I’ve been on a ‘cover songs’ kick lately. I’ve heard some great and some weird stuff.
Now virtually every cover of Sugar, Sugar by The Archies is better than the original (there’s a version by The Germs that is god-awful, but that is to be expected from them). I realize that isn’t difficult. Still, how did it end up being a reggae and soul standard? With big names. And most of them are pretty damn good too. They took this bubblegum pop song and turned it into good music.
Reggae:
Bob Marley and the Wailers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jOmB6kr4rM
The Silvertones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpYARcahrio
Big Youth and Junior Byles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur63nrIib1M
Ken Lazarus - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXrWktzTACQ
(This Ken Lazarus one isn’t all that great, still better than the original.)
Soul:
Ike & Tina Turner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNdVyeiJJuA
Wilson Pickett - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrZluYnMJUY
Gladys Night and the Pips - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8OGG1FGpF4
Tom Jones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCh_zQfhyfw
And while I’m listing covers of that song, here’s a few more for you…
Psychedelic rock version:
Jonathan King - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAWkntVyoDI
(I think psychedelics were heavily involved in the recording too.)
Neil Sedaka gave it the Sedaka touch with an almost big band feel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv8RQDHoawA
Chet Baker did a jazz version- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtYr69OfPvg
No idea what to think of this one. A Santana-esque group called El Chicano - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_uenTn7cps
And finally, and I can’t tell you why, a young Kurt Russell recorded a very vanilla version which is only worth listening to for the sake of curiosity.
This list makes me wish I were still a DJ at my community radio station. I love the idea of doing an entire hour that’s just different covers of this song with no explanation.
Tom Jones didn’t disappoint.
He never does.
This is amazing, and my childhood salutes you 🫡
Saving to come back and jam later tonight
Enjoy!
Thanks for this. The Silvertunes track is pretty great.
TIL about Big Youth and discovered where the Beastie Boys Ill Communication sample came from (Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing).
Different genera covers are always a fun rabbit hole to go down. One of my go to favorites are psychobilly covers of anything.
Also to add to your cover collection.
I like it! Thanks!
The album it’s off of is a lot of fun. Though extremely hard to find these days. You might be able to look up the tracklist and find most of them floating around on YouTube somewhere. But I looked at their listing for the album proper and I think they had maybe one out of 13 tracks from the album.
