Welcome to a new ongoing series of freaky, funky, cool, and occasionally downright weird cover songs! A great cover can not only put a smile on our faces by delivering a familiar song in a new light, but also show another side of the performer's personality.
First off, we have New York City's Blues Project delivering a butt kicking version of the excellent Chuck Berry b-side "I Want To Be Your Driver", from 1967. The band ups the intensity of Chuck's original, and features some firey breaks on guitar (Danny kalb) and organ (Al Kooper).
While they certainly weren't British (the band hailed from Washington DC), they are certainly strutting their stuff on this picture which is found on a Spanish picture sleeve release, containing their stomping version of the Sam Cooke/ Small Faces/ Otis Redding favorite. The Willett Brothers (real brothers Tom and Charlie who replaced original singer Bobby Howard, who left when he found out other members trademarked the name) shows off some excellent blue eyed soul vocal chops on this track from 1967.
The 1968 debut 45 from Rochester, NY's Rustix was a gritty, funky take on the Motown-styled "When I Get Home", cut in '64 by The Beatles on 'A Hard Day's Night". Duelling vocalists Al Galich and Chuck Brocato do an excellent Sam & Dave impression on this killer version.
This next entry puts a big lump in my throat, and my whole heart goes out to those on the eastern seaboard who have suffered through the terror of Hurricane Sandy. I can't even imagine how horrific this experience has been, and it is everyone' civic duty to donate to the Red Cross for relief. In a strange coincidence, this early Bruce Springsteen song about lust, characters and coming of age on the Jersey Shore is especially poignant. The Hollies waxed a superb version in 1975, towards the end of their illustrious run. While it was far more common for white artists to cover soul/ r&b records, there are dozens of excellent soul takes on rock and roll, folk, and country tracks as well. When the unknown Brothers Soul (who were definitely not the Detroit group Brothers OF Soul) cut "I Shall be Released", Bob Dylan's own version(s) had not yet been released. This song, which strikes me as a track that could have been written in any decade or any century circulated on a publisher's acetate in a recording that was eventually released as part of "The Basement Tapes". This group (probably a studio concoction) cut this super country soul version in 1969, one of the final releases on Okeh Records. The Beach Boys' "Wild Honey" LP is one of the most subtle, underrated masterpieces in the group's catalog. Coming down off of the madness of the 'Smile" project, the group and Brian Wilson worked on tracks that shows both a softer, pastoral side and also a very soulful side of the group. One of the highlights of the album is the lovely "Aren't You Glad", sang here by Peggy March, once known as (Little) Peggy March who scored a major hit with the ubiquitous"'I Will Follow Him". Here she is, all grown up in 1968 at age 19 with a very mature voice and a simply gorgeous reading of the song. Sadly, Peggy's manager squandered away all of the money from her hitmaking years, leaving her broke by 1966. Her 18 singles cut for RCA all failed, but in a happy ending she found massive success in germany all through the 1970's.
Speaking of the Beach Boys, I'll sign off this installment with a downright WIGGED OUT version of the Boys' biggest hit, cut in '67. The chorus section of this song features a tremelo guitar freakout that sounds as if it was conceiving the Spacemen 3 under the influence of some strong LSD.
Until next time,
Derek See
Great selection Derek! I never knew there was a picture sleeve for the British Walkers 45. Those Beach Boys covers are very cool too.
Posted by: Larry Grogan | November 09, 2012 at 05:25 PM
Great new feature for BEDAZZLED from one of my favorite bloggers! I love these sel ections, Derek. and have always felt the Hollies version of 'Sandy' to be transcendent. The Rustix were fr4om my home town area, Rochester and I saw and adanced to them many times. I still recall this playing TOP 40 on WBBF 95 AM when it was new. Their Rare Earth/Motown Records output has some fine moments once you get past the 3 Dog night similarities (which was a valid criticism). I actually had the Electric Piano Playground and Brothers Soul 45s at one time. How could I resist the EPP group name & song choice? I was also a MAJOR Dylan cover song freak in the late 60s and early 70s, searching all the bins of unwanted promo 45s for ANYTHING I could find. Moments like this I regret ever selling off the 45 section of my huge initial ( I have a second one now)vinyl collection 1955-1993. Thanks for the new feature and to Dewrek for his usual fine work. GLAD TO HAVE A SECOND OUTLET FOR YOUR GOODIES.
Posted by: Duncan Walls (Duncnamusic) | November 12, 2012 at 09:53 PM