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1.34pm
31 March 2008
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OK, so The Beatles are most likely the most-covered band in the world, but I’m sure we all know that there’s an awful lot of dross out there. So I thought I’d start a thread for the best covers, some of which hopefully will be less well known. Please contribute, but let’s keep it for the truly great ones rather than anything and everything.
First up, Harry Nilsson doing You Can’t Do That (and a dozen or so other songs). I love this – it’s on his first album, Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967). Nilsson was great, especially his early stuff, though it’s such a shame that his collaborations with John Lennon (Pussy Cats, parts of Walls And Bridges ) weren’t so good.
Songs I spotted: She’s A Woman , I’m Down , Drive My Car , You Can’t Do That , You’re Going To Lose That Girl , Good Day Sunshine , A Hard Day’s Night , Rain , I Want To Hold Your Hand , Day Tripper , Paperback Writer , Do You Want To Know A Secret , Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), Yesterday , Strawberry Fields Forever .
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1.06am
21 August 2009
Offline That's excellent! Harry actually did them justice; it wasn't phony or trying too hard, as most of them are. I myself love most of the covers from 'Across The Universe ' the film. Subsequently, it's one of my favourite movies, and I think they did a splendid job changing the songs enough to sound altered, but still reminiscent of the Beatles.
Here's one of my favourites from the film (which may be a little cheesy with taking the strawberries literally, but none the less) Strawberry Fields sung by Joe Anderson (soldier) and Jim Sturgess, who bears a slight resemblance to Mr. McCartney, no? *sigh* That voice. And that face. *double sigh* 
If you haven't seen it, I highly, highly recommend it. You either love or hate the weirdness, but I'm sure us Beatlemaniacs will have seen it all before because of a little thing called Magical Mystery Tour . 
Tongue, lose thy light. Moon, take thy flight… see ya, George!
4.11am
Many would say Joe Cocker's “With A Little Help From My Friends ” is among the very best, and I'd agree with that. His “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window ” is another good 'un.
Other favorites:
“I Am The Walrus ” – Oasis
“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds ” – Elton John
“In My Life ” – Johnny Cash
“Here Comes The Sun ” – Richie Havens
“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds ” – William Shatner
(Okay, just kidding on the last one.)
John L
9.07am
14 October 2009
Offline I love If I Fell by Reba McIntyre. Superb guitar sound on that!
"If we feel our heads starting to swell.....we just look at Ringo!"
10.04am
31 March 2008
Offline Alissa said:
I myself love most of the covers from 'Across The Universe ' the film. Subsequently, it's one of my favourite movies, and I think they did a splendid job changing the songs enough to sound altered, but still reminiscent of the Beatles.
…
If you haven't seen it, I highly, highly recommend it. You either love or hate the weirdness, but I'm sure us Beatlemaniacs will have seen it all before because of a little thing called Magical Mystery Tour .
That clip's not too bad, I think. I never saw Across The Universe – I don't think it got much of a cinema release here in the UK. I was put off anyway after seeing Eddie Izzard's Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite !, which was so awful it made me want to kill someone. If anyone's feeling brave and wants to see it out of the context of the film, it's here:
Going back to good covers, there's an album called Motown Sings The Beatles which contains some fantastic versions. In fact, there are loads of great soul/r&b covers, such as this by Wilson Pickett:
On the subject of Motown, there's a Supremes album called A Bit Of Liverpool that's mainly Lennon-McCartney songs, with a few others. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A….._Liverpool
Apparently the sound quality on the reissue is pretty bad, but I'm curious about it anyway. Some of it's on YouTube if anyone's interested.
Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs
Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!
1.15pm
14 October 2009
Offline Just thought of another: Peter Seller's version of A Hard Day's Night. It's so funny………….and he does other versions too. I got them on CD when they were released for a short period of time many, many years ago…………..
The following people thank mjb for this post:
Beatlebug"If we feel our heads starting to swell.....we just look at Ringo!"
4.10am
Crosby, Stills, and, Nash cover several Beatles classics. Everyone of them is pure gold
4.51am
13 November 2009
Offline I think something should be said for amateur covers too. This acoustic guitar version of If I Fell is lovely.
Edit: This one is great too!
The following people thank skye for this post:
BeatlebugAd hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo! So little time! So much to know!
7.26am
14 October 2009
Offline That version of If I Fell is not just lovely but very clever – I take my hat off to anyone who can play like that, be they amateur or professional.
"If we feel our heads starting to swell.....we just look at Ringo!"
7.47pm
13 November 2009
Offline He does a great job doesn't he? I found it while trying to find a cover of In My Life I had heard before. Who ever did it did an excellent job recreating the faux harpsichord part, but I can't find it! 
If you know of the video I'm talking about please post it.
Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo! So little time! So much to know!
2.04pm
26 January 2010
Offline I bought a copy of Mojo a while ago and there were two free cds of Beatle covers called Beatles Mojomania in it. I wouldn't usually listen to this type of stuff but i put them on my mp3 and gave them a listen. Most of it was rubbish and quickly got deleted but i left three songs on which i think are really good covers. One was Don't let me down by Dillard & Clark which had a country feel but was quite cool. Another one was I'm looking through you by The Posies which is very like the anthology version. I was quite impressed with this because it was right after the Anthology 2 cd was released. The last one is Yes it is by Scott McCarl. Check them out if you can, i think its good stuff, then again my wife think they're all crap and its sacrilege that i'm listening to them!
Onward my friends, and glory for the thirty ninth!!
5.29pm
Okay, there's a few relative obscurites here (I couldn't resist) but this is a list of my current top 20 Beatle covers, in no particular order…
Here Comes The Sun – Richie Havens
The Rolling Stones – I Wanna Be Your Man
Every Little Thing – Yes
Strawberry Fields Forever – Tomorrow (live)
Help – Deep Purple
Eleanor Rigby – Vanilla Fudge
Tomorrow Never Knows – 801 (live)
With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds – Elton John
We Can Work It Out – Stevie Wonder
She's A Woman – Jeff Beck (produced by George Martin)
Got To Get You Into My Life – Earth, Wind & Fire
Blackbird – Dionne Farris
I Don't Want To Spoil The Party – Roseanne Cash
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away – Eddie Vedder
Don't Pass Me By – Phish (live)
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey – The Feelies
Helter Skelter – Siouxsie & The Banshees
Wild Honey Pie – Pixies (Live At The BBC )
Happiness Is A Warm Gun – The Breeders
8.38pm
13 November 2009
Offline Here are some covers I found on mog.com that I think are pretty good. The artists are: Phoebe Snow, Golden Earring,Suzy Bogguss, Chet Atkins,Big Head Todd & The Monsters, and Harry Nilsson.
Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo! So little time! So much to know!
12.14am
5 February 2010
Offline I typically judge a cover by how closely it adheres to the original. It's just my thing, I s'pose, but I don't like a lot of “artistic interpretation” when it comes to covering The Beatles.
This cover of “Golden Slumbers ” by Ben Folds was really, really beautiful, I thought, and very true to the original.
Not a bit like Cagney.
1.33am
13 November 2009
Offline You're right, that is nice and faithful to the original. What did you think about the second part with Eddie Vedder's take on You've Got to Hide Your Love Away? It seems pretty true too.
Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo! So little time! So much to know!
11.08am
31 March 2008
Offline I mentioned this in another thread, but it's worth posting the full video. Wonderful stuff from Jake Shimabukuro:
Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs
Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!
4.00am
13 February 2010
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Alissa said:
That's excellent! Harry actually did them justice; it wasn't phony or trying too hard, as most of them are. I myself love most of the covers from 'Across The Universe ' the film. Subsequently, it's one of my favourite movies, and I think they did a splendid job changing the songs enough to sound altered, but still reminiscent of the Beatles.
Here's one of my favourites from the film (which may be a little cheesy with taking the strawberries literally, but none the less) Strawberry Fields sung by Joe Anderson (soldier) and Jim Sturgess, who bears a slight resemblance to Mr. McCartney, no? *sigh* That voice. And that face. *double sigh*
If you haven't seen it, I highly, highly recommend it. You either love or hate the weirdness, but I'm sure us Beatlemaniacs will have seen it all before because of a little thing called Magical Mystery Tour .
Ok, I really wasn't the biggest fan of Across The Universe MOVIE WISE, but I will admit that I did buy the movie and the soundtrack. But only for 2 reasons. 1st reason-Jim Sturgess was absolutley smoking in the movie! And yes, I agree, he does resemble Paul, which is why I think he is very much hott:) And 2nd reason-the covers on there are amazing! I have always disliked Beatles cover versions with a passion for some reason, but when I listened to the music on Across The Universe , I was completely blown away. The only song that I didn't like on the movie was “While My Guitar Gently Weeps “, but only because I never liked the song in general.
Oh and the Strawberry Fields scene in the movie, yes taking the strawberries literally was quite corny, but the 2 men did sing the song beautifully. I never knew the song would sound so well as a duet…
Thursday night your stockings needed mending.
4.46pm
15 February 2010
Offline I posted this on the song's thread, so I feel kinda jerky posting it again here too, but I did a cover of You've Got To Hide Your Love Away. Here's a dumb little youtube video I made of it…
1.01pm
11 February 2010
Offline 
Personally, I love Andy Patridge's version of Strawberry Fields Forever .
"I'd like to end up sort of unforgettable."
1.52am
20 February 2010
Offline I personally liked Lilly Scott’s rendition of “Fixing A Hole ” On American Idol this year. Talent is lacking this year on the show, she is one of the few good ones on their
I am the walrus that lives in a yellow submarine because I like to be in an octopus' garden
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