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Covers Audiences Love

#21
I just finished a run with a cover band last spring and there were a few songs I enjoyed playing that people seemed to connect with, whether it was becuase they were familiar with the song or whether it just had a good groove that people connected with at that moment:

Superstitious- Stevie Wonder/ Jeff Beck
I Wish- Stevie Wonder
Slipping Into Darkness- War
Heard It Through The Grapevine- GN and the Pips version
Thank You- Sly and the Family Stone
Dock of the Bay- Otis Redding
Feeling Alright- Dave Mason/ Joe Cocker
Only You Know and I Know- Dave Mason

I know there are more but I can't think of them right now.

BTW, there were a whole lot more songs that I enjoyed playing than otherwise. It's just the songs I couldn't stand, for some reason, stick out more.

;)
 
#22
I do one gag cover medley (Madonna, Maneater,some rap,a Shagnia tune, etc.) in my standard set, the rest are originals. That's worked fine where I play, although covers are getting more popular at this particular club now that the management's changed. Anyhow, I wrote a really bad, satirical hair metal song several years ago, nothing like the jazz-electronica-Zappa-esque stuff I normally do. It got a pretty good amount of local airplay, which was pretty weird in itself. Now, I get requests for that song every time I play out. Stairway To Brown Eyed Alabama Freebird On The Water would actually be a relief, but I'm doomed. I basically have to carry a whole guitar rig just for that one tune, sheesh!:cool:

Oh, yeah: I run an open mike too, and sit in on bass with lots of guys. Every blues cliche gets abused, and I get the fun of calling an Otis Redding tune, playing Hard To Handle, and hearing "nice version of that Black Crowes (or Grateful Dead) tune."
 
#23
Let's see. What is Hip (if you got horns or heys), Crossroads, Monkey Man is fun to spice up, and S.R. Vaughn, Superstition ...

Part of the fun for me playing funk/blues is that you are not bound by what the line originally was. In my experience, as long as the song stays in a similar groove, the audience enjoys a little improv
 
#24
Originally posted by Tim Cole
If you are being paid by the clubs you play, you are being to entertain the patrons, not to entertain yourselves, and too few bands IMO take this into consideration when writing their set lists. I guess I am luck, because if the crowd response is good, and the energy is there from them, I can have fun playing anything!
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You said it, Tim.

A lot of individual musicians and bands want to play originals, and I think that's admirable. But they have to get the audience to want to hear originals. That involves building a reputation or image--in marketing lingo, that's brand building. (I'm no marketing expert.) Otherwise, most people in the audience will just go out to hear familiar tunes.
 
#30
^&*!in' Mustang Sally - It was old and tired when I was young, and it has just gotten older since.
@#$%in' Sweet Home Alabama - Doesn't matter what town you're in, people still request this song.
@#$%in' Old Time Rock n Roll - So should I dance in my underwear like Tom Cruise too?
#$%!in' Freebird - I'll flip you a Free Bird
@$%^!in' Country Roads - This song should have crashed with John Denver.
&*#%!in' I Saw Her Standing There/Twist and Shout - Out of all the cool Beatles tunes, why this one?
&*$%@!in' Brown Eyed Girl - Wake me up when it's over.
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Well, I put myself in the "bass whore" category. I'd rather play something tired and true that gets 'em up and dancing than do a "cricket chirp" song. The truth is, there are thousands of well-known songs that can be done, and I've seen a good half dozen or so on this post. Regarding the above:
We're going to do Mustang Sally, with a verse/chorus of "Tough Enough" sandwiched in.
"Country Roads" - every hear Jason & The Scorchers version? We're doing it.

The point is doing SONGS that people know, not necessarily the arrangement. To that end, here's an example from my new band:

Boys of Summer - The Ataris
Is She Really Going Out With Him - Goldfinger
You Dropped a Bomb On Me - (can't remember)
I Will Survive - Cake
 
#31
Originally posted by gweimer
... To that end, here's an example from my new band:

Boys of Summer - The Ataris
Is She Really Going Out With Him - Goldfinger
You Dropped a Bomb On Me - (can't remember)
I Will Survive - Cake
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you guys are doing covers of covers!

those were originally done by Don Henley, Joe Jackson, the Gap Band, and Gloria Gaynor, respectively!

:eek: :D :cool:

from the lows,


Stew
 
#34
Originally posted by gweimer
Well, I put myself in the "bass whore" category. I'd rather play something tired and true that gets 'em up and dancing than do a "cricket chirp" song.......
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I agree with you fully, I play to entertain.

But after years in the biz, those songs do get old (regardless of arrangement). And the fact that people still request/adore the same tunes night after night can be discouraging. Any way, better for me to rant on TB than on stage.
 
#35
Or, you can always do what our band did when we got sick of a song - switch instruments (most of these tired songs are the simple and repetitive ones). It's not as bad playing Mustang Sally for the __th time this week if you suddenly have to sing it, or play a guitar solo.

Can keep things fresh.
 
#36
Originally posted by buldog5151bass
Or, you can always do what our band did when we got sick of a song - switch instruments (most of these tired songs are the simple and repetitive ones). It's not as bad playing Mustang Sally for the __th time this week if you suddenly have to sing it, or play a guitar solo.

Can keep things fresh.
Click to expand...
Now THAT is a great idea. The other thing it does is dramatically change the sound of the band, so it's more interesting. I heard Beefheart's Magic Band do that in '80 or so - and was really cool.
 
#37
Any way, better for me to rant on TB than on stage.
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Our job is done...

We do some tunes by All Purpose Grind ....
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You guys must suck... :D
My new band is called Redline - I'll post info when we hit the market in a couple months.

Or, you can always do what our band did when we got sick of a song - switch instruments
Click to expand...

I did that in a band years ago. Something to consider again...
 
#38
well, I'm lucky in that my cover band is still pretty original. we really tweak the tunes we didn't pen and we never play 'em the same way twice.

of course, we aren't playing out 6 or 7 nights a week. if I'm in a working band, it's pretty different. then I try and avoid the repetition by focusing on a different aspect of my technique during the songs I don't love. or I map out new ways to play existing lines. another benefit to having a bass with too many strings!

;)

from the lows,


Stew
 

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