B-side cover tunes that WORK!

[ulynch]

Help me out TB! I need a little inspiration rounding out a list of cover tunes. The goal here is to find songs that more often than not, will bring a crowd to its feet and out on the dance floor. BUT! here's the difficulty: No standards, no funk, no country, no metal, and nothing too contemporary.

We're aiming for pop/rock/hard rock, '70s-'00s, and we're looking for recognizable but largely overlooked songs by major artists. No obscure Norwegian art jazz. More than anything, they need to be uptempo and high energy, have a strong hook, and a completely danceable beat.

Some examples ... instead of Surrender by Cheap Trick, we'll be doing Big Eyes and High Roller. Instead of You Shook Me, we'll do Have a Drink on Me. Not Whip It, but Girl U Want. Instead of Under the Bridge, My Lovely Man. Add Wang Dang Sweet Poontang, Her Strut, and a rocked up version of Billy Squier's Lonely is the Night.

More ideas, please!

 

[countrybass007]

Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man by the Stones.

 

[eb3mike]

 

[DanNowhere]

How Soon is Now?

 

[caligula]

My initial thought was the fast 'n groovy version of Queen's "We Will Rock You."
Funny thing is it was the b-side of the "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" single, at least over here. Remember my mom listening to it.

 

[ulynch]

My initial thought was the fast 'n groovy version of Queen's "We Will Rock You."
Funny thing is it was the b-side of the "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" single, at least over here. Remember my mom listening to it.

Excellent. I love old Queen, and I combed their older catalog for ideas for this project. I wasn't aware this existed. Thanks!

How Soon is Now?

Why didn't I think of that? Great idea. Added to the list.

Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man by the Stones.

Trying to avoid obscure British art jazz too.

Thanks guys, but I'm looking for uptempo and high energy, with a strong hook, and a completely danceable beat. Also, recognizable, while not being on everyone else's cover gig set list.

 

[billgwx]

How about a couple of Queen songs from their "Jazz" album: "If You Can't Beat Them" and "Don't Stop Me Now"?

 

[JumboJack]

Help me out TB! I need a little inspiration rounding out a list of cover tunes. The goal here is to find songs that more often than not, will bring a crowd to its feet and out on the dance floor. BUT! here's the difficulty: No standards, no funk, no country, no metal, and nothing too contemporary.

We're aiming for pop/rock/hard rock, '70s-'00s, and we're looking for recognizable but largely overlooked songs by major artists. No obscure Norwegian art jazz. More than anything, they need to be uptempo and high energy, have a strong hook, and a completely danceable beat.

Some examples ... instead of Surrender by Cheap Trick, we'll be doing Big Eyes and High Roller. Instead of You Shook Me, we'll do Have a Drink on Me. Not Whip It, but Girl U Want. Instead of Under the Bridge, My Lovely Man. Add Wang Dang Sweet Poontang, Her Strut, and a rocked up version of Billy Squier's Lonely is the Night.

More ideas, please!

My fave Cheap Trick song!

 

[oniman7]

How about a couple of Queen songs from their "Jazz" album: "If You Can't Beat Them" and "Don't Stop Me Now"?

Don't stop Me Now is my favorite. And because of Shaun of the Dead, more popular now

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

"Hooks In You" by Marillion?

 

[ulynch]

How about a couple of Queen songs from their "Jazz" album: "If You Can't Beat Them" and "Don't Stop Me Now"?

I dunno about If You ... it's not really as "recognizable" as I'd want. Don't Stop... is definitely a contender, but keys are a problem. Right now, we aint got none

My fave Cheap Trick song!

Mine too, also Gonna Raise Hell (shortened), and You're all Talk

"Hooks In You" by Marillion?

What by who? Yeah, I'm American. I guess I'm vaguely aware Marillion exists(ed?), but I've never heard any of their music. It's just not something that really ever caught on over here. Also, I could be totally wrong. But I'm sure we miss out on a ton of good music that gets heard in Europe. :scowl:

 

[butchblack]

I don't know if it's too jazzy for you but the Guess Who's Undun is a great tune that nobody does

 

[Bassist4Eris]

This is a one-hit wonder band from the early 80s who are from my home town. The hit was "I Wanna Be A Lifeguard", one of the first MTV videos. But the song below should be the theme song for your band:

 

[Jungy]

Nice idea!
I'll add;

The Guess Who- No sugar Tonight
Radio Birdman- Hand of Law
Prince- Never take the place of your man (a single I know but not covered often)

 

[ulynch]

This is a one-hit wonder band from the early 80s who are from my home town. The hit was "I Wanna Be A Lifeguard", one of the first MTV videos. But the song below should be the theme song for your band:

Hahaha!

I don't know if it's too jazzy for you but the Guess Who's Undun is a great tune that nobody does

Whoa. Cool song. I've never heard it, but I love the minor key vibe. Not exactly recognizable, or danceable as is though. OTOH, with some work it could be turned into something cool. Thanks.

 

[stratovani]

I'm in a Tom Petty cover band, and one song that gets the crowd going is I Need To Know. It's definitely a Petty B-side, but it rocks to no end.

 

[fmoore200]

Nice idea!
I'll add;

The Guess Who- No sugar Tonight
Radio Birdman- Hand of Law
Prince- Never take the place of your man (a single I know but not covered often)

If we are going the prince route, may I suggest "I would die for you" really uptempo, and my 18 year old cousin knows it, that song came out before she was born and she loves it!

 

[ulynch]

If we are going the prince route, may I suggest "I would die for you" really uptempo, and my 18 year old cousin knows it, that song came out before she was born and she loves it!

There's ZERO Prince on youtube, but I found his whole catalog on Grooveshark. Weird ...

Anyway ... Cool song, perfect for the vibe I'm looking for ... but dang that's a lot of keys! Any ideas how to do a song like that without synths?

Thanks for all the input guys! Keep the ideas coming. My wife came up with The Clash "The Magnificent Seven". Awesome groove, but would an American suburban bar crowd recognize it?

 

[slurpy]

we do the cure - the lovecats, where we are from no one else does it. and it is a surefire floor filler everytime.

 

[mellowinman]

Peach - Prince
Yer Blues - Beatles

The only two I can think of on our setlist.

Sad how we play so many hits.