LOOK WHAT I HAVE FOUND vol 231
"Knock on covers" - 16 alternate views on how to play those gems

 

In The Trashcan Records       GARBAGE231
"Venus, Bang Bang, Fever, and Sixteen Tons of more crazy versions of million selling tunes..."

1. je ne suis pas un bonbon - liliane saint-pierre

Belgian singer Liliane Keuninckx was born in 1948 and was 20 years old when she recorded this Claude François song. In 1968 she started her career singing in French. See also volume 41 for more info. This yeye pop tune is the flipside to "Plus jamais", a Disques Flèche release.

9. fever - brian burd

Slow and sleazy funk version from 1969 by Brian Burd aka Bernad Ancinon, ex Les Pollux. His backing band was Les Black Sabbath… so, I wonder if Ozzy was first.

2. hold on i'm coming - the seven souls

Great two-sider from 1967. The flipside is "Papa's got a brand new bag". The EP also features cover versions of "Land of thousand dances" and "Walkin' the dog". They had a few singles in the second half of the 1960s. Terrific uptempo soul with a groovy Hammond.

10. tainted love - ruth swann

When deejaying I often play this version instead of the Gloria Jones original. Diana Foster aka Ruth Swann recorded it in 1975 for the Spark label. See volume 230 for the flipside.

3. bang bang - petula clark

This is my favourite version of the Sonny & Cher classic. Tarantino should have used this one for Kill Bill. Producer Tony Hatch turned it into a dangerous tune.

11. knock on wood - the twilighters

Garage soul from 1966/67 by these young garage kids who might have been from Pennsylvania. "You are my sunshine" (check out volume 230) is the flipside.

4. got to get you into my life - john smith & the new sound

He also recorded using the alias of Bobby Dean. Here he sings a decent version of The Beatles song, that appeared on their "Revolver" album. Smith's rendition was also issued in 1966. See also volume 130.

12. venus - casey & the pressure group

They were also known as Funky Eight. Fabulous organ-led instrumental version of Shocking Blue's monster hit. Bass player Piet Hein Veening and guitarist Joop Scholten also played with the Rob Franken Organ-ization. See also volume 230.

5. leaving here - tages

Swedish band that release 20+ singles in 1965-1968, mostly on Swedish label Platina. I found this Motown song on a Dutch label from Amsterdam, Delta, released in 1966. See also vol 230. It was first issued by Eddie Holland himself in 1963, but the finest version must be the one by The High Numbers, aka The Who, from 1965. Even Motorhead, Pearl Jam and The Nomads recorded terrific versions of this Holland-Dozier-Holland classic.

13. papa's got a brand new bag - the seven souls

What a swinging version of James Brown's masterpiece. They recorded it in 1967. Fast funky soul stomper from Los Angeles.

6. na na na he he - los piratos

Hilarious Dutch version by this beer bustin' band from The Netherlands. I assume it was their sole release. It's about guys going to the pub when girls start nagging. Originally it was recorded by Steam  in 1969, although the song itself was written in 1961 already. A Decca release.

14. sixteen tons - the don harrison band

One of the few 1976 releases I allow in this series. It reminds me of CCR in a lazy southern rock mood. Perhaps it is because of ex-CCR drummer Doug Clifford. Also CCR's Stu Cook played with this band; both were also active in The Golliwogs in the mid-60s.

7. da doo ron ron - claes dieden

Swedish singer of Science Poption going solo with this silly rendition of The Crystals' 1963 chart topper. It was his first solo release, from 1968.

15. speedy gonzales - ennio sangiusto

Ennio Reggente changed his name into Ennio Sangiusto and started his career with twist tunes and cover songs, like this one in 1962. In 1961 it was performed for the first time by David Dante, who recorded it for RCA. Sangiusto's version appeared on Belter. See also volume 227.

8. ghost riders in the sky - the rangers

Twangy freaky instrumental version of a song that was originally recorded as "Riders in the sky" in 1949 by Burl Ives. It's a song about storm clouds in Arizona, but the very first origins go back to the 19th century song "When Johnny comes marching home". I think these Rangers came from Denmark. A 1960 Fast release.

16. canto karabili - the george shearing quintet

Or "Jungle drums" in a new mambo jacket. From an EP called "Latin escapade", and also on the same album. Belgian harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans played often with George Shearing, but not on this recording from 1957.