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: Shirley Bassey to Duran Duran
From the outset, the goal of this series has been clear - explore a sequence of artist-linked cover versions, and try to end up back where we started. As you may recall, where we started was with The Specials. And how pleasing, to me at least, that I can bring the series to a close on a nice round number, with the sixtieth link in the chain on what would otherwise be an inauspicious day. This cover is a new one on me though; come on, hands up, who here knew that in 2023 Duran Duran released a Halloween-themed album called Danse Macabre? +5 kudos points to anyone for that. Anyway, they really did... and track eight was their Straight Bat rendition of Ghost Town.
No disrespect to Simon et al but, okay though that is, it feels like the subtext of the original has been lost, to this listener at least. But who cares because it brings us back to The Specials! Ouroboros has eaten his own tail! And not only that, but I get to end the series with not just my favourite Specials track of all, but with one of my favourite singles by anyone, ever. I have a memory of taping this off the radio back in 1981 that is so vivid, I can feel the play and record buttons under my fingertips.
And that, my friends, is the end of Cover Charge. Thanks for tagging along - it's been fun, I hope. Who knows, maybe I'll do a second loop around some time in the future when I run out of blogging ideas (which, let's face it, happens often).
I should also acknowledge the excellent SecondHandSongs website, without which this series would have been a lot harder to pull together. But, apart from that, for now...
...that's Numberwang!
Though it's not, the DD version sounds slower and the vocals just don't seem right. The Specials are the better, imo. Thanks for the series!
ReplyDeleteAgree! And you're welcome.
DeleteBravo! Well done- I nearly commented yesterday about DD'd mid 90s covers album which included their version of White Lines (but I couldn't find anything polite to say about it- I'm not sure their cover of Ghost Town does anything for me either)
ReplyDeleteAs covers go it's... Well, it's easily surpassed by the source material, let's put it that way.
DeleteGreat series Martin!
ReplyDeleteCheers, CC!
DeleteWell done on getting back to were you started
ReplyDeleteCheers. Had to take in a couple of dodgy acts to get there though!
DeleteWhat an epic acheivement, Martin. I enjoyed every link in the chain, admittedly sometimes more for the writing than the music (Michael Ball, once is enough) and I applaud coming full circle by post 60, planned or otherwise!
ReplyDeleteAnd I will admit to having been aware of Duran Duran's Danse Macabre, by virtue of Mrs. K being a Duran Duran fan. That said, any DD configuration without Andy Taylor is mostly worthless in her eyes, so we were spared having to buy the album...
Ah yes, Michael Ball...moving swiftly on...
DeleteWell done, such a lot of hard work and so neat and clever, superb. Thank you. When you've recovered perhaps you can take us on another circular route, as you say..! For now, though, I reckon you deserve a cup of tea (or something stronger) and a long lie down :-)
ReplyDeletePS - Yes, also have a very vivid memory of taping Ghost Town off the radio in '81 and being blown away by how different it sounded, like nothing else. It's funny to think that once a song has become so familiar and embedded in the ensuing years, but I can still conjure up that initial response if I think back hard enough.
DeleteThe thing with the taping off the radio memory - it's so vivid. I can see the shiny metal-effect buttons, I can feel their resistance to being pushed down, I can hear the clunk nose they made - it's amazing, in a way.
Delete...and you've just written so poetically about such a small thing, lovely.
DeleteNot sure "clunk" is very poetic but thank you.
DeleteCongratulations on this epic circular route and what a song to end on. I remember when Terry Hall died you were, like me, profoundly sad precisely because of the memories you share above. I miss the days of cassette recorders - but, they're coming back apparently!
ReplyDeleteWhat goes around, comes around, I guess.
Delete