Author Topic: Classics As Pop Songs (Read 29887 times)

Silly Wasnt I · « **on:** April 20, 2020, 03:32:09 am »

I've always loved it when some pop versions of classic songs are executed well. Here are some of my favourites:-

There must be plenty of others, but lets stick to good ones!

SWI

Roger · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2020, 05:20:33 am »

Interesting selections SWI ...

How about "I Only Have Eyes For You", which first appeared in a 1934 Hollywood Movie called "Dames" where it was sung by Dick Powell ….

Before the song exploded into one of those surreal Busby Barkeley routines …

Then the song re-emerged at the end of the '50s as a dreamy doo-wop epic by The Flamingos …

The arrangement of the Flamingos version was later to be used by Art Garfunkel in his 1975 version and in a version by "Heaven And Earth", but personally I'd go for the 1972 remake by Jerry Butler

Roger …

humboldt · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2020, 10:33:44 am »

3 from me.

Silly Wasnt I · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2020, 06:17:24 am »

There's a wealth of this stuff out there (love that Jerry Butler recording) and thanks for the Supremes cut, John.

One of my favourite Motown reworkings of a classic tune is this one, originally published in 1934:-

Esther Phillips did a great version, too:-

SWI

Roger · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2020, 06:51:40 am »

Unfortunately SWI "For All We Know" is one of those songs that grates on me, though the version of the song by The Spinners was HUGELY popular with Motown and Soul fans around where I lived (Sheffield) in the late '60s and early '70s.

On the positive side there WAS another Motown "Classic song remake" that I had absolutely no problem at all … the melody dates from 1911, Carl Sigman's lyrics dated from 1951

Another Carl Sigman song from 1951 where the remake is worth a listen is this one, though they did butcher the original lyrics and only really kept the chorus

Roger

humboldt · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2020, 11:39:13 am »

Thanks for 'It's All In The Game'. When it was released being quite young I didn't realise that it was an old song!

Grapevine · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2020, 01:36:47 pm »

A few I've liked over the years...

Nat King Cole's ...To The Ends Of The Earth ...by Tony Middleton

Showboat's (1927) original song ...Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man ...by Ila Vann

...and I saw this sung live! ...a while before he had a hit with it ...Captain Sensible's ...Happy Talk ...from South Pacific

Grape

Silly Wasnt I · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2020, 04:49:21 am »

Time for this one, I suppose:-

SWI

Roger · « **Reply #8 on:** May 05, 2020, 05:00:05 pm »

I managed to last 57 seconds listening to that Turtles song before giving up SWI … I wonder if they won the award for "most butchered version of a Vera Lynn song" the year they recorded it!!??

Fortunately there is an antidote ……..

Roger

PS … I'd totally forgotten about the Ila Vann mini-classic that Mr Grape suggested … I have a copy of the Pye Disco Demand 45 lying around somewhere here at Chez Roger.

Silly Wasnt I · « **Reply #9 on:** May 08, 2020, 12:42:29 am »

Spector and his pals had a penchant for spending big bucks on reviving old songs. This one has a very interesting cast of performers:-

And, Roger, I thought the Turtles track was full of fun.

SWI

humboldt · « **Reply #10 on:** May 08, 2020, 12:02:28 pm »

A brilliant Jack Nitzsche production. Featured on the recording are Brian Wilson, Jackie De Shannon, Sonny and Cher and Darlene Love. Brilliant.

Silly Wasnt I · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2020, 04:45:41 am »

I've had a soft spot for this one ever since I started collecting girl group records:-

SWI

Silly Wasnt I · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2020, 05:12:12 am »

Jay and the Americans are a rich source of fabulous cover versions. This steal from Peer Gynt is another old favourite of mine:-

SWI

humboldt · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2020, 04:37:32 pm »

Love 'Dream Boy' Eric. How about this one.

The original

The famous cover - very weird video!

Silly Wasnt I · « **Reply #14 on:** June 11, 2020, 02:34:34 am »

Love Dream A Little Dream, John. The Mamas & Papas were another act that had a way of making cover versions sound like original versions!

Here's another Cole Porter classic reinvented in the swinging Sixties:-

SWI

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