THE CHAIN

[droid]

1963, Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions with this latin tinged number



1967, elevated to the divine by the Techniques to became the 'Queen Majesty' riddim (not to be confused with the 'Queen and the minstrel' riddim, which is totally different).



Covered by many reggae artists including Dennis Brown.



1985, the riddim became a perennial, appearing in every decade since the original, Tenor Saw benefiting from a touch of digital production here.



1893, digression: Saw's version took 'When the roll is called up yonder" as its lyrical template - an American hymn beloved of gospel, country and bluegrass artists



2012 - probably the most recent big hit using the riddim.

 

[Mr. Tea]

I was gonna say, doesn't it hold the record for most-covered song? Is there any other title that even comes close?

 

[version]

I was gonna say, doesn't it hold the record for most-covered song? Is there any other title that even comes close?

Happy Birthday?

 

[Mr. Tea]

Happy Birthday?

Well obviously that's a widely performed song, but I don't think it's been released as a single that many times.

 

[IdleRich]

I dunno there's a few... Spooky, My Way that kind of thing.

 

[IdleRich]

Or Sunny I mean, but Spooky been done a lot too.

 

[IdleRich]

I mean maybe these are less interesting cos most of them don't evolve - it's more "I did it my way too" and don't mess with the format.

 

[entertainment]

Something like Halleluja. Or a Beatles song probably.

 

[version]

Well obviously that's a widely performed song, but I don't think it's been released as a single that many times.

Probably a fair few national anthems.

 

[DannyL]

Reggae must be the t for rhythms and reworkings. Something very unique to Jamaican music that I've never quite put my finger on. Wny did they elevate it to such an art form? Something to do with not having the emphasis on the individual artistry, more on the performance.

Anyway, "Ain't No Sunshine"

Bill killin' it (live here)



Issac Hayes goes full pimp and delivers an absolutely epic 17m version at Wattsax. The extended drawn out emotional journey being a classic Hayes move.




Horace Andy taking it dubwise. What destroys about this is the unique vocal, taking on such a familiar classic Such an unususal characterful voice. There's a dub of this somewhere....

 

[sufi]

i follow mary the punk from eastenders on twitter too

 

[Bang Diddley]

Concerto De Aranjuez Adagio - Joaquin Rodrigo



Concierto de Aranjuez Part 1 - Miles Davis



Spain - Return to Forever - takes a parts of the the two of the above in the intro and context



Spain - Al Jarreau

 

[Slothrop]

Okay, Fever - didn't really know how tangled this one got until I looked.

Original by Little Willie John, 1956:


Maybe the first "definitive version" by Peggy Lee, 1958:


Obligatory Jamaican interlude - Junior Byles, 1972


which was recorded on a riddim that originated with Ken Boothe in 1970:


which AFAICT was a remake of his own tune from 1965:


and which was still going strong (kind of) in 2013:


Anyway, Junior Byles version got covered:


and that cover (I think) got versioned:


But back to the US, the tune goes everywhere including Madonna:


and then Beyoncé


And that's not mentioning Elvis, James Brown, the Cramps, Boney M and *checks notes* Michael Bublé

 

[IdleRich]

Yeah Fever is one of those ones that have been done millions of times... and also there are loads of popcorn tunes that are basically Fever in all but name.

 

[Leo]

it's easy to find one great cover, this thread is more interesting when it's multiple covers of the same tune.

 

[IdleRich]

I know the first and last (and always) but not the middle one there... such a great tune.

 

[the ig]

 

[Leo]

 

[droid]

Pick a best out of them.

And lets see who can make the longest chain.

 

[droid]

Original is best here. I love the Duffus version, but this is just so rich, heartfelt and perfectly executed.

1968, Stax beauty