[kj] KJ Covers - brand new cadillac

[GREG SLAWSON]

And Steve Earle?

Sorry about the "Cadillac" mistake. I didn't realize how longstanding the rockabilly was in the UK (although I've heard of the "Teds" movement). True, it's

been pretty well forgotten here, but most music is so trendy that it's getting harder and harder for people to remember anything older than 5 years. I always though

UK music was trendy too (punk, post-punk, ska, new romantic, etc etc) but maybe not as much, since the radio in the US has been so horrible for so long.

I have read that the Clash were kind of fascinated by american music, though. (But maybe in the way that most americans are gaga over the Beatles, Stones, and Who).
 


From: fluwdot at earthlink.net
To: gathering at misera.net
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 20:13:29 -0600
Subject: Re: [kj] KJ Covers - brand new cadillac










Greg 
 
Brand New Cadillac is a Vince Taylor tune…Vince Taylor was a British rocker from the 60’s…Brand New Cadillac is not Rockabilly, where is the “billy” (as in hillbilly) in that tune? it’s just rock n roll. The clash were covering that tune because it was one of the toughest tunes on the UK charts when the clash kids were growing up. they had no obsession with US rockabilly per se, it was just normal awareness and respect that many brits had - a healthy representation of American roots and rock/rockabilly music in their music paradigm since Gene Vincent, Bill Haley and Eddie Cochran first toured there. that type of music was just part of the environment, it never went away as it had in the states, where it was completely forgotten to ever have occurred by the mainstream. Hence Americans still have a gaping black hole in the knowledge of their own music history 
 
Joe Ely was/is not rockabilly, he Is/was roots rock and not the reggae kind of roots rock as some relate to the term, but American roots rock. Like Credence Clearwater Revival, Los Lobos, Marshall Crenshaw, Lone Justice, The Del Lords etc. etc. etc. 
 
  
 




From: gathering-bounces at misera.net [mailto:gathering-bounces at misera.net] On Behalf Of GREG SLAWSON
Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2011 5:43 PM
To: gathering
Subject: Re: [kj] KJ Covers
 
The Clash definitely did covers as homages to originals--after all they grew up in the 60s-70s, and were all into music. They loved reaggae and ska (esp. Topper) --thus Police and Thieves, Wrong em Boyo, Pressure Drop--and probably did I Fought the Law and Police on My Back partly due to the lyrics, and b/c they could do great versions of them (and The Equals, the originators of Police on My Back, were one of the only UK multiracial groups from before the punk era--an homage to them). They probably did "Look Here" b/c they wanted to play a jazz tune but didn't know how to write one. And "Brand New Cadillac" (my least favorite Clash cover) b/c they were kind of obsessed w/US rockabilly at the time of London Calling (for example, Joe Ely opend up for them on a US tour). 
PS THat Anthrax cover of Joe Jackson is great. 
 



From: rob.moss at gmx.com
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:01:05 +0000
To: gathering at misera.net
Subject: Re: [kj] KJ Covers

Thing is with covers is that, at the time, you think your version is great. I still think our version of stand and deliver is!!

 

But it's never good enough is it?

 

If your favorite band does a cover of something you have never heard, then on a personal basis it can work. White rabbit by the damned is great in my opinion. I hadn't heard the original at the time and still prefer the damned version, no doubt others will hate it. 

 

We have that jokey version of wardance but actually could do a proper vocal and mix it better. But for what??? A bit of attention seeking perhaps...........

 

Good a reason as any I suppose , in 9 out of 10 cases probably the prime motivator. Maybe we should!

 

 

 

I always wondered why the clash did covers but on reflection can see that some of their output was pretty patchy!! At the time though I believed they were done in homage to the originals. Quite agree that I fought the law was done very well

 

Covers for b sides is ok I suppose but I do recall being thoroughly let down by that banshees covers album. That was a pretty wet affair considering their original material at the time was pretty strong. 

 

I should not like to hear killing joke do a cover  though. the bodies thing was really just throw away mucking about. But can you imagine them doing it now? What would the point be?

A dreadful thought!!!!!

 

Yuck!



On 23 Jan 2011, at 21:38, GREG SLAWSON <gregslawson at msn.com> wrote:


Yes, the original Police and Thieves is better...I'm pretty sure Maggie's Farm is a Dylan song--isn't the Specials version terrible though?
 



Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 12:04:12 -0800
From: saulomar1 at yahoo.com
To: gathering at misera.net
Subject: Re: [kj] KJ Covers


I'd hear their (Clash) "Police and Thieves" after i'd heard the original, and, oooof, I wish they hadn't, but I really like their "I fought the Law" and "Police on my back." 

 

Also, was the Specials' "Maggie's Farm" a cover?

 




From: GREG SLAWSON <gregslawson at msn.com>
To: gathering <gathering at misera.net>
Sent: Sat, January 22, 2011 9:56:32 PM
Subject: Re: [kj] KJ Covers

I hate covers, but judicially chosen and creatively executed, they can work. Look at the Clash's covers--a twisted yet still good version of "Police and Thieves", a better version of a too-mellow ska tune "Wrong 'Em Boyo" (slightly
different spelling on the JA version), a great reggae version of an old blues song or something in "Junco Pardner", a differnt but no-better-than-the-original version of "I Fought the Law" (the original was great too), and
an amazing version of an amazing song, "Police On My Back" (the original was by some biracial 60s group--name begins w/E--and Eddie Grant I think was the lead singer and that song was an great example of 60s garage/psychedelic...And what about the great Specials' covers--A Message to You Rudy, Monkey Man, Enjoy Yourself--any band that can improve on jems like those are gods!
 



From: LONESTYLE at aol.com
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 23:03:34 -0500
To: gathering at misera.net
Subject: Re: [kj] KJ Covers




No one. I just want to hear original songs of The Joke.... not cover songs.:)

 

~ LB

 


In a message dated 1/22/2011 2:57:46 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, saulomar1 at yahoo.com writes:



But.. who has Killing Joke covered?

Name some creative covers you think they should try, or any artists KJ actually has covered?

 

I think they should cover The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black."
 



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