By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:09 pm:

The worst male vocal thread prompted me to create this thread. I know everyone has something to say here. Enjoy..!

By Ralph Terrana (ralph) (209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:12 pm:

OK Horse. I'll tell you one that gets me every time. Bette Middler's version of Wind Beneath My Wings. I always thought it was rather sappy. Especially that God awful ending.

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:17 pm:

Ralph, You mean the part where she sings Fly......Fly......Fly....!

Boy am I hip to that. Ralph, you may have already out done everyone with just one shot..! That was pretty miserable

By john dixon (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:23 pm:

Ralph, ANY version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" makes me cringe. It's right off the sap scale.

To reiterate from the infamous "Eerrggh!" thread, Michael"ass-hat"Bolton on "When A Man Loves A Woman".And that goes for any other old R&B song he takes on with the subtlety of a flying mallet.

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:35 pm:

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Hall & Oats (very talented individuals, but not on that cut - Too Bambi)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:37 pm:

Ditto on the Michael Bolton dis....may Percy Sledge forever pimp-slap that SOB...

On that note, ANY R&B TUNE COVERED BY PAT BOONE should be banned from the earth (as well as the catalog of Universal Music Group). That would include his stiff-as-starch versions of "Ain't That A Shame" and "Tutti-Fruitti." I don't care how much (or how little) Fats Domino & Little Richard made from the songwriting royalties, I give our dear friend Harry Weinger permission to go into the UMG vaults with a demagnetizer & erase those tapes from the face of the earth.

Kevin "can't stand it" Goins - KevGo

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:44 pm:

"Respect" sung by the Little Bitch on American Idol. I'll tell you who outta be pimp slapped. Those three numbscull judges, That's who...!

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 07:48 pm:

Here's a hunk of trivia : "Wind Beneath My Wings" was written by the guy from the Newbeats that sang lead on "Bread and Butter" ; now there's one of the great/irritating freak voices.
I'll take 'Bread and Butter' anyday.

SteveK

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 08:14 pm:

My Girl - by anyone other than Ruffin..!

By PhilH (203.221.53.198) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 08:25 pm:

Rita Coolidge (aided and abetted by ex brother-in-law Booker T. Jones) for two completely anaemic versions of "Higher And Higher" and "The Way You Do The Things You Do".

"Higher And Higher" (as well as several other soul classics) has also been mangled by an Aussie rocker named Jimmy Barnes, who has barely been heard of in your parts of the world save for 3 middling entries on the US Hot 100. Think yourselves EXTREMELY lucky you don't live over here!

Phil

By Sue (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:07 pm:

Oooh,
Good one, PhilH, on Rita Coolidge. Rita slaughtered "Higher and Higher," I think she fell asleep halfway through. I know I did!

Ralph, you beat me to Bette Midler on "Wind Beneath My Wings." The "fly ..." ending is bad enough, but what's excruciating is the way she screeches out of tune...ow!

By Sue (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:12 pm:

"Can't Hurry Love" by Phil Collins -- errgh!

By Jim_Dunn (24.46.200.124) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:33 pm:

The Pirates ( aka Temptations) cover of the Diablos "Mind Over Matter" comes to mind. The vocals were passable but the instrumental backup choked the life out of the original version.

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:38 pm:

Satisfaction - Devo
Workin' In A Coal Mine - Devo
Always Something There To Remind Me - Some english band from the 80's with a shitty drum program
Unchained Melody - George Benson
Ooh Baby Baby - Linda Ronstadt
Everybody Plays The Fool - Aaron Neville
Tell It Like It Is - Heart
Natural Woman - Celine Dion

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:45 pm:

Horse , I agree ;
Heart's version of " Tell It Like It Is" may be the capper so far. The lead vocal is horrible , WAY over the top.
Also , that whole Huey Lewis album of covers ; I got stuck at a Christmas party where that was played all the way through. "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Searchin For My Love" were especially blasphemous.
I thought the Clash version of "I Fought the Law" was pretty sad , too. Oh , Bowie's "PinUps" lp too - that guy can't sing

SteveK

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:52 pm:

Higher & Higher - Gloria Estephan
Mercy Mercy Me - Robert Palmer (twas a galant effort)
Love Ballad & On Broadway - George Benson

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:57 pm:

LTLFTC,

You mean Huey actually attempted more songs. I'm glad I never had to experience that. Sounds like some Christmas party

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 10:40 pm:

I know it's not "Soul" music, but today I heard Joan Baez covering "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (THE BAND). It's not that Joan Baez can't sing, it's terrible because her rendition has about 5 or 6 lyrical mistakes in it. It really drives me up the wall. I wonder what producer chose the song for a single and couldn't transcribe the lyrics properly.
Examples:

The Band-"Till Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again"

Joan-"Till so much cavalry came and tore up the tracks again"

The Band- "There goes Robert E. Lee"(the general)
Joan - "There goes THE Robert E. Lee" (a boat?)

The Band - "By May the 10th Richmond had fell"
Joan - "I drove a train to Richmond that fell"

The Band - "I don't mind chopping wood, and I don't care if the money's no good" (hard work does not bother the protagonist as if he's used to it)
Joan - "I don't mind - I'm chopping wood" (as if chopping wood was a relaxing activity)

I'm sure Joan Baez butchers the last couple of lines of the song as well, but I don't remember what she sings at the moment.

I really, really, really, really, really hate her hack job of a very good song!

Thanks for listening.
-Steve

By STUBASS (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 11:12 pm:

GREETINGS AGAIN: ANYTHING EVER COVERED BY JAMES TAYLOR...HE SHUDDA STUCK TO "FIRE & RAIN"...AND THEN QUIT!!!...STU

By Mark Speck (64.158.96.81) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 12:45 am:

ANYTHING on Michael Bolton's "Timeless" CD. There are some songs you just don't f--- with, and he murdered every classic he covered there!

"All I Have to Do is Dream"--Bob Dylan
"The Boxer"--Bob Dylan
"(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I"--Bob Dylan

All of the above Dylan tunes are from his two worst albums, "Self-Portrait" and "Dylan". I have the greatest respect for Dylan as an artist, but he was never any good at interpreting other people's songs. Yet there's no one better at singing Dylan than the man himself.

"Sunny Afternoon"--Jimmy Buffett
"Brown-Eyed Girl"--Jimmy Buffett
"Another Saturday Night"--Jimmy Buffett

The last lines of the above paragraph also apply to Buffett.

Also, the entire "Four Seasons Sing Bacharach, David and Dylan" album. OK, maybe they're not so bad at interpreting Burt and Hal, but dammit, they're HORRID on the Dylan songs--their version of "Like a Rolling Stone" is the WORST! I do give them points, though, for doing a cover of "Queen Jane Approximately".

Best,

Mark

By Eli (151.197.38.107) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 02:21 am:

The Telly Savalas and William Shatner albums of remakes.BLECCCCCCHH!!!!
Mike Douglas once recorded SIDESHOW!!!
There is also a Swedish version of that song by one Lena Erikson, complete with the barker intro with echo, in Swedish that sounds like it was playing backwards.
The Anita Kerr singers rendition of Love Wont Let Me Wait. Beyond elevator, more like de-escalator.
Also the Lettermen's rendition of same!!!
Double Bleccccchhhh@#$%^&*()Dogmeat.

By Paulie3shoes (151.197.38.107) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 02:23 am:

What da f**k are ya talkin bout!!
I hoid dat swedish ting when i was dere on when i was hidin out from tings an s**t. an i sang along wit evry woid.

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 08:53 am:

HEY HORSE,YOU'RE RIGHT ON WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE REMAKE OF [MY GIRL],THAT IS THE ONE SONG THAT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBODY TOUCHES,NOBODY!!!

By Common (209.2.55.172) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 10:23 am:

Hello everyone,

Try "Dancing In The Street" as another song that just shouldn't be messed with. Why did Mick Jagger & David Bowie or the Mamas & The Papas take a "jab" at this song is beyond my comprehension! Ugh!

Peace!

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.33) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 10:24 am:

OK, Setting aside the collected works of Pat Boone and various wedding bands, I have to admit that despite liking almost everything they recorded for the Hot Wax label, Honey Cone's version of "Ooo Baby Baby" is way overcooked and makes the Linda Ronstadt version seem perfectly acceptable in comparison. I feel pretty much the same way about the Temptations' take on "Hey Jude" from Puzzle People.

As for Stubass' James Taylor comment, I ask: Even "Handy Man"? I love what he did with that one. I never would have thought of doing it that way, but it works.

Regards,
Ken

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 11:14 am:

Bobby:
Mike Douglas recorded "Sideshow"?!? God, I'm glad I missed that! Same with Anita Kerr's version of "Love Won't Let Me Wait".

R&B:
Okay, so you & a couple others don't care for any remake of "My Girl". So tell me - what do y'all think of the live remake Ruffin & Kendricks did with Hall & Oates back in 1985 on their Live At The Apollo album? Let's hear it the feedback!

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By TonyRussi (68.18.34.26) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 11:41 am:

Not to offend any Carpenters fans but I can't bear to listen to their version of "Postman" & "Beechwood" and I feel the same about Linda Rondstant doing "Heatwave" and "Ooo Baby, Baby"...I'm sure they loved the originals & that's why they did those but to me its Sacreligous....and nobody else better do "My Guy".

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 11:45 am:

Eddie Floyd's cut of "My Girl" is OK by me. Just thought you should know ;o)

By mhc (172.155.32.215) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 11:52 am:

I mentioned this on another thread, but to me, Diana Ross's version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is like Chinese water torture. I'm sure that it plays 24 hours a day on the Muzak in Hell.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 12:00 pm:

Heard the Supremes' version of "My Guy"?

In a word: redundant.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 12:04 pm:

HEY KEV,RUFFIN COULD SING [MY GIRL]DRUNK AND STILL CRUSH THAT VERSION PUT OUT IN THE MID 80'S.

By TonyRussi (68.18.34.26) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 12:51 pm:

Ritchie, I never sat down and listened to it my brother played me a snippet and laughed(he's the big Diana fan).I'm usually not bothered by Motown artists of the 60's doing their versions of their stablemates songs because I love all the 60's Motown artist.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 01:13 pm:

KEN: RE: JAMES TAYLOR...GOOD SONGWRITER...SEEMINGLY NICE PERSON...BUT SINGS IN "BABYTALK"...ESPECIALLY HIS PRONOUNCIATIONS AND ENUNCIATIONS...THE LETTER "A"...IN THE CONTEX OF A SONG...SHOULD NOT BE PRONOUNCED "A"...AS OPPOSED TO THE "UH" SOUND...IT'S KIN OF LIKE SOMEONE JUST LEARNING ENGLISH...LIKE I SAID...IN MY OPINION...TOO MUCH "BABYTALK" SINGING!!!...STU

By stephanie (207.94.145.199) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 01:24 pm:

I dont like Diana Ross's version of Close to you on her Last Time I saw Him album

I dont like Stevie Wonders version of Light My Fire

I always loved anything the Supremes did until I heard them do Bridge Over Troubled Water on the New ways But Love Stays album and what really ruins it is that godawful foghorn....LOL

Stephanie

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 02:11 pm:

How about Huey Lewis & Gwyneth Paltrow's "remake" of Smokey's "Cruisin"??? Gwyneth sounds like she can barely breath while Huey tries to stay in key. The bright side of it is Smokey is laughing all the way to the bank!

Peace!

By Horse (159.53.238.243) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 02:28 pm:

Common,

I was going to submit that version of cruisin but didn't know who the female was. Now that I know, it's even a bigger turn off..!

Kev,

Hall & Oats with Eddie was weak. Especially when the fools attempted the Infamous Temps Steps in the live video. You just can't reinvent the wheel if you know what I mean..! Great Writers but weak vocals. Sara, was probably their strongest vocal attempt. However, I still dig their tunes.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 06:01 pm:

Horse,
That is the part at the end of the Bette Middler song alright. I really do cringe whenever the ending comes. What was she thinking??

SteveK,
Thanks for the trivia. I first heard this song when I was going with a singer I would mistakenly marry. She would do this song and just accompany herself on the piano and it would give you goosebumps. After I heard Bette do this song my first though was Julie got cheated.

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 06:55 pm:

I don't know who is considered the singer of the definitive version of The Star Spangled Banner but who could have forgotten the butchered attempts by Carl Lewis and Roseanne Barr. Makes me cringe. The bright side is , it makes one chuckle.

By arrgh (65.242.121.50) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 07:11 pm:

Rita Coolidge for sure but the one I was really looking for hasn't shown up yet. "You Keep Me Hanging On" by Vanilla fudge.

By john dixon (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 07:24 pm:

good one arrgh! The part that was so bad that it would crack me up was when the singer(Mark Stein)would fake sob through "and there ain't nothing I can do about it!" Sad to say and shameful to admit, I thought Vanilla Fudge were "heavy" for a mercifully brief time.

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 09:09 pm:

I think in very small ammounts, that the Vanilla Fudge, is actually ok. Completely over the top & overtly dramatic, but ok. I can handle "You Keep Me Hanging On" & "Take Me For A Little While", which happened to be the A & B sides of thier first single.

Vanilla Fudge invented a unique style of music that I call Blue Eyed Sludge.

Oh yeah - Tim Bogart is one hell of a bass player!

By Sue (152.163.188.68) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 09:18 pm:

I agree Steve,

I think I'd disqualify bands like Vanilla Fudge that are actively TRYING to sound like aural sludge ...

I always sensed a tongue in cheek quality to "You Keep Me Hanging On," especially that over the top sob.

By PhillyGroove (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 09:44 pm:

Eli,

Mike Douglas covered "Sideshow"???? You gotta be kiddin' me! If we can dig up that record I'm gonna host a bonfire.

By douglasm (68.113.15.28) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 10:24 pm:

Cat Stevens did an excellent hatchet job on "Another Saturday Night". Listening to that, I can see why he aint got nobody.

By PhilH (203.221.53.92) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 05:37 am:

I'm not sure if I can safely say this near a bunch of Detroiters, but I just HATE Mitch Ryder's "Devil In A Blue Dress" - so overblown, when Shorty Long was so COOL. And then Springsteen had to go murder it too (and I haven't forgiven the latter for "War" either).

And how the f***ing hell did Huey and Gwynneth get to #1 here in Oz, whilst poor Smokey struggled to #17? To quote another Shorty song, "Ain't No Justice".

Phil

By PhilH (203.221.53.92) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 05:52 am:

Also have to mention: any version of "I Only Want To Be With You" other than Dusty's! (Bay City Rollers, Dave & Annie Eurythmic in their Tourists guise, Samantha Fox, Vonda Sheppard - just throw them all on that bonfire, Phillygroove!)


Phil

By StingBeeLee (155.139.50.14) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 08:29 am:

No One, No one, absolutely no one should remake any Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell songs. Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn butchered "If this world were mine". It sounded like separate parts of the song were recorded and then pasted together. Some songs should never be remade.