Cover Charge #43 - Pulp to Rita Coolidge

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Nick Cave to Pulp

I was expecting to have lots of covers to choose from, for this next link in the chain, but no - for a band that has been around as long as Pulp there are surprisingly few covers in its storied history. Luckily though, there is their 1997 contribution to Shaken and Stirred, David Arnold's James Bond project. For me, this is a valiant Own Stamp effort but ultimately feels like less than the sum of its parts. What do you think?

The original, by Rita Coolidge, was the theme for 1983's Octopussy - not Roger's finest outing, though the bad guy who dispatched victims with a circular saw blade sticks in the mind (as does Maud Adams, whose character seemed elegant and exotic to an impressionable teenage boy from out in the sticks). Song facts: the music for this was by John Barry, obviously, but lyrics were by none other than Sir Tim Rice. Co-produced by Phil Ramone too. As Bond themes go, it's borderline insipid, I think, and the record-buying public of '83 obviously agreed: it peaked at #75 in the charts.

Next time: Rita keeps it in the family...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #42 - Nick Cave to Pulp

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Primal Scream to Nick Cave

I remember getting today's cover courtesy of a magazine cover-mount CD. I know some Pulp fans aren't necessarily enamoured with this Own Stamp but me, I was (and remain) quite taken with Nick Cave's waltz-timed take on Disco 2000. Pulp themselves were obviously similarly impressed; long before the CD cover-mount, they'd put Nick's version on the B-side of their single Bad Cover Version, in 2002.

The original needs scant introduction from me. From the juggernaut that was 1995's Different Class, here's Jarvis pining after Deborah. We've all been there, right?

Next time: not the meter maid...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #41 - Primal Scream to Nick Cave

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Rod Stewart to Primal Scream

I had a bit of a panic last week. You see, I'd planned out all the necessary steps in this series to get back to where I started, i.e. The Specials. And then I realised I had made a mistake in my planning, and I had no route. I didn't take a look in the mirror but I imagine I gave it the full Munch scream. Cue a couple of days of increasingly frantic research, before coming up with another route. And good news! It won't be a long journey. This series has proved popular with certain individuals, but generally readership numbers are well down on other posts. I don't do this for page views, of course, but neither do I want to bore anyone either. So, let's crack on.

Primal Scream have covered an eclectic range of artists over the years, including The Troggs, Hawkwind, Fleetwood Mac, The Clash and loads more. But I'm taking the Nick Cave path today, specifically with Bobby et al's cover of Worm Tamer, from the extended Extra Light version of their 2013 album More Light. I can't find this on YouTube because of country-specific copyright issues, apparently, so have had to make do with a Spotify embed for those of you who do.

There is, however, a YouTube version of Grinderman playing Worm Tamer live in the RAK studio, back in 2010. If Wikipedia is to be believed, Nick formed Griderman as "a way to escape the weight of The Bad Seeds." Whatever the reason, this is a glorious noise.

Next time: Nick waltzes at the disco...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #40 - Rod Stewart to Primal Scream

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Blur to Rod Stewart

As I mentioned in the last clue, picking a cover by Rod is hard, because he's recorded so many, especially in the middle and later phases of his career, when he become as known for his interpretations as he was for original material. But a choice needed to made, and so here it is: from his 1998 album When We Were The New Boys, here's Rod's mostly Straight Bat take on Rocks. This features Ronnie Lane on bass, if the YouTube video listing is to be believed; if so, it would have been one of the last things he did, as he died in 1997, so wouldn't have got to see this released as a single. Just as well, maybe, given that it only limped to #55.

Primal Scream recorded their original of this for 1994's Give Out But Don't Give Up. They also released it as a single, which made it all the way to #7 in the UK, their highest chart placing at the time. I remember thinking, when I first heard this, that Bobby Gillespie must have decided he wanted to be in The Rolling Stones, 1971-vintage. No bad thing.

Next time: I've found a way to grind this series out...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #39 - Blur to Rod Stewart

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Pet Shop Boys to Blur

For a band that have been around as long as Blur, it's slightly surprising to learn they've rarely recorded covers. Even this feels a bit like they were just cocking about in the studio, using the time they had to get something - anything - in the can. Whatever its genesis, Blur recorded their take on Maggie May around the time of Popscene, I think; it first saw the light of day on the NME's 1992 compilation album Ruby Trax, celebrating 40 years of the publication, and then resurfaced as the B-side to 1993's Chemical World.

Poor old Rod the Mod. Probably thought landing the Glasto Legends slot was a good thing... until he made his Reform comments. Then the reviews of his set were, at best, mixed. For what it's worth, I didn't think it was terrible, it was just a bit... cruise ship, that's all. Though I wasn't a fan of him taking so long to change outfits that his backing band could perform entire and protracted numbers whilst he was off-stage. So probably better to remember him like this. In later years he became known for his interpretations of other people's songs, but this is a co-write for Rod. In the January 2007 issue of Q magazine, he recalled that "Maggie May was a true story, about the first woman I had sex with, at the 1961 Beaulieu Jazz Festival." He went on to clarify that the woman in question was not called Maggie though. Anyway, from 1971, here's Rolling Stone's number 130 in "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

Next time: who knows, Rod's covered everybody...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #38 - Pet Shop Boys to Blur

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Elton John to Pet Shop Boys

Aside from getting the title wrong when introducing it, it's hard to imagine a straighter Straight Bat than the Pet Shop Boys' take on Blur at their most disco. In fact, when I describe it like that, it seems like a marriage made in heaven. So here's PSB performing (ahem) "Boys and Girls" live in Rio, more than 30 years ago. See what you think.

Which of course takes us to that brief golden period in the Nineties when Blur were beyond huge, post Popscene but pre Oasis-feud nonsense. If memory serves, this was the first single to be lifted from Parklife, an album that didn't just redefine them but shaped the era too. The term Britpop has retrospectively been bandied about and expanded by whim and convenience to include all manner of bands, songs and sins but this... if Britpop really was a thing, and not just a handy catch-all label, then this is the song it went on holiday to. Following the herd down to Greece, probably.

Next time: Margaret might...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #37 - Elton John to Pet Shop Boys

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Kate Bush to Elton John

He's been around a while, has Elton. And he's recorded a fair number of covers in that time. Here he is, lending his undoubted skill tickling the ivories and his Teflon-coated vocals to a live performance of It's a Sin for the 2021 Brit Awards. It's a duet with Years And Years, about whom I know nothing (and have no motivation to find out about, either). Honestly though, compare the timbre of Elton's voice in this with the early 70s Rocket Man in the last post. What a change.

Around the time this came out, in 1987, Pet Shop Boys were massive and could do no wrong. Their brand of arty synth-pop with orchestral pretensions, coupled with arch, semi-spoken vocals, went down so well with the record-buying public. They certainly knew, and continue to know, their way around a hook. Did you know, they've sold over 100 million records worldwide, have had 42 top 30 UK hits, 22 top tens and four number ones? (Thanks, Wikipedia). In 1999 the Guinness Book of World Records decreed them the most successful duo in UK music history - blimey! And just think, none of that would have happened if Neil Tennant hadn't needed a lead for his Korg, leading to a chance meeting with Chris Lowe in a hi-fi shop. Jonbar points, eh? Anyway, here's the original It's a Sin.

Next time: PSB become PSG&B...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #36 - Kate Bush to Elton John

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: The Church to Kate Bush

Gah. It's a difficult one today. Kate Bush is one of those artists I'd happily listen to sing the phonebook. And yet today's cover, her take on Rocket Man... well, I like that she tried to make it an Own Stamp, to a degree, but the UB40 stylings of the chorus just don't wash for me. A big shame, because the verses work just fine. Indeed, this was a single release in 1991 and made it to #12 in the UK and #2 in Australia, so clearly was well enough received. However, it also won The Observer's readers award for "best cover of all time" in 2007... this seems specious at best. Fun fact: Kate directed this video herself.

Disclaimer time: I'm not a massive Elton John fan. I own a CD-R copy of a greatest hits album and I'm Still Standing on 7" that I got for free by collecting promotional packs of something or other back in the day, and that's about it. But this is alright, from all the way back in 1972, and long before Elton's voice (in my view) began its gradual decline. This video is far more recent though, from Iranian filmmaker and refugee Majid Adin. It feels quite sad, I think, and the song is too. Mars really isn't any kind of place to raise kids, after all.

Next time: Reg take forever being sinful.

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #35 - The Church to Kate Bush

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Sia to The Church

When I think of covers of today's song, it's not usually The Church's effort that comes to mind (it's this). But never mind that, because here's The Church's Straight Bat version of Hounds of Love, recorded as the B-side to their 2009 single The Coffee Song.

That's pretty good, but it's a brave act that covers this, because there's just no improving on the original, is there? So without further ado, here's the third single to be lifted from the 1986 album of the same name, from the goddess that is Kate Bush. All together now, "It's in the trees! It's coming!"

Next time: Kate takes off...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #34 - Sia to The Church

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Damien Rice to Sia

Time to see if we can get this series back into more familiar New Amusements territory. So here's Sia with a fairly Straight Bat cover of her fellow Australians, The Church. She recorded and released Under The Milky Way as a non-album single in 2010. Here 'tis.

And here, from 1988, is The Church's original. This was the second track on Starfish, the album that almost made them much, much bigger than the weird and slightly gloomy psychedelic/goth/indie/rock hybrid outsider outfit they always were. I listened to them a lot back in the day, and still have a lot of time for how this sounds.

Next time: The Church beat about the bush...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #33 - Damien Rice to Sia

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Christina Aguilera to Damien Rice

You see, this is why I was worried about doing a chain of cover versions as a series - the inevitability of having to go into uncharted musical territory to keep it going. Yesterday, Christina Aguilera. Today... well, today we have Irish indie folk rocker Damien Rice covering Australian singer-songwriter Sia Kate Isobelle Furler. Or just Sia, as far as the charts are concerned. This is his typically mournful Own Stamp take on her breakout hit, Chandelier, recorded for an Australian benefit album in 2010.

Here's the Sia original. Usually I would write something here like "this is not my normal bag" and it isn't, at all, but I can appreciate the songwriting craft that underpins this, and the fact that the video feels more like an art installation than music promo. Your mileage may vary, of course, but 2.8 billion (yes, billion) views on YouTube can't be an accident. Either way, here it is.

Next time: normal (Sunday) service is resumed...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #32 - Christina Aguilera to Damien Rice

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Elvis Costello to Christina Aguilera

You'll allow me a little leeway, I hope, because Christina has a little help with this cover. Scrub that, she's the one doing the helping, because this is Chris Mann featuring Christina Aguilera, covering The Blower's Daughter, very much with a Straight Bat. You have to wait over three minutes for Christina to come in. Try to contain yourself.

As an antidote to that fake over-emoting and saccharine sentimentality, here's Damien Rice's original, complete with kick-in-the-balls whispered line in the outro. There was a brief time in my life when this song was very important to me. Now it's like a postcard, a reminder of a forgotten past.

Next time: Damien goes to see the bright lights...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #31 - Elvis Costello to Christina Aguilera

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Roy Orbison to Elvis Costello

One of the few redeeming features of this series is that it takes the blog in new directions. Never before has New Amusements featured Christina Aguilera and yet here we are, courtesy of Elvis Costello covering her biggest (?) hit, Beautiful, in 2005. As you might expect from Elvis, it's something of an Own Stamp. Apparently it was recorded especially for an episode of Hugh Laurie-powered medical drama House.

So, some words I never imagined typing: here's Christina Aguilera and her ballady original. It's not my bag but it must be doing something right for someone, somewhere, as it has garnered 152 million views on YouTube in the 15 years since its release.

Next time: Christina visits her Uncle Ben...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

One life, live it well

As if I didn't love Professosr Alice Roberts enough already...

That's good, isn't it? I think I could describe myself as humanist, these days

And I suppose this is a fitting song to accompany the above:

For anyone wondering, the next Cover Charge is coming soon.

Sixteen

Ye gods.

Cover Charge #30 - Roy Orbison to Elvis Costello

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: U2 to Roy Orbison

You might reasonably have been expecting the appearance of a certain Mr Presley today, given the clue last time. But no! For here we have Roy Kelton Orbison covering Declan Patrick McManus, aka Elvis Costello. Look closely, the backing band for this reasonably Straight Bat cover of The Comedians includes Elvis himself, along with Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Rait, K D Lang and Jennifer Warne. It was filmed for Roy's Black and White Night concert in 1987.

And here's the original, from Elvis and The Attractions, and 1984's Goodbye Cruel World. This sounds musically, if not lyrically, more upbeat than Roy's interpretation, doesn't it? But honestly, check those lyrics.

Next time: Elvis flies up to the Spanish eagle's nest...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #29 - U2 to Roy Orbison

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Patti Smith to U2

Slightly unusual one today. Here's U2 in 2004 performing a live cover of Roy Orbison's She's A Mystery To Me.

What makes this unusual? Well, Bono and The Edge wrote it for Roy, and gifted it to him for what turned out to be the last original album of his life, 1989's Mystery Girl. Bono even produced the recording. But it's Roy's song, as evidenced by his far superior rendition, below - what a voice! Roy-fact: he was only 52 when he died - don't know about you but I thought him older than that.

Next time: Elvis enters the building...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #28 - Patti Smith to U2

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Morrissey to Patti Smith

I know there are plenty of people out there in the world (and an even higher percentage in this corner of the blogosphere) with little time for today's covered artist, and even less for their sanctimony-prone frontman. I can only apologise, and say that we'll (probably) be on safer ground tomorrow. But until then, here's Patti Smith covering Until The End of the World and, as you might expect, it's very much an Own Stamp. Bloody good, too.

I hadn't joined the dots before hearing this version, but I wonder if the lyrics about "drowning sorrows" and "sorrows learning to swim" inspired The Connor Brothers? Anyway, notwithstanding that, here's the U2 original, from 1991's Achtung Baby. It's a very different animal.

Next time: we head in the direction of a large vowel...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.

Cover Charge #27 - Morrissey to Patti Smith

Cover Charge is simple: A covers B, B covers C, C covers D and so on, until I loop back to where I started, Ouroboros-style.

Last time: Nancy Sinatra to Morrissey

Where to go for a cover from Hulme's finest? He's been a serial coverer from day one, but I've gone for a (hopefully) less obvious choice... and (hopefully) less well-known recording. The best-known and most widely released version of Morrissey's Redondo Beach came from Live at Earls Court... so instead, here's a Straight Bat radio session recording for the late and much-missed Janice Long.

And here's Patti Smith's original, from her debut album Horses, which is somehow 50 years old this autumn.

Next time: brace yourself, Rol...

The Cover Charge "chain" to date.