It contains multitudes (of cheesy crap) but there is something spirited – and, dare I say it, “cool” – about this at times amateurish instrumental tribute to the Four Horsemen of the Popocalypse.
Showing posts with label rock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rock. Show all posts
Impact - The Exciting World of Stereo Sound (1968)
Amazingly, this stereo showcase compilation still sounds quite innovative. (Is anyone still doing stereo experimentation, or is it all 4.1. Surround Sound ?)
The Best of The Alternate Beatles
To those who thought the Beatles couldn't be covered, I am offering a sampler of tracks - one representing each album - in the hope that it might win you over to the virtues of this downloadable 15-album collection of cover versions!
From Sandie Shaw to Lord Sitar, from Ruben Blades to Swan Arcade, this CD-length collection hints at the wonderful range of covers available on each album.
From Sandie Shaw to Lord Sitar, from Ruben Blades to Swan Arcade, this CD-length collection hints at the wonderful range of covers available on each album.
The Alternate Past Masters I & II
And that's it. The last of the Alternate Beatles. Not with a bang, but with a whimper. And a double whimper, at that.
The singles collections aren't among the most played albums in my collection, but after listening to some of the more excruciatingly bland covers of the B-sides, I have to say the Beatles have gone up even further in my estimation. They really were geniuses to be able to perform the hell out of those songs and make something as trite as 'I'll Get You' into an exhilarating experience.
The singles collections aren't among the most played albums in my collection, but after listening to some of the more excruciatingly bland covers of the B-sides, I have to say the Beatles have gone up even further in my estimation. They really were geniuses to be able to perform the hell out of those songs and make something as trite as 'I'll Get You' into an exhilarating experience.
The Complete Alternate Beatles - Let It Be
The complete Beatles project is now here. Sorry for moving – it’s for a good reason.
The Alternate Abbey Road
A lovely collection of covers of the album better known as The One That Should Technically Be Their Last But Isn't And Doesn't Really Feel Like It Anyway.
Image courtesy of the visual quoteurs at Music Philosophy.
In terms of subtexts, there's far less jazzy noodling this time, with more funky, vocoder-laden surprises and curious combinations (Steven Tyler and Frankie Howerd, George Benson and Helen Merrill, alongside the more traditional pairing of Brian Sewell and Latin American rhythms). I've tried to preserve the segues in the original second half, although I am not entirely sure how successfully.
Next week I'll be adding the Past Masters covers to this post, so check back here then or subscribe to our feed.
The Alternate Abbey Road
In terms of subtexts, there's far less jazzy noodling this time, with more funky, vocoder-laden surprises and curious combinations (Steven Tyler and Frankie Howerd, George Benson and Helen Merrill, alongside the more traditional pairing of Brian Sewell and Latin American rhythms). I've tried to preserve the segues in the original second half, although I am not entirely sure how successfully.
Next week I'll be adding the Past Masters covers to this post, so check back here then or subscribe to our feed.
The Alternate Abbey Road
The Alternate Yellow Submarine
One thing was clear: I wasn't going to fuck with Pepperland. So St. George's contribution to the album remains unspoiled by imitation.
(Above) "What's terrifying is that they're recognisable."
The Alternate Yellow Submarine
(Above) "What's terrifying is that they're recognisable."
The Alternate Yellow Submarine
The Alternate 'White Album'
The double album known as The White Album is the most unrestrained and eclectic album the Beatles ever put out. And that is about the only thing about it that people have agreed upon, as far as I can see.
I love it, disagreeing with those who argue it should be boiled down to one 'good' album, and now I can add that its songs have also attracted some excellent cover versions. The very multifariousness of the songs that comprise this alternate version represents, to my mind, an excellent tribute.
The Alternate White Album - Disc One
I love it, disagreeing with those who argue it should be boiled down to one 'good' album, and now I can add that its songs have also attracted some excellent cover versions. The very multifariousness of the songs that comprise this alternate version represents, to my mind, an excellent tribute.
The Alternate White Album - Disc One
The Alternate Magical Mystery Tour
My latest revelation in compiling these cover albums is as follows: the songs on Magical Mystery Tour are far more amenable to cover versions than, say, those on Sgt. Pepper's. They're just made of stronger stuff.
The Alternate Magical Mystery Tour
Read The Alternate Magical Mystery Tour Tracklist
The Alternate Magical Mystery Tour
Read The Alternate Magical Mystery Tour Tracklist
Simon Turner
The liner notes to this 1973 album made me crease up in the shop. It's a salutary reminder for those bemoaning the quality of the art form today. Here's a sample:
(By the way, the last sentence works particularly well if you intone it with the gravitas usually reserved for film trailers.)
(By the way, the last sentence works particularly well if you intone it with the gravitas usually reserved for film trailers.)
The Alternate Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Now, as you would expect for one of the most discussed albums in rock history, there's a rich seam of cover versions, and the choosing weren't easy.
The Alternate Revolver
Carefully staged studio shots like the one below, taken at John's 26th birthday party, masked the tension underlying the recording of the Revolver album.
The Alternate Revolver
Show me the Alternate Revolver Tracklist
You'll begin by nodding absently to Junior Parker's cataleptic 'Taxman'. Then you'll be gaily picturing a sleazy striptease to George Martin's 'I'm Only Sleeping', wondering if any moment could be more joyful than the chorus of Akiko Kanazawa's 'Yellow Submarine', and penultimately rollicking along with Marian Love on 'Got to Get You into My Life'.
The Alternate Revolver
Show me the Alternate Revolver Tracklist
You'll begin by nodding absently to Junior Parker's cataleptic 'Taxman'. Then you'll be gaily picturing a sleazy striptease to George Martin's 'I'm Only Sleeping', wondering if any moment could be more joyful than the chorus of Akiko Kanazawa's 'Yellow Submarine', and penultimately rollicking along with Marian Love on 'Got to Get You into My Life'.
The Alternate Rubber Soul
The Alternate Rubber Soul can now be found here, with all the other Beatles stuff. As you can guess, we’ve moved. The new place looks a bit different, but a lot of the old furniture is still there. Hope it’s not too out of place among all the new bits and pieces.
Thanks
Tardy
Thanks
Tardy
The Alternate Help!
The fifth in the series.
The Alternate Help!
Click here for the tracklist
And you can click on a picture to download any of the other Alternate Beatles albums:
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The Alternate Beatles for Sale
Number four... number four... number four...
Sorry, moment of madness. What I mean to say is that this is the fourth in the series of Beatles cover albums.
Putting together The Alternate Beatles for Sale has been fairly illuminating. I'd never noticed how cover-heavy the original album was, and this leaves the compiler (as I shall henceforth refer to myself never, ever again) with all sorts of judgement calls to make: often I was tempted to plump for the very song that inspired The Beatles, but since they tend to be overqualified (take Holly's 'Words of Love'), I invariably opted for some more obscure gem.
Well, all that stuff's boring, so what do you make of these:
>>The Alternate Beatles for Sale<<
Click here for the tracklist
Comments/quips appreciated!
And you can click on a picture to download any of the other Alternate Beatles albums:
Sorry, moment of madness. What I mean to say is that this is the fourth in the series of Beatles cover albums.
Putting together The Alternate Beatles for Sale has been fairly illuminating. I'd never noticed how cover-heavy the original album was, and this leaves the compiler (as I shall henceforth refer to myself never, ever again) with all sorts of judgement calls to make: often I was tempted to plump for the very song that inspired The Beatles, but since they tend to be overqualified (take Holly's 'Words of Love'), I invariably opted for some more obscure gem.
Well, all that stuff's boring, so what do you make of these:
>>The Alternate Beatles for Sale<<
Click here for the tracklist
Comments/quips appreciated!
And you can click on a picture to download any of the other Alternate Beatles albums:
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Christmas Wouldn't Be Christmas Without George 'King' Cole
I was tempted to post this one in September, when you tend to start receiving Christmas gift catalogues and stuff like that, but then I decided against it: I don't want this one to get lost down the back of the sofa - I want to picture you listening to it on Christmas Day.
The two stars of the British sitcom Minder belt out this timeless (OK, more seasonal than timeless) tribute to male incompetence, set against a backdrop of festive chiming. It's an ingratiating spectacle.
The glorious full title of this track is What Are We Gonna Get For 'Er Indoors? (Interpolating 'In The Bleak Midwinter') - George Cole and Dennis Waterman
The Alternate Hard Day's Night
All digitally remastered, of course!
Download it now!
A Week of Eleanor Rigby - Thursday's Child...
...has far to goEleanor Rigby - Arr. Bill Hutchins (from the album The Fool on the Hill - The Beatles' Songbook Vol. 1) 1971
Also not strictly a cover, but have a listen to this: Eminem Rigby
A Week of Eleanor Rigby - Wednesday's Child...
...is full of woe:Eleanor Rigby - Edward Woodward
Eleanor Rigby - Cleo Laine & John Williams (Williams Not Pictured)
A Week of Eleanor Rigby - Monday's Child...
Eleanor Rigby - Marty Gold (from Moog Plays the Beatles)
I'm posting up some Eleanor Rigby covers this week in preparation for the 'release' of The Alternate Hard Day's Night next Monday. I've pretty much finished compiling it now - it's sounding good!
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