Rock Ramblings: Under the covers: Imitation is flattery, right?

By Medicine Hat News on April 26, 2018.

Not everything can be an original and sometimes, a different spin on something already out there can be original too. Make sense? We were talking cover songs in our hallways here at the big rock station and there are some really good ones we all enjoy. There’s a time and place for note-for-note re-creations of the classics — but there’s also something to be said for taking a vintage selection and making it all your own.

One that really jumps out for me is Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” re-done by Southern California punk rockers Social Distortion. Just like the original, or not at all? You be the judge. Certainly a lot more energy with a little less twang (but still some.) By the way, Social D is playing Mac Hall in Calgary on June 12.

Disturbed has gained a lot of recognition for their cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence.” Both are downtempo but Disturbed’s recent cover is even more haunting. A very polarizing remake — we’ve had some who say it sounds like “a Christmas carol.” They also do a pretty solid take on the Genesis song “Land of Confusion.”

Guns N Roses unlikely quasi-reunion “Not In This Lifetime” tour has been one of the most successful road swings in years — powered by their alternative versions of Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Live and Let Die” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

Some covers are better known than the first take — In fact, I’m sure many fans think Jimi Hendrix wrote Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.” Otis Redding had the original recording of The Black Crowes’ “Hard to Handle”? Didn’t know that at first. Plus, I’ve had callers request Soundgarden’s spin on Johnny Cash’s “Rusty Cage” (it’s the other way around.) And a third mention of the Man in Black is merited here, as his re-imagination of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt “is top drawer stuff.

And then you’ve got covers that are just fun — The Clash on the Bobby Fuller Four’s jukebox fave “I Fought the Law” (really first written by Sonny Curtis of the Crickets.) Orgy’s “death pop” jam on New Order’s “Blue Monday” and the similarly dark vibe of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by long-time shock rocker Marilyn Manson.

Van Halen deserve mention all on their own — so many “Halen-ized” redux of others’ songs — from The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” to Roy Orbison’s “(Oh) Pretty Woman”; from Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good” to Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street.” Not to mention the 1950s John Brim blues tune “Ice Cream Man” and the ending theme to the 1940s singing cowboy radio (and later TV) Roy Rogers Show, “Happy Trails To You.”

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery — isn’t that the cliché? Works for me.

Trapper John can be heard on 105.3 ROCK and http://www.rock1053.ca weekdays from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday afternoons. You can also find him on twitter @TrapperCR.

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