmosphere of the times, Aretha's is the far better known. Personally, having been an established Redding fan at the time of Franklin's release, I like his better. But that doesn't diminish Franklin's version.With a Little help from my friends by Joe Cocker is a cover yet a different arrangement. Cocker's is bluesy while the Beatles is bouncy.The Who's Summertime Blues covers Cochran as Elvis's compares to Thornton's but the Who do retain the lyrics. This is another instance where the cover may truly be of another cover. No mention here of the Blue Cheer version. Timing plays a role of course. Blue Cheer's charted 2.5 year earlier than the Who's and may well be the version that influenced the Who. This book makes it seem like the Who were playing this song live for years so it may pre-date Blue Cheer. But it was worth discussing due to the similarity.Creedence's I Heard It through the Grapevine is similar to Marvin Gaye's but it is intentionally more rock and roll. At 11 minutes plus the book outlines this as their attempt at a Greatful Dead-like jam.Next comes a song that really has no business being in this book; neither as a cover and certainly not a great cover. Gladys Knight & the Pips doing Midnight Train to Georgia. It was first recorded by the writer (Jim Weatherly) as an attempt to get his music heard by other artists who then might record some of his work. The song and the artist were virtually unknown outside of those in the industry at the time. To be a "great cover" most of us should have heard of the song being covered. Otherwise it is just like most songs sung successfully by a known recording artist.The next 2 make sense but probably wouldn't make my list: Patti Smith's Gloria and Talking Heads' Take Me to the River.Then it gets predominantly stupid. I think a "Great" cover has to achieve universal awareness by music listeners. Devo's Satisfaction and Weird Al's Polkas on 45 don't cut it. Satisfaction is barely know my many and weird Al's is a career salute. I'm forgetting or the moment that Satisfaction is quasi-terrible. Not only didit not chart, it didn't bubble under.Lists are not wrong because readers disagree but they must make sense. This list doesn't collectively live up to the book title. To most, the most successful, thus needed on this list is Chubby Checker covering Hank Ballard's The Twist. Number 1 in the US 2 different times. It's not here. Whitney Houston's mega successful I Will Always Love You makes the list an it should. The Twist was a bigger success.Only one remaining inclusion is a good choice---Johnny Cash's Hurt [Nine Inch Nails]To digrees for a moment. I certainly agrees that white artists covering black artists in the 50s is largely lame. However, most R&R historians make the same exception. That exception is worthy of making a "great" covers list. That being the Diamonds cover of Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs' Little Darlin,.Agree or not, I started out highly enjoying this book but that enjoyment was wiped out by the time I finished. Enjoy this book for it's dealing with the making of the covers; not the list. One more thimg. Although I enjoyed the Hound Dog selection, the story unfortunately follows the politically correct attempt to over play Big Mama with rock & roll.

The chapters are filled with details and pictures. Even for songs I am not familiar with, the story behind the cover is interesting.

It covered some cover songs. But, I think there were plenty of other cover songs that could have been listed in this book For instance, "You Lost that Loving Feeling" was done as a cover song by Hall and Oates and I think their version is the best version of the song. Also, Hall and Oates original version of "Every time you go Away" is also the best version. But was never a hit for them. But, Paul Youngs version is what people identify with. I was just surprised that this book was limited to 19 songs.

I love the stories behind the songs and this book does a great job telling those stories. Can’t wait for the next volume.

This must have been an incredibly difficult book to research and Ray Padgett has done a great job. In only one case would I question if he covered the most important cover from an international aspect at least. Terrific job and a top read

I bought this book as a gift for a fellow programmer on our public radio station, and couldn't resist devouring it first. I'm a huge fan of Ray's website, Covermesongs.com. This book has the same friendly, music fan tone - engaging, fun, and full of tasty tidbits. Thank you for writing it!

It was interesting to know the backstory on various songs, but the author tended to drag the details out.

Great book, with good details. I learned so much from this book.

Well researched and entertaining but would not be my choice of songs on which to focus.

Interesting read

fab book. Great read

Interesting reading and full of great information for those with an interest in cover songs. Ray Padgett is clearly one of the world's leading experts on cover songs along with some great stories about the history behind the music.

Thoroughly enjoyable read for any music mad buff