This Post Contains the Finest Silver From the North of Spain
My brother must have been 14 years old when he gave me a box of records he’d outgrown. I was 7.
Jeff was moving on to Sabbath, Zeppelin, the Stones, and The Who, so he was over the early Beatles and Beach Boys albums. The Monkees Greatest Hits didn’t hold the same magic for him anymore. But I was still a believer.
There was also an Iron Butterfly album.
I'm not sure how many second-graders could air drum their way through all 17 minutes and six seconds of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida in 1972. But I have a feeling I was part of an exclusive group of weirdos.
Along with the LPs, there was a stack of 45s that ran the gamut from Cecilia by Simon & Garfunkel, to Me and You and a Dog Named Boo by Lobo, to Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) by Looking Glass.
Even then, I was drawn to a good story.
I played Brandy hundreds of times. I knew every chord change, guitar lick, horn stab, swell, and vocal inflection. And just like you never forget how to ride a bike, you never forget the details of a song once it’s burned into your fertile young mind.
That’s why I’m so into a recent cover of Brandy by Big Head Todd & The Monsters. It’s 100 percent faithful to the original.
The Cover Quandry
There are a few different types of cover songs. I’m no musicologist, but here’s how I see it.
You’ve got derivative covers such as The Rolling Stones version of Ain’t Too Proud to Beg. It’s grittier and rocks harder. The Stones put their stamp on it. But overall, their version feels pretty close to the original. It’s my favorite of the two. If for no other reason than Keith Richards’ shouty, strained background vocals.
Then there are transformational covers. They’re the musical equivalent of Chip Gaines knocking down a wall between the dining room and kitchen. Joe Cocker’s version of With a Little Help From My Friends sets the bar. He took a cute, swinging little pop song and turned it into a driving blues masterpiece dripping with soul and emotion.
But what about the honest covers? The ones that are faithful to the original.
I used to think that was boring and uninspired. It didn’t make sense to record a cover if the song didn't get a makeover.
But now I realize it can be gutsy. Because if an artist plays a note-for-note cover of a classic song everyone knows, then they’re inviting line-by-line scrutiny. That takes balls.
Plus, sometimes, it’s just cool to hear a band recreate a beloved song. It’s like they’re paying respect and acknowledging the original artist’s contribution.
That’s what Big Head Todd & The Monsters did with Brandy. Give it a spin and see what you think.
Here’s a fun fact. Or maybe more of an embarrassing tidbit.
For years, I thought Brandy’s love interest in the song was named Lonnie.
It’s right there in the bridge:
But he had always told the truth, Lonnie was an honest man
And Brandy does her best to understand
I think it took me a few decades to realize he’s singing, “Lord, he” and not “Lonnie.”
But he had always told the truth, Lord, he was an honest man
And Brandy does her best to understand
Fair enough. But I still call the guy "Lonnie."
Collar, Are You There?
Lake Street Dive does a cover of Rich Girl by Hall and Oates that you’ve got to hear. I won’t even describe what they do with the song. Just do yourself a favor and check it out.
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Chances are that if you know the song Without You, it’s probably the hit recording from Harry Nilsson in 1971. It’s the definitive version, and it’s gorgeous. Air Supply also put their spin on the song and released it as a single in '91.
In his big hit version, you can hear an ache in Harry Nilsson's voice that's almost uncomfortably intimate. But for contrast, you should listen to the original by Badfinger. It has kind of a garage-band vibe that makes it more bittersweet than mournful.
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I’ll wrap up CoverFest 2020 with Never Been to Spain. Three Dog Night had a Top 5 hit with the song in 1972. Elvis released a decent version that same year on his As Recorded at Madison Square Garden album.
I like the live Waylon Jennings version even better. He has a great way of delivering a song. His phrasing and cadence — the timbre of his voice. It all plays together perfectly. And I never get tired of that classic Waylon "phase-shift" guitar sound.
But for pure retro goodness, you should watch this rendition of Never Been to Spain from the guy who wrote it — Hoyt Axton. Hoyt not only sounds awesome, but he sports some hellacious wide collars that deserve to be honored and memorialized.
Show it to your kids, grandkids, and the bagger at your local supermarket. Don’t let early ‘70s collars fade from memory. Keep history alive for future generations.
Links to All the Songs Mentioned Above
BONUS: After I finished editing this email and was about to queue it up to drop on Sunday morning, I discovered a Mariah Carey cover of Without You. Naturally she sounds great, but I found the clip unlistenable because the crowd noise is so far up in the mix. Ended up bailing halfway through. Here's the link if you want to hear for yourself.
PS: Yes, the band is "Lake Street Dive." Not "Drive." There's no "r" in the last word.