<p>Much recorded but never done better than
The Stories.
‘Brother Louie’.
Poignant, soulful and funky.</p>
<p>So…has anybody done a thread lately about covers/remakes that in-your-opinion are better than the original???</p>
<p>That could be interesting and start a lot of good-spirited debates ;)</p>
<p>And.</p>
<p>Devil in a Blue Dress: Mitch Rider and the Detroit Wheels</p>
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<p>Um, Jenny take a ride, Little Latin Lupe Lu, CC Rider, all big hits</p>
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<p>Otis was an incredible talent who died far too young. You may also remember a little song he wrote: R-E-S-P-E-C-T, but be more familiar with Aretha’s version.</p>
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<p>ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGH. Tied with “Come on Eileen” as my most annoying non-novelty song (annoying novelty songs are too big a category)</p>
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<p>She gained a lot of weight and started singing songs from the 1950’s?</p>
<p>…after having a fling with the current mayor of Oakland.</p>
<p>Moots, ya got me ('bout Nilsson). I’m one of these people who never was good at connecting song with title of song with name of artist. So some things I have fixed in memory and things that ought to be connected are not.
Thank God for the combo of iTunes and Google, which is giving me something of a pop-music Renaissance.</p>
<p>While at lunch today in a little Mexican dive, the radio was playing a song at least 40 years old: “Secret Agent Man,” Johnny Rivers.</p>
<p>I think Barry McGuire was known for others besides “Eve of Destruction” but most of the rest has faded from memory, I suspect.</p>
<p>I think it was more than just a fling. I think they were an established item for a while. She does my favorite version of “Desperado” and her version of “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” blows Dylan’s out of the water. Of course, I love Baez doing Dylan vocal riffs in “A Simple Twist of Fate,” elongated vowels and all.</p>
<p>She and the gov were on the cover of Newsweek in 1978, I believe, which was the same edition that contained the only Letter to the Editor I ever got into a national publication. A zinging refute of George Will (at least that’s how I remember it. ;))</p>
<p>“Come on Down to my Boat, Baby”–Every Mother’s Son.
Secret Agent Man was a great choice.
I think the Stone Ponies definitely count. Is that where the name for Springsteen’s favorite Asbury Park venue came from? Ronstadt could really belt 'em out when she was in her prime.</p>
<p>No kidding. I think my favorite album of hers is Lush Life–caberet songs mostly.
Come on, driver, I thought that this thread was supposed to be 1hitwonders you like… Come on Down to my Boat? Really? That ranks right up there with the rest of the bubblegum pop. ick. :D</p>
<p>I have another thought for a thread–obscure groups your spouse insists on dragging back into your life no matter how horrible they were. Anyone heard of The Incredible String Band?</p>
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<p>OMG! This group is not obscure by any means, but my H loves their “best of” CD and I have to leave the house when he play it :eek: America. Oh how I wish that CD would disappear :p</p>
<p><em>now ducking tomatoes</em></p>
<p>Cut me some slack, Wyo…when I was 10-11 “Come on Down” and Red Rubber Ball" were my favorites. 
Do you know who wrote “Red Rubber Ball”? (I googled)</p>
<p>Not a clue, Driver. Not a clue.</p>
<p>DD’smom, I never would have thought I had a counterpart out there. Disappear? I’ve had DREAMS about putting the CD on the floor, getting out my spikiest spiky high heels and practicing some flamenco!!! HAH!</p>
<p>PS, Driver: I apologize for the “bubblegum” comment…I had no idea you were only 11 at the time. That explains it :)</p>
<p>Paul Simon co-wrote it with someone from The Seekers.</p>
<p>No---- Really? That’s amazing.</p>
<p>wyogal,
Cool! A partner in crime :D</p>
<p>I can’t think of obscure things he dredges up and forces me to listen to, though. In general we have similar tastes, TG. He does have an old Doobie Brothers that can get on my nerves. I mean, I like them and all, but I’m not a hard core fan and I prefer their more popular stuff (Black Water, China Grove, etc).</p>
<p>Yep, amazing. Paul Simon.</p>
<p>You were absolutely right to call me on “Come on Down”…I started the thread, and I stipulated that it had to be one “really good” hit song, which certainly implies that it should withstand the test of time to qualify. Something that might stop you in your tracks in the grocery store. So…I hereby remove Every Mothers Son from contention. ;)</p>