Monday, April 09, 2007
13 Songs I Have More Than One Version of in My mp3 Rotation
Easy enough premise: I have 2100+ mp3s now, and quite a few of them are repeats, versions of the same song done by different performers, and remixes. Here are 13 of my favorites (ones I have the most versions of, ones I like most, etc.).
1. "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright, John Cale, Willie Nelson) - Right now, my favorite version is the Rufus Wainwright. Willie's is definitely the one that doesn't belong with the other three stylistically, but it's still good.
2. "Stand By Me" (Ben E. King, John Lennon, Pennywise) - Gotta go with the classic King version. Pennywise's is an enjoyable punk joke notable mainly for putting "fucking" into the chorus in the later stages.
3. "Sixteen Tons" (Tennessee Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash, Mr. Bungle) - Johnny Cash could be all over this list if I let him, though his version of this song is inferior to Ford's. Mr. Bungle's version is weird, as you might expect if you know the group.
4. "Personal Jesus" (Depeche Mode, Johnny Cash, Gravity Kills) - See? Anyway, the Gravity Kills version is a pretty superfluous cover. I could easily delete it and not miss it at all. Click.
5. "Doin' Time" (Sublime, Sublime with Pharcyde, Sublime with Snoop Dogg) - In descending order of quality.
6. "Bankrobber" (The Clash, Hawksley Workman) - These are fairly similar except that Hawksley throws in "I fought the law and the law won" at the end.
7. "Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash) - I do not, however, have the Kermit version.
8. "Ticket to Ride" (The Beatles, Husker Du) - I also have a lot of people covering Beatles songs. I guess it's a mainstay.
9. "How I Could Just Kill a Man" (Cypress Hill, Rage Against the Machine) - Had to get hardcore rap and political rap-metal in there somewhere.
10. "Loverman" (Nick Cave, Metallica) - The double album of covers is the best thing Metallica's released in 15 years.
11. "The House of the Rising Sun/Rising Sun Blues" (The Animals, Doc Watson) - Two very distinct, very good versions.
12. "Supernaut" (Black Sabbath, 1,000 Homo DJs) - "1,000 Homo DJs" is Ministry under a different name due to record label issues. I realize that means nothing to quite a few of you.
13. "No Quarter" (Led Zeppelin, Tool) - Honestly, the only reason this is on here is that Tool is my favorite band, and this is the only cover I have by them.
1. "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright, John Cale, Willie Nelson) - Right now, my favorite version is the Rufus Wainwright. Willie's is definitely the one that doesn't belong with the other three stylistically, but it's still good.
2. "Stand By Me" (Ben E. King, John Lennon, Pennywise) - Gotta go with the classic King version. Pennywise's is an enjoyable punk joke notable mainly for putting "fucking" into the chorus in the later stages.
3. "Sixteen Tons" (Tennessee Ernie Ford, Johnny Cash, Mr. Bungle) - Johnny Cash could be all over this list if I let him, though his version of this song is inferior to Ford's. Mr. Bungle's version is weird, as you might expect if you know the group.
4. "Personal Jesus" (Depeche Mode, Johnny Cash, Gravity Kills) - See? Anyway, the Gravity Kills version is a pretty superfluous cover. I could easily delete it and not miss it at all. Click.
5. "Doin' Time" (Sublime, Sublime with Pharcyde, Sublime with Snoop Dogg) - In descending order of quality.
6. "Bankrobber" (The Clash, Hawksley Workman) - These are fairly similar except that Hawksley throws in "I fought the law and the law won" at the end.
7. "Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash) - I do not, however, have the Kermit version.
8. "Ticket to Ride" (The Beatles, Husker Du) - I also have a lot of people covering Beatles songs. I guess it's a mainstay.
9. "How I Could Just Kill a Man" (Cypress Hill, Rage Against the Machine) - Had to get hardcore rap and political rap-metal in there somewhere.
10. "Loverman" (Nick Cave, Metallica) - The double album of covers is the best thing Metallica's released in 15 years.
11. "The House of the Rising Sun/Rising Sun Blues" (The Animals, Doc Watson) - Two very distinct, very good versions.
12. "Supernaut" (Black Sabbath, 1,000 Homo DJs) - "1,000 Homo DJs" is Ministry under a different name due to record label issues. I realize that means nothing to quite a few of you.
13. "No Quarter" (Led Zeppelin, Tool) - Honestly, the only reason this is on here is that Tool is my favorite band, and this is the only cover I have by them.
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I personally like the Jeff Buckley version of Hallelujah, with Leonard at a close second and Rufus in at third.
hallelujah is the best song ever. hands down. jeff buckley is my favorite. but i have it on itunes by: bettie serveert, jeff buckley, k.d. lang, kathryn willians, leonard cohen, steve acho, and brandi carlile.
"Sweet Jane" (Velvet Underground & The Cowboy Junkies)
"Hey Ya" (Outkast & Obadiah Parker)
"Across the Universe" (Beatles & Fiona Apple)
"Sympathy for the Devil" (The Rolling Stones & Jane's Addiction)
"Hey Ya" (Outkast & Obadiah Parker)
"Across the Universe" (Beatles & Fiona Apple)
"Sympathy for the Devil" (The Rolling Stones & Jane's Addiction)
I also love "Hallelujah," am on a grail quest for a definitive rendition of it. I don't have an iPod or other MP3 player, however on CD I have the versions of the song by Rufus Wainwright and Leonard Cohen. (Cohen lends a certain richness to the song Wainwright's voice seems much better suited to it.) I'll have to look for the one by Brandi Carlile.
A few others of mine that come to mind (on CD):
1. "Woodstock," at least 3 versions by Joni Mitchell, and the one by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I like Joni Mitchell's earliest version best (on her album Ladies of the Canyon).
2. "I Saw Her Standing There" (The Beatles, and Jerry Lee Lewis with Little Richard. On the Lewis version, he has Little Richard coming in on the choruses, and on the high falsetto notes that hit periodically in the song. A nice reminder that the Beatles learned the high falsetto thing from Little Richard.
3. "Mr. Tambourine Man" (The Byrds; Bob Dylan; Peter, Paul & Mary). Dylan "gave" the song to the Byrds after he wrote it, and they recorded it first. I've always felt Dylan's version more soulful, though I always enjoy the unmitigated sparkle of the Byrds.
4. "Wooden Ships" (Jefferson Airplane; and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). Each has it merits.
5. "House of the Rising Sun" (The Animals; and Woody Guthrie with some people backing him up.) Likewise both versions are fine. Incidentally, I once heard -- on Conan O'Brien's show on T.V. -- the group Blind Boys of Alabama sing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun." The word would be unforgettable.
6. "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Heart" (Joan Baez; Bob Dylan). Bob Dylan wrote the song. I like Joan Baez's version (on her live album From Every Stage) better.
7. "Parlez Moi D'Amour" (Lucienne Boyer; CharlElie Couture; Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy). The ones by Boyer and Couture and both on the soundtrack album of the film The Moderns. Sweet old French love song. Boyer's version -- ancient and scratchy, probably recorded from an old 78 -- is the most heartfelt. The others are modern versions, each easy to listen to.
A few others of mine that come to mind (on CD):
1. "Woodstock," at least 3 versions by Joni Mitchell, and the one by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I like Joni Mitchell's earliest version best (on her album Ladies of the Canyon).
2. "I Saw Her Standing There" (The Beatles, and Jerry Lee Lewis with Little Richard. On the Lewis version, he has Little Richard coming in on the choruses, and on the high falsetto notes that hit periodically in the song. A nice reminder that the Beatles learned the high falsetto thing from Little Richard.
3. "Mr. Tambourine Man" (The Byrds; Bob Dylan; Peter, Paul & Mary). Dylan "gave" the song to the Byrds after he wrote it, and they recorded it first. I've always felt Dylan's version more soulful, though I always enjoy the unmitigated sparkle of the Byrds.
4. "Wooden Ships" (Jefferson Airplane; and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). Each has it merits.
5. "House of the Rising Sun" (The Animals; and Woody Guthrie with some people backing him up.) Likewise both versions are fine. Incidentally, I once heard -- on Conan O'Brien's show on T.V. -- the group Blind Boys of Alabama sing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun." The word would be unforgettable.
6. "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Heart" (Joan Baez; Bob Dylan). Bob Dylan wrote the song. I like Joan Baez's version (on her live album From Every Stage) better.
7. "Parlez Moi D'Amour" (Lucienne Boyer; CharlElie Couture; Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy). The ones by Boyer and Couture and both on the soundtrack album of the film The Moderns. Sweet old French love song. Boyer's version -- ancient and scratchy, probably recorded from an old 78 -- is the most heartfelt. The others are modern versions, each easy to listen to.
Wasn't Mr. Bungle responsible for "There's a Tractor on my Balls"? Perhaps it's best if you don't actually answer that question.
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