randyhersom Posted October 14, 2009 Report Posted October 14, 2009 What are the best performances of music that are not actually the best version of the tune. I was thinking popular, specifically Gladys Knight's Heard It Through The Grapevine to head my list. But I don't want to limit to that, McCoy Tyner and Betty Carter can race for second on My Favorite Things. The better version should not be by the same artist, so for me to nominate Trane's My Favorite Things with Dolphy would be correct if I though it was Trane's best version, but somebody else did the definitive My Favorite Things. It should lead to some good debate about what really is the definitive version of a particular song. I've been lstening to some early Stevie Wonder and Jackson Five lately, and the albums are enhanced by versions of other Motown artists hits. I'm making up 3-5 as I go so I'll probably change my mind, but just to het things started: 1. Gladys Knight's Heard It Through The Grapevine (Marvin Gaye #1) 2. Betty Carter My Favorite Things from Inside Betty Carter (Trane) 3. Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing (flame away, but I think Derek and the Dominoes absolutely stole this one) 4. Roy Buchanan - Rescue Me (Fontella Bass) 5. Lee Morgan - Capra Black (Billy Harper) Quote
Jim R Posted October 14, 2009 Report Posted October 14, 2009 Interesting thread idea. I'd need to spend more time to come up with a list, but one thing popped into my head. I was recently listening to some Brook Benton, and realized that although he (from what I understand) popularized "A Rainy Night In Georgia", I still think that Otis Rush's version is the best I've heard. I listened to some samples at the itunes store, and David Ruffin's sounds pretty nice also (and Arthur Prysock's), but I don't think anybody tops Otis. Hmm... maybe I escaped the boundaries of the original idea here. I guess there can be a widely acknowledged "best" or #1 version of a song, and ideas about what is #2; and there can be a #2 (or 3 or 4 or 5) that someone thinks should be considered for #1. Quote
JSngry Posted October 14, 2009 Report Posted October 14, 2009 Wouldn't the 2nd best second best be the third best? Quote
B. Clugston Posted October 14, 2009 Report Posted October 14, 2009 What are the best performances of music that are not actually the best version of the tune. I was thinking popular, specifically Gladys Knight's Heard It Through The Grapevine to head my list. But I don't want to limit to that, McCoy Tyner and Betty Carter can race for second on My Favorite Things. The better version should not be by the same artist, so for me to nominate Trane's My Favorite Things with Dolphy would be correct if I though it was Trane's best version, but somebody else did the definitive My Favorite Things. It should lead to some good debate about what really is the definitive version of a particular song. I've been lstening to some early Stevie Wonder and Jackson Five lately, and the albums are enhanced by versions of other Motown artists hits. I'm making up 3-5 as I go so I'll probably change my mind, but just to het things started: 1. Gladys Knight's Heard It Through The Grapevine (Marvin Gaye #1) 2. Betty Carter My Favorite Things from Inside Betty Carter (Trane) 3. Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing (flame away, but I think Derek and the Dominoes absolutely stole this one) 4. Roy Buchanan - Rescue Me (Fontella Bass) 5. Lee Morgan - Capra Black (Billy Harper) Good idea for a thread. I agree with you on "Little Wing." I like CCR's version of "Hoid It Through the Grapevine" better than Gladys Knight's though. Quote
BruceH Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 I like CCR's version of "Hoid It Through the Grapevine" better than Gladys Knight's though. Got to agree with that. Quote
Guy Berger Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 What about Charles Mingus's "Mood Indigo" from the Mingus Dynasty album? Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 I'd go with Arthur Prysock's "Rainy night in Georgia" - the best version is, of course, by Lord Tanamo, as I'm sure all will agree Take five - I love Tito Puente's version of this (from "Mambo Diablo") Some difficult ones though... Is Bobby Bland's version of "Black night" better than Charles Brown's? - ah, well... and which version of "Ain't it funky now" is second best - James Brown's or Grant Green's? That one depends on my mood, too. MG Quote
randyhersom Posted October 15, 2009 Author Report Posted October 15, 2009 For a nice left field contender of Mood Indigo try ... Charlie Rich! What's New - Helen Merrill with Clifford Brown is definitive, 1166 contenders for second place. Billie Holiday? God Bless the Child - Rollins, Dolphy and Walt Dickerson all contenders for #2 Quote
clifford_thornton Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 But I don't want to limit to that, McCoy Tyner and Betty Carter can race for second on My Favorite Things. I like Ra's version from "Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue." Quote
sidewinder Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 Boy/Girl/Whatever From Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto (Archie Shepp #1) Quote
B. Clugston Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 OK, here's mine: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin "Day Tripper" - The Beatles "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones "Try a Little Tenderness" - Bing Crosby The best version for each song is by Otis Redding. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 OK, here's mine: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin "Day Tripper" - The Beatles "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones "Try a Little Tenderness" - Bing Crosby The best version for each song is by Otis Redding. I think, much though I've loved Otis for decades, that he has the second best versions of all those. No 1s would be "Respect" - Wayne Henderson & the Freedom Sounds - this version absolutely LEAPS! "Day Tripper" - Odell Brown & the Organisers "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones - I don't like the Stones at all, but I've got to admit... "Try a Little Tenderness" - Willis Jackson (the 1960 version with Jack McDuff, not his 1954 version, which s OK) MG Quote
B. Clugston Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 OK, here's mine: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin "Day Tripper" - The Beatles "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones "Try a Little Tenderness" - Bing Crosby The best version for each song is by Otis Redding. I think, much though I've loved Otis for decades, that he has the second best versions of all those. No 1s would be "Respect" - Wayne Henderson & the Freedom Sounds - this version absolutely LEAPS! "Day Tripper" - Odell Brown & the Organisers "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones - I don't like the Stones at all, but I've got to admit... "Try a Little Tenderness" - Willis Jackson (the 1960 version with Jack McDuff, not his 1954 version, which s OK) MG I got to check out that Wayne Henderson version of "Respect"! Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 OK, here's mine: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin "Day Tripper" - The Beatles "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones "Try a Little Tenderness" - Bing Crosby The best version for each song is by Otis Redding. I think, much though I've loved Otis for decades, that he has the second best versions of all those. No 1s would be "Respect" - Wayne Henderson & the Freedom Sounds - this version absolutely LEAPS! "Day Tripper" - Odell Brown & the Organisers "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones - I don't like the Stones at all, but I've got to admit... "Try a Little Tenderness" - Willis Jackson (the 1960 version with Jack McDuff, not his 1954 version, which s OK) MG I got to check out that Wayne Henderson version of "Respect"! It's on the album "People get ready" - Atlantic. Getting it out of the shelf, I see it's just credited to the Freedom Sounds featuring WH on the front, and WH & the FS on the spine, so you might need to search just for Freedom Sounds. MG Quote
John L Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 (edited) OK, here's mine: "Respect" - Aretha Franklin "Day Tripper" - The Beatles "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones "Try a Little Tenderness" - Bing Crosby The best version for each song is by Otis Redding. Hmmmmmm ...well, I do agree that Otis took ownership of Try a Little Tenderness. How about Lonely Woman (owned by Ornette): Eight Bold Souls Jitterbug Waltz (owned by Fats Waller): Eric Dolphy A Change is Gonna Come (owned by Sam Cooke): Aretha Franklin Rockin' Chair (owned by Louis Armstrong): Roy Eldridge Edited October 15, 2009 by John L Quote
randyhersom Posted October 15, 2009 Author Report Posted October 15, 2009 So did the Wicked One ace Hey Jude? And then there's All Along The Watchtower. I actually remain fond of Dave Mason's version, but would say Jimi and Bob have to be 1-2 in some order. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 (Your love is) so doggone good 2nd - The Whispers 1st - Sonny Stitt (with Hamp Hawes) MG Quote
umum_cypher Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 McCoy Tyner and Betty Carter can race for second on My Favorite Things. There's not much in it, but I think my iTunes would show the OST version of MFT getting more plays that Coltrane's. It's dramatic! Quote
Aggie87 Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 Grant Green's version of MFT is nice as well. Dunno whether it's second best or not. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 Grant Green's version of MFT is nice as well. Dunno whether it's second best or not. Which one? The one with McCoy, Bob Cranshaw and Elvin, or with Sonny Clark, Sam Jones & Louis Hayes? MG Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 So did the Wicked One ace Hey Jude? No, Willis Jackson did. With Wilson Pickett coming a close third to Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers. Oh, that reminds me of another extremely difficult one. "If you need me" - Wilson Pickett (the original) or Solomon Burke? I really can't say (but baby it's cold outside). MG Quote
Aggie87 Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 Grant Green's version of MFT is nice as well. Dunno whether it's second best or not. Which one? The one with McCoy, Bob Cranshaw and Elvin, or with Sonny Clark, Sam Jones & Louis Hayes? MG I meant the one on Matador with McCoy/Elvin/Cranshaw. Gonna have to revisit the other on Complete Quartets, I forgot about that one. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 15, 2009 Report Posted October 15, 2009 Grant Green's version of MFT is nice as well. Dunno whether it's second best or not. Which one? The one with McCoy, Bob Cranshaw and Elvin, or with Sonny Clark, Sam Jones & Louis Hayes? MG I meant the one on Matador with McCoy/Elvin/Cranshaw. Gonna have to revisit the other on Complete Quartets, I forgot about that one. I've a slight preference for the one on "Matador" but I think it depends on which version I've listened to most recently. MG Quote
Neal Pomea Posted October 16, 2009 Report Posted October 16, 2009 From the country music world Tramp on the Street (1. Molly O'Day, 2. Hank Williams) When God Comes and Gathers His Jewels (1. Molly O'Day, 2. Hank Williams) Six More Miles to the Graveyard (1. Hank Williams, 2. Molly O'Day) Singing Waterfall (1. Hank Williams, 2. Molly O'Day) From the bluegrass world Sparkling Brown Eyes (1. Joe Val, 2. Jerry and Skye) Quote
jeffcrom Posted October 16, 2009 Report Posted October 16, 2009 "Hammerhead" by John Zorn & Naked City "Parker's Mood" - the take one false start by Charlie Parker.... Oh, I'm sorry. I thought the topic was "Best five second versions." Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.