Coverholics Anonymous

[jowcol]

Hello, my name is Jowcol, and I'm a coverholic.  As the 5th step of my Coverholics Anonymous program, I need to confess the depth of my addition.

A coverholic suffers from the terrible compulsion to collect as many different "covers" or arrangements of a given song as possible.  This is different that classical fan that may compulsively collect as many different performances of a given classical work (Case in point- our Brother Vandermolen who has 25 versions of Walton's first Symphony).   Us coverholics need to convene in the Diner, as much of our affliction affects the collection of non-classical works, with as much variety as possible.   I have a list of songs/compositions  that I keep searching out new versions of.  (Some of the repeat offenders you may know are Summertime and It Aint Necessarily so, Angel Eyes,  Cry Me  a River, My Favorite Things, and Afro Blue.)  I must have at least 70 different Afro-Blues from different aggregations of musicians and styles.

I thought I'd just start with a simple work that has been monopolizing my mind of late.  The song "Christo Redemptor" (sometimes spelled Cristo Redentor) is something I can't resist.  If you find a version on Kazoo, I'll need to get it.  The song was originally written by Duke Pearson (an underrated Jazz composer who was busiest in the 50s and 60s.  He wrote it after seeing the giant Christo Redemptor statue in Brazil, and tried to capture the awe it left in him.   He recorded his own version, but the breakout one occurred on trumpeter Donald Byrd's excellent "A New Perspective" album, where Pearson arranged a wordless chorus (vocalize?) for all of the songs, and a young Herbie Hancock is on keys.  The song has been called "the mother of all two-chord vamps"-- its a ii-V vamp with a 6/8 feel, a scrap of melody, a little turnaround phrase, and a whole lot of feeling.

http://www.youtube.com/v/07CdIl32iiU

This song then got picked up by Charlie Musselwhite, the blues harmonica player on his debut album Stand Back.  (One of the best "blue eyed blues" albums of the 60s, as it had the legendary Fred Below on the drums).  This is where I first encountered the song, and I consider one on the great 3 minute instrumentals-- the organ nails me. Here is the original.  He cut a 12 minute version a couple years later (but a bit stiff), and has made it a signature tune. There are about 10 live versions on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/v/lUplSejUHmk


I've got several other versions, in jazz, blues, and even a fusion one.   The one I'm obsessing about recently is a very elegant one by an Italian Blues outfit called the Head Hunters.  I really love the chemistry and feel for this version-- the guitar only plays fills, and the harmonica and organ do the soloing.  Just check out the crescendo from about 3:00 to 5:30-- for something so simple, it's very powerful.

http://www.youtube.com/v/tkmTuA2ieXo




Anyway-- this is just a hint at the depths of my illness.   I may use this thread to confess more of my obsessions.  And if you are a coverholic, speak up.  You are not alone.

[Gurn Blanston]

I have 54 Beethoven 9th's (55 if you count Katsaris doing Liszt doing Beethoven). And I don't 'suffer' a bit.  

By and large I am against that sort of thing though. I'm on record (but not on CD) as being against it, and I have to be consistent. It's a bad, bad thing. A bad thing. Although I've been sort of looking for that Reiner/Chicago that everyone mentions...  0:)

[Gurn Blanston]

I have 54 55 Beethoven 9th's (55 56 if you count Katsaris doing Liszt doing Beethoven). And I don't 'suffer' a bit.  

By and large I am against that sort of thing though. I'm on record (but not on CD) as being against it, and I have to be consistent. It's a bad, bad thing. A bad thing. Although I've been sort of looking for that Reiner/Chicago that everyone mentions... I can't wait to hear that new Reiner/Chicago version next Sunday!  0:)

[jowcol]

Sounds like you have found an enabler.  I wish I had one.

[bhodges]

I don't think I'm a coverholic; seriously, I can stop any time.

(Yeah, right.  )

Don't really have the "completist" urge that often goes hand-in-hand with this syndrome.  For some pieces I like very much, I might have 5 or 6 versions, but rarely more than that.  A couple of exceptions: Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra and Bluebeard's Castle, for which I have maybe a dozen each.

--Bruce

[Brian]

I have 54 55 Beethoven 9th's (55 56 if you count Katsaris doing Liszt doing Beethoven). And I don't 'suffer' a bit.  

By and large I am against that sort of thing though. I'm on record (but not on CD) as being against it, and I have to be consistent. It's a bad, bad thing. A bad thing. Although I've been sort of looking for that Reiner/Chicago that everyone mentions... I can't wait to hear that new Reiner/Chicago version next Sunday!  0:)

This made me laugh out loud!

[drogulus]

This song then got picked up by Charlie Musselwhite, the blues harmonica player on his debut album Stand Back.  (One of the best "blue eyed blues" albums of the 60s, as it had the legendary Fred Below on the drums).  This is where I first encountered the song, and I consider one on the great 3 minute instrumentals-- the organ nails me. Here is the original.  He cut a 12 minute version a couple years later (but a bit stiff), and has made it a signature tune. There are about 10 live versions on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/v/lUplSejUHmk

     Do you have Harvey Mandel's Christo Redentor? This was the first version I heard, then I traced the Mandel connection back to the Musselwhite album.

     

   

[jowcol]

     Do you have Harvey Mandel's Christo Redentor? This was the first version I heard, then I traced the Mandel connection back to the Musselwhite album.

     

Yes, I've got that do.  I followed the link in the opposite direction.  In the Musselwhite version, they faded out Harvey's solo, and on the Mandel album, he kept the chorus.

[Teresa]

Thanks for sharing, I am just the opposite.  I don't like any type of duplication.  I have always tolerated duplication of short classical works and Jazz standards on physical formats but when I moved everything over to my computer out went ALL duplications.

For example I listened to all versions I had of Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain and kept my favorite one.  I kept only one version of Freddie Green's Corner Pocket, the one on Sheffield Lab by Harry James.  I did the same with all classical pieces and jazz standards. 

[BMW]

I kept only one version of Freddie Green's Corner Pocket, the one on Sheffield Lab by Harry James.

(Off topic)
Great record! (King James Version)  Recently found the LP for 50 cents.

[Teresa]

(Off topic)
Great record! (King James Version)  Recently found the LP for 50 cents.

Wow that was a lucky find!  My heart nearly stops a beat anytime I find a Direct Disc at a thrift store. 

[snyprrr]

Yes, this is sad, and makes me feel quite alright about my reasoning for collecting,....uh, which is, of course,...to learn!



btw- I am more of the "take-a-song-and-make-it-your-own", like how Van Halen took YouReallyGotMe. I can play, so I never have to worry about "versions" and such.



However, since all Modern Issues have at their core the same pain and confusion, I can sympathize with your plight. However, I am disappointed that you feel your disease is too specialized for the CDCDCD (Compulsive Disassociative CD Collecting Disease) Thread. Ah!