Showing posts with label Cover Nerd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cover Nerd. Show all posts

Sunday, 24 August 2014

Black Box - 'Fantasy' (1990)

COVER NERD!

What's your favourite cover version ??? Tell us by clicking here

Black Box - 'Fantasy' (1990)

I had a few crushes on pop stars back in the 90's a few of which I've mentioned in previous posts. This particular one however was a little different from my normal ones. Katrin Quinol was the 'singer' on Black Box's hits such as 'Ride On Time', 'Everybody Everybody' & 'I Don't Know Anybody Else' and whilst I bought the singles and the album 'Dreamland' I hadn't take much notice of her. That was until the video for the 4th single 'Fantasy' was released. As soon as the camera focused on her face I was as smitten as I'd been, she had the most amazingly sexy blue eyes. The image of her brown skin, with these blue eyes did something to me.
The eyes have it...
Nowadays when something like that happens that I can't explain I'd probably get my phone out and Google it. But back in 1990 I just took it for granted that she had blue eyes and that was that. The concept of coloured contact lenses wasn't something that I considered as I didn't know such a thing existed.
I've since discovered that she didn't sing on any of the bands songs and that she was a French-Caribbean model that was paid to be the face of the band and lip-synced all their videos and performances. Like Milli Vanilli it didn't bother me cos I like the songs regardless of who sung them. Albeit I didn't ever fancy the lads from Milli Vanill !!!

I remember the original by 'Earth Wind & Fire' from back in 1978.



NERD ALERT -The actual singer on nearly all of the Black Box songs was an American singer by the name of Martha Wash, who just so happens to be one half of 'The Weather Girls'



And if you wanna subscribe to the Cover Nerd Spotify playlist, please click here



Sunday, 27 April 2014

Susanna Hoffs - 'Boys Keep Swinging' & The Bangles - 'Hazy Shade Of Winter'

COVER NERD!


A proper girl band, they played their own instruments, do you you have a favourite all girl band ???
If so click here and tell us who

Susanna Hoffs - 'Boys Keep Swinging' (1991)



I was a huge fan of The Bangles back in the day from the moment I first heard 'Manic Monday'. I used to pride myself on the fact that I could recite the whole of "Walk Like An Egyptian' and without the need to do the dance. I was gutted when they split up until I saw that Susanna Hoffs had released a solo album 'When You're A Boy'. I immediately bought it and wasn't disappointed. After all it had a cover on it, that being a David Bowie song from his 1979 album 'Lodger'.



The Bangles - 'Hazy Shade Of Winter' (1987)




I've also included 'Hazy Shade Of Winter' by The Bangles which is a cover of 'Simon & Garfunkel's 1966 track. I really liked this song when it came out as it was a bit rockier than most of their other records. It featured on the soundtrack of the film 'Less Than Zero' which was based on the book by Bret Easton Ellis, who also wrote 'American Psycho' amongst others.

NERD ALERT - Susanna Hoffs was a member of the fictitious band 'Ming Tea' in the Austin Powers films, and she is married to the director of the trilogy, Jay Roach



And if you wanna subscribe to the Cover Nerd Spotify playlist, please click here



And here are the originals....

David Bowie - 'Boys Keep Swinging' (1979)



Simon & Garfunkel - 'Hazy Shade Of Winter' (1966)

Sunday, 6 April 2014

Madonna - 'I Want You'

COVER NERD!

I've slept with a pop star...


If you have as well tell us who it was by clicking here


Madonna (with Massive Attack)- 'I Want You' (1995)


Now that I've got your attention I'll explain myself... When Madonna first came to my attention with 'Like A Virgin' and 'Material Girl' I wasn't impressed. My older brother however was a big fan and bought the album and both singles if memory serves me. I finally saw sense when she released her follow up album 'True Blue' and overnight I became the worlds biggest Madonna fan. Or at least Feltham's I'm sure. I managed to persuade my Mum to buy me the duvet set of the True Blue album sleeve... And give or a take a few nights when it was being washed I slept with Madonna for pretty much 5 or six years. I bought everything she released, tapes, then CD's. Video's then DVD's. I bought all of her films, even the really bad quality naff porno she made before hitting it big. And I'm here to admit that I really enjoyed the 'Who's That Girl' film. Sod it, I even liked 'Shanghai Surprise' !!! It feels good to say that out loud, as I've been holding it in for too many years. I bought her book 'Sex' from that most rock and roll of places... WH Smith's in Hounslow. I've seen her live at Wembley Stadium twice also. I wonder how much money I've devoted to my obsession with Ms Ciccone over the years ??? Quite a bit, and yet my favourite item wasn't bought by me... Thanks Mum.

Similar to mine, but Mum always ironed it !!
I love this version of the classic 'Marvin Gaye' song which featured on her 1995 compilation album 'Something To Remember' the collaboration with 'Massive Attack' is haunting and sexy all at the same time.
I've decided to add my favourite track from 'True Blue' as a bonus for you, it was the song that probably wore out the rewind mechanism on my walkman back in the day after I would listen over and over under the duvet (in case my mum saw I wasn't sleeping and would have a go). 'Where's The Party' was never released as a single but there was a great remix of it on her 'You Can Dance' compilation album. That's the version here... Enjoy like I did and still do


NERD ALERT! - On Madonna's first world tour, she was supported by 'The Beastie Boys'

Check out my other Covers here

And if you wanna subscribe to the Cover Nerd Spotify playlist, please click here



For all of you that like the original's here is Marvin Gaye's from 1976

Saturday, 22 February 2014

P - 'Dancing Queen'

COVER NERD!



This is admittedly an odd track, but I love it and felt like it was time to share it. Do you have a favourite cover, if so please contact us and tell us why by clicking here


P - Dancing Queen (1995)



I'll admit that I bought the album that this was on purely on the basis that Johnny Depp was a member & at first I thought that he was the singer. I soon discovered that the lead singer was in fact Gibby Haynes who is better known for 'The Butthole Surfers' who are responsible for one of my favourite songs of the 90's in 'Pepper'. His deep deep vocals work really well on this bizarre cover of Abba's seminal classic from the disco days of the seventies. I wish I could find my copy of the album as it was a fun listen to, but it's probably been sent to Music Magpie for them to enjoy and resell on to Poundland or some such place !!!
Ah well, maybe someone is enjoying the album right now listening to the copy I spent my hard earned cash on.

Johhny and the band enjoying the royalties on my behalf (maybe)

ABBA - 'Dancing Queen' 1976

In case you didn't know the original !!!

NERD ALERT - P were playing a live set at 'The Viper Room' which was co-owned by Johnny Depp, at the same time that River Phoenix died on the pavement outside the famous venue

Unfortunately, P aren't on Spotify (yet??) but please check my Spotify playlist of other covers that I love


Friday, 14 February 2014

TuneDr's Valentine Disasters!!

Over sized fluffy toy? Check. Tacky padded Valentines card? Check. Silk Y-fronts? Check. Two cans of Strongbow Cider? Check. Yep it's Valentines day and us romantics can't always get it right!! Here are some of our Valentines disasters...do you have any?


Har Mar Superstar...patron saint of love!
Flycasual:-
Prince - 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' (1987)


It's 1987, I'm 13 years old, it's Valentines night and it's all happening down at the roller disco. I fancy this girl, she's new in town and rumour has it she fancies me. She's supposedly 'experienced' too, so as not to look like an arse I ask one of the older 'cool' kids about kissing, do you really have to use tongues or is it optional? Prince had just released the incredible Sign 'O' the Times, the DJ plays the album, 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' blares through the speakers and we do circuits together hand in hand. She asks me to skate her home....it's on!

We kiss...on the lips, no nonsense but she deviates, she moves over to my cheek, then my neck, then my ear where to my horror she sticks her tongue in! "Euughh!" I squeal, "what are you doing?"
She exhales in disgust and pushes me away and walks indoors. "Wait, I did something wrong?" I think to myself.

I never see her again. My friend tells me she tried a 'Wet Willy' on me and apparently it's all the rage with the 'cool' kids! Story of my life.

Old Pa's Corner :-

Hank Williams - Your Cheatin' Heart


I thought I would play an little trick on Old Ma. I bought a nice soppy Valentines card and put some romantic words and finishing with 'can't wait to see you again??? I had a mate from work who lived near Gatwick to post it. We lived next to Heathrow, so the post code would not be local. Well if you do a job you gotta do it right. Old Grand Pa told me that! I was hoping she would be embarrassed and squirm, or even try and hide it. I could not wait for her reaction. How well she must know me, she said it was me right away.

"I knew it was you, because it is just the kind of stupid tricks you would play!"

It really blew Valentines day. All the old scores were brought out of the closet! Looking back, I wish I did not buy those bloody chocolates and flowers, I could have bought a CD for myself. Another lesson learned!

London Scouser:-
Belle And Sebastian - 'Don't Leave The Light On Baby' (2000)


I had a Valentine's Day a few years back that I'll never forget but for all the wrong reasons. I'd finished a shift at work and was driving home about 1 o'clock in the afternoon on the M25 and the traffic was gridlocked. Luckily for me (or so I thought at the time) I was coming off to join the M3 and my lane was driving normally. I saw a car ahead of me sticking his nose out to come into my lane but I went past him. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw he had come out behind me and when I looked forward I saw that the van in front of me had slammed his brakes on for some reason. I did the same and came to a stop just behind him, the car behind me also came to a stop... unfortunately not from using his brakes, but using my car instead. The impact forced my car into the back of the van and I had been in my first accident, less than 6 months after passing my test. I remember the sound and the shock but mostly I remember my car stereo coming out of its fittings a bit like a spring loaded toaster !!! I'd been listening to 'Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant' at the time, I can't remember which track at the time but I chose this one because it seems an apt title. My poor wife, Shellhunter, had specially prepared and indoor picnic for us to celebrate this most joyous and romantic of card shop celebrations. I eventually got home about 7 o'clock. We had the picnic, but the occasion was a little bit like my airbag....deflated.

As a bonus, I've added a sneaky cover by B & S of an 80's favourite. They've slowed it down compared to 'The Primitives' original, but I kinda like their take on it



Shell Hunter:-
Pamela Starks and Ali Campbell - 'That Look In Your Eyes' (1995)


In secondary school, Valentine's Day was always exciting. The 6th formers used to sell  'Cupids' which were basically delivering love letters, presents and messages to all the students who had them bought by their secret admirers but during class time, in front of everyone. One year a friend of mine who was not one of the most popular of guys received his first ever one. The two 6th formers dressed in pink with cardboard bows and arrows said "Is John here? We have a love note from Sally for him." He went white with shock and a hush fell over the class. Who on earth was Sally and why would anyone want to send John a valentine could be heard murmured. He was beaming like a Cheshire cat! They went over and put the envelope in his hand. We all huddled around eagerly waiting to see what it was. He opened the envelope and out fell a very large sanitary towel. The whole class erupted when it said 'My name is Sally the sanitary towel and I love you John' written on it. A girlfriend of mine had played an evil prank on him which I doubt he has ever lived down. I'll never forget the look on his face.



Saturday, 19 October 2013

Rage Against The Machine - How I Could Just Kill A Man & Pistol Grip Pump

COVER NERD!
In the week that England qualify for the World Cup in Brazil, I remembered my own little piece of football memories, and decided to share it with you. If you want to share some memories, football related or not, please click here and we will be delighted to share your thoughts with the world.



Rage Against The Machine - How I Could Just Kill A Man (2000)


I'd been working at the airport for over a year and a good bunch of us always played football over Cranford Park every week. It was proper jumpers for goalposts stuff with scores that took me back to the playground like 33-29 and the like. I miss those days hugely as now the only exercise I seem to get it walking to the bus stop in the car park at work. Maybe I like the football, but another part of the ritual was to play for about 3 hours then head to The White Hart and down a few welcome pints of lager.
We had been playing for a number of weeks when I saw that there was a Five-A-Side tournament coming up soon. The dedicated few amongst us decided that we would enter a team and I arranged a kit for us to wear. The day finally came and we turned up in Egham at the sports centre rairing to go. There were some teams that took themselves far too seriously unlike us who were just out for a good time and if we did well then that was a bonus.
The team was made up of Nick Spanneut in goal, he was our French maestro with legs that go all the way up and down the Champs Elysee. In defence was Mark 'The Schurmanator' Schurman who was and probably still is built like a tank, so the name was pretty apt. I was the other defender, and I guess I would be categorised as solid and reliable if not overly skillful. Our midfield was made up of our very own Flycasual, who as our box-to-box Midfield General was the engine of the team. Nick 'Rinky Dink' Dermott & Faisal Ahmed were our two silky skilled players who both had the skills to pay the bills, unfortunately at times they were final demands !!! Our striker was our very own goal-hanging, Communist sympathising ginger-whinger Stuart Farris. On paper we had a really good team, I think the problem was that at times the paper was a bit soggy and see-through !!! Having earned a grade C in maths at GCSE I realised that 7 into 5 didn't go so I took the honourable decision to leave myself as well as 'Rinky' out of our first game which was a fairly drab nil-nil bore-fest. For the second game I brought myself and 'Rinky' back in and dropped Faisal and Stuart to the bench. This was a good 10 years before the Spanish system of playing without an out and out striker. Hey, maybe I was the inspiration for Pep Guardiola and all of Barcelona's success !!
The first half was a pretty tight affair and was goalless. Then in the second half Mark & I played our way out of defence and found ourselves just outside their penalty area. Neither of us seem to want to shoot and passed it back and forth between us a few times before I took the brave decision to let rip. My trusty left foot wrapped itself around the ball and the next thing I saw was the net rippling and my shot sitting perfectly in the bottom corner. 1-nil.... Get in. As we ran back to our own half to celebrate, I screamed the most manly thing I had ever said. "COME ON LADS. IT'S STILL NIL-NIL !!!" whilst not being factually correct, it was the inspiration that the team needed to go on and win the game. It worked, we won.

Not the best way to celebrate scoring
The rest of the tournament was a non-event as far as progress through to the knock-out stages and the only other memorable event was in another game, when I was clean through on goal with only the goalie to beat I took swipe and when the ball eventually came down it landed smack bang in the face of a girl supporting her boyfriend on the pitch behind. I didn't see it happen as the moment after I shot, I turned away in disgust to continue the game. Unbeknownst to me, the girl's boyfriend ran off the pitch to comfort his lady as she was in floods of tears. Pah, get on with the game mate. Play the game, and see if she's okay after the final whistle. When our game finished, I walked over to their game and said something along the lines of "Errr, sorry about that" that was all I needed to say, it's a bloody man's game after all.
Later that evening we made our way back to The White Hart, to sink a few more pints of heaven. I put a couple of quid in the jukebox. This was one of the jukeboxes that had whole albums on them, so if you were feeling kind of selfish, then you could subject the rest of the pub to a whole album's worth of heaven or hell depending on their preference. On this particular occasion, I decided to use my money on one album. Renegades by Rage Against The Machine. I'd been into RATM ever since I first saw them perform 'Killing In The Name' live on The Word. I went out the next day and bought the record on 12 inch white vinyl. I don't know why it was released like that, but it was a gimmick so I naturally bought it. Back to the pub, and for my 2 quid I could play 7 songs, so I chose my favourites and suffered the wrath of many a regular, but I didn't care. I decided on sharing my 2 absolute faves. Covers of Cypress Hill & Volume 10.... Enjoy

Rage Against The Machine - Pistol Grip Pump (2000)



NERD ALERT - Killings In The Name has been used by interrogators in Guantanamo Bay, as part of the psychological torture process. Probably not what the band intended.

As a bonus, please find both songs by the original artists

Cypress Hill - How I Could Just Kill A Man (1991)

Volume 10 - Pistol Grip Pump (1994)

Sunday, 6 October 2013

Blind Melon - 'The Pusher'

COVER NERD!

This is one of my favourite covers, by a band that almost became huge. If you have a favourite cover, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here


Blind Melon - The Pusher (1996)


The name Shannon Hoon may not be familiar to most and his band Blind Melon aren't that well known I'm sure. They became popular in 1992 due to the video of 'No Rain' which featured a young girl dancing around in a Bee costume. After hearing the song I immediately went out and bought their self-titled debut album. It was very different to the rock/grunge music that I was listening to at the time (Nirvana, Alice In Chains & Pearl Jam) I guess if I had to pigeonhole it into a particular genre I would say folk/rock. My standout track from this album is 'Change'
Before this album was released Shannon Hoon featured on backing vocals on a few of the songs on 'Guns N' Roses' 'Use Your Illusion' albums including the single 'Don't Cry'.
Their second album 'Soup' was released in 1995 and the first single 'Galaxie' even now is one of my all time favourite songs. 8 weeks after the album was released, Shannon Hoon died of a cocaine overdose aged just 28. His gravestone has some lyrics on it from 'Change' which was the first song he ever wrote.


The following year the album 'Nico' was released. This featured songs that were either unreleased or unfinished and was named after his daughter Nico Blue who was only 5 months old when Shannon died. As well as a cover of a John Lennon track 'John Sinclair' it has a cover of the song made famous by Steppenwolf, 'The Pusher' which includes some new lyrics that Shannon Hoon added. It's the first track on the album and I like it so much I sometimes put it on repeat and forget that there another 12 songs to listen to.
I really think that if it wasn't for his tragic death in 1995, they would have become huge. I'm thankful that the catchy video for 'No Rain' brought them to my attention, but on the flipside I think that they are so much more than that song, and are probably overlooked as a result. I swear if I ever see them on a 'One-Hit Wonders' TV show I will probably cry (albeit after using a number of expletives)


NERD ALERT! - The scene in the toilet of 'Jack Rabbit Slim's' in 'Pulp Fiction where Uma Thurman snorts some coke and shouts 'I said God Damn. God Damn' is in homage to this song.
And if you wanna subscribe to the Cover Nerd Spotify playlist, please click here



As a bonus, I have included the version that Steppenwolf recorded. Although tey didn't write it I think it was the first recorded version.

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Blondie - 'The Tide Is High'

COVER NERD! meets THURSDAY I'M IN LOVE


After the relative success of my encroachment onto Old Pa's territory a few weeks back, I thought I would now step on Flycasual's toes and share with you a cover of a classic track that brings back childhood memories. What song takes you back to your childhood ??
Click here and let us read all about it and share with the world.

Do you remember your first crush ??? I do, her name was Trisha Yates and she was Tucker Jenkins arch-nemisis in Grange Hill.... Tucker was my hero cos of his cheeky grin and backchat to the teachers. Everyone wanted to be like him... And yet the girl that never took any crap from him was the girl of my dreams... I should have hated her but I couldn't. She wasn't a classic beauty but as an 8 year old boy I wasn't into looks... She was famous and I dreamed of being her boyfriend, I knew it could work... It didn't.


When I realised that this romance would never happen I went quickly onto my next crush, surely I'd have more luck with this one. Debbie Harry was sexy, even though I didn't really know what sexy meant. I read it somewhere and so she became the object of my affections. At the time we were living on an Army camp in Hounslow and my Mum worked in the NAAFI bar on the camp, during the school holidays my brother and I would hang out there playing Space Invaders and listening to the jukebox. One of my Dad's many responsibilities (he was the storeman for his regiment) was that of restocking the jukebox in the NAAFI bar. Every now and then he would bring home some of the records that had been removed from the jukebox and my brother and I would fight over them. This one particular day my Dad brought a few 7 inches home and I took a sneaky peek before he offered them to us. Usually my brother would get first dibs as he was older by 3 years, but this occasion I asked him if I could choose first. Obviously he said no, so I begged him and said he could have all the records if I could choose the first one. Thinking he was onto a winner he agreed... Haha sucker !!! I got my way and chose this particular track, I don't remember what he got but who cares. I got a Blondie record, even now 30 plus years later I can still picture the blue and white label on the vinyl with a small butterfly at the bottom. If I'd had a Top 20 of the year like I do now, that would have been in the Top 1 no doubt.

Blondie - 'The Tide Is High' (1980)


Last week, Shellhunter and I were at the French/Caribbean restaurant in our hotel here in Montego Bay, Jamaica and a band started playing a few reggae style instrumentals. They played a few classics and some Boney M songs too !!! Then they played The Tide is High... It took me back to 1980 again and Debbie Harry, then to Trisha Yates..

NERD ALERT - Trisha Yates came back in the very last episode of Tucker's Luck.... and went on a date with Tucker himself !!

And here is the original from 1967

The Paragons - The Tide Is High


Please find below my Spotify playlist


Sunday, 1 September 2013

COVER NERD! - Will To Power - 'Freebaby'

Do you look back on the 80's with fond memories ??? Maybe this Cover will help. If you have your own memory you wanna share, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here


Will To Power - 'Baby I Love Your Way / Freebird' (1988)


What was your first job ??? Thinking back it seems a million years ago, it was in fact 25. I'd finished school in the June a very young 16 years old and didn't have a scooby what I wanted to do with myself. Throughout the last two years of seniors, I'd planned to do something with languages as I really enjoyed French & German but in order to get into College or 6th form I needed to get at least 4 GCSE grade C or better. Because of this I had set my goals on achieving this in just 4, those being English, Maths and the two languages. Unfortunately when my English teacher gave her prediction for me, she went for an E please Bob !!! Now I wasn't a bad student, and I never expected and E, but now looking back, calling her a 'stupid cow' wasn't my smartest move. As a result my plans to continue on with my education were scuppered, at the time it seemed great.... no more school !!!!


I remember this song being played around this time and I'm not embarrassed to say I loved it and a little part of me still does. At the time I didn't know it was 2 songs. I know that musical purists would have hated the idea of putting two great songs together but I ain't no purist.

As I said earlier I didn't know what I was going to do.
I saw an advert somewhere saying that the local Bejam was looking for part time staff so I went and applied. They gave me the job and initially it was for 2 hours on Tuesday & Thursday evenings. Thankfully they liked what they saw and soon I was working most days. It was great fun and we had some giggles. Food fights with the brussel sprouts and sausage rolls amongst others......the we would put them back in and seal the bag up and sell them at reduced prices !!! Not big and not clever but neither were we and the lucky folks of Feltham got to have cheaper food so it was a win win. As much as I enjoyed it, it didn't seem the career for me, even though my manager told me that I would go far.....I guess if I'd stayed I would have gone to Iceland so he was kind of right !!! Some schoolmates told me they had applied for jobs with Banks and so I thought 'hey I can count too' so I applied for all the big ones. I got interviews with 3 and was offered a job with one. I took it and stayed with them with plenty of good times and a bunch of not so good times.... But that's another story....
Oh and if you're still reading, I think my teacher was dyslexic cos I got a bloody B, but by the time I got my results I was earning £500 per month and decided to stay at the bank.... Regrets ??? I've had a few.

NERD ALERT - Will To Power is a concept that was first thought of by Friedrich Nietzsche, who if I'm honest I only know through Kevin Kline's character Otto in 'A Fish Called Wanda' as he often quoted Nietzsche.


To take a peak at my other Cover Nerd! posts, click here

Click below and you can listen and subscribe to my Cover Nerd! playlist


Sunday, 18 August 2013

COVER NERD! meets DYLAN COVERS - Transvison Vamp - 'Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window'

This week I've decided to encroach on Old Pa's territory and share with you a cover of a Bob Dylan classic. Do you have a favourite cover you want to share, Dylan or otherwise.
If so click here and let us read all about it and share with the world.

Apparently there were other band members too....
Transvision Vamp - Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window (1991)

Wendy James...... Phwooooaaarrr !!!! Just thought I'd get that out of the way. Back in the late 80's early 90's I was heavily into my music, however I also was heavily into female pop stars being plastered the walls of my bedroom. In amongst the Madonna and Kylie posters I'd taken from Smash Hits my pride of place had been a 24 by 18 inches (although as an 18 year old lad, my perception of size may have been exaggerated) poster of Transvision Vamp's singer, Wendy James. The poster was, is and always will be stored in a corner of my mind..... It made my Mum tut every time she came into my room, but I bloody loved it.
Don't look now Mum
I bought everything they released and I even bought a record store promo of their 3rd album, 'Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble' which their label MCA deemed not worthy of a UK release. It did get released in the US and Australia though. That's the album that this song featured on. At the time I didn't know who Old Pa was and therefore hadn't been introduced to the ways of the Dylan. I loved the song and only recently realised that it was a cover, shame on me I know.

After the band split up, Wendy released a solo album called 'Now Ain't The Time For Your Tears', all the songs were wtitten by Elvis Costello, I liked it but sadly the British public didn't and she was dropped by MCA. She surfaced earlier this century fronting a band called Racine (no me neither to be honest) they had two albums out, which I recently listened to on Spotify and they will take a few more plays. In 2010, Wendy resurfaced with a second solo project, but this time all her own work called 'I Came Here To Blow Minds' and as you can see, she still has the trademark platinum blonde hair. In 2012 she released her version of 'It's Alright Ma'

NERD ALERT - At the height of the band's fame, I remember Wendy had a bet with the then editor of the Bizarre column in The Sun, Piers Morgan. She bet him that she would win an Oscar before the end of the century....... She didn't and he has since gone on to world domination.

To take a peak at my other Cover Nerd! posts, click here and for Dylan Covers, click here

Sadly this cover isn't yet on Spotify, but you can listen and subscribe to my Cover Nerd! playlist below


As a bonus, please find a version of the track by Bob Dylan himself





Wednesday, 24 July 2013

COVER NERD! - Volbeat - 'I Only Wanna Be With You'

The Cover Nerd! is back with a song that has been covered over 20 times. If you have a favourite cover, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here


Volbeat - I Only Wanna Be With You (2005)


Its Thursday evening, its bloody hot and Shellhunter has gone to Latitude for the weekend so I'm home alone. I decided to be a good boy and prepare my dinner for the next few days in one foul swoop. I rewarded myself with a few cold ones, as you do and sat down in front of the TV. I looked through my Sky+ recordings and saw that a few weeks back I'd recorded the Download festival highlights. If you can't join em then beat em as the saying doesn't go.
I knew some of the bands that were playing and amongst the legends like Saxon, UFO & Iron Maiden there were also Rammstein, Slipknot & one of my favourite bands Alice In Chains to name but a few. However the band that stood out for me were a Danish band called Volbeat...... My only knowledge of Scandinavian rock was the death metal style or Lordi (the band who won Eurovision a few years back).


I was pleasantly surprised and immediately went to Spotify to get their latest album (Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies). The stand out track for me was Dead But Rising, it has a great riffage running throughout and I immediately started singing along.
When looking at their back catalogue I came across this cover (from their debut album The Strength/The Sound/The Songs) which is brilliant. I remember hearing the song first by Annie Lennox's pre Eurythmics band The Tourists. I prefer this..... And yes I know it was originally by Dusty Springfield, its been covered by loads of different artists from The Bay City Rollers to Samantha Fox but try this one, it may become your favourite !!!
I recommend anyone who likes a good rock riff to check Volbeat out. Flycasual, I expect your son to approve and I've included the Download performance of Dead But Rising.


NERD ALERT! - Their latest album has a track called 'Lonesome Rider' which features guest vocals from a certain Sarah Blackwood, who found fame in the 90's with indie band Dubstar.

Check out my other Covers here

Also you can listen to or subscribe to my Spotify playlist by clicking here


Sunday, 2 June 2013

COVER NERD! - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Born To Run

I know you've missed me, but I'm back and this week I have a corker of a cover (try saying that after a few drinks). If you have a favourite cover, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here


Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Born To Run (1984)


Back when Frankie Goes To Hollywood first burst onto the scene in the early 80's I was a young lad, and wasn't very clued up on innuendo and naughtiness so when I saw the poster for their single Relax, I didn't really think too much of it. I do however vividly remember seeing it when I went on a school trip to London to visit the British Telecom Museum (did I know how to live or what). There were loads of posters up everywhere, what must the BBC's Mike Read have thought !!
Is this controversial ??
My brother got the album Welcome To The Pleasuredome for Christmas in 1984 and I remember listening to it and loving Born To Run. It wasn't  until years later I found out it was a cover. Even then I was a covers fan, without really knowing it !!!
Coo-eee, wanna watch a video with me ??
My other memory of the band from back in the beginning was when the video for Two Tribes was banned for god only knows what reason. Maybe that's where Mike Tyson got the idea to bite Evander Holyfield's ear off. One day at school I felt like I was the luckiest person in the world. I was probably only in the 2nd or 3rd year of seniors when I got invited (I don't know by who but who cares !!) into the 6th form common room. This was totally unheard of, and to us lowly non 6th formers, it was like getting into Fort Knox or Hugh Hefner's pad. When you saw the inside of the common room, you were accepted, you were cool, you were hanging out with the big boys instead of being ignored. Looking back now it could almost be a little suspect. A 12 or 13 year old boy being invited by a 17 year old to watch a banned video in a darkened room at an all boys school but I'll be buggered if it worried me then. Watching it now it seems very tame, my how the times have changed


NERD ALERT! - At the height of their fame, they featured in their very own computer game, which I bought and played (only once if I remember, as it was a bit pants) on my spectrum.

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Sunday, 5 May 2013

COVER NERD! - The Beautiful South - Girlfriend / Love Wars


Covers, covers. So good I posted twice..... By now you know the drill, if not then welcome aboard the good ship Cover Nerd! If you have a favourite cover, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here


The Beautiful South - Girlfriend (1989)


The Beautiful South - Love Wars (1991)


Normally I put this at the end, but I'm feeling rebellious today.....
NERD ALERT! - Woolworths felt that they were saving the nation's impressionable kids, and decided to ban the original cover of their debut album because it  depicted a suicidal image. So the band re-issued the album with a child friendly cover specifically for Woolies. Which one do you prefer ???


Remember Woolworths ?? I do, it used to be THE PLACE to go to for absolutely everything in my youth. Music ?? Check. Pick'n'mix ?? Check. Spectrum games followed by Sega Mega drive and then PlayStation. Check, check and once more check
What else in life was there ??? Where did it all go wrong I ask you ?? Some may say it was the internet, others may point at the recession. I however think it was their ill-fated (only because it failed) attempt to revive the phenomenon that was Spangles  how dare they only have orange and blackcurrant flavours. The whole thing about Spangles was their Revels like ability to keep you guessing until you had popped the delicate sweet onto your tongue. Mmmm the memories..... Oh and don't get me started on Pacers !!!

I was a huge fan of TBS having really liked The Housemartins before them. And I bought everything they did, albums and multi-version CD singles. The great thing about their singles were the extra tracks, mostly new stuff but occasionally I would find a great cover. I remember they did a version of The Bee-Gees' You Should Be Dancing as well as Love Wars, which was originally a hit for Womack & Womack. I even remember the original of Girlfriend by Pebbles. Their version appeared on the aforementioned debut album and listening to it now, the trumpets make me think of a lesser produced Mark Ronson number. 
They later had a couple of big hits with covers namely Everybody's Talking & Dream A Little Dream.... And yes I bought all versions on CD single.

This video was recorded on a tour bus during a tour of the US if I remember rightly. I first saw it on their video compilation called Pumpkin, the sound quality is not the best, but you get to see the band relaxing and having fun

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Monday, 22 April 2013

COVER NERD! - Voice Of The Beehive - 'I Think I Love You'


I like covers etc..... I believe my most avid of followers would know this, if not then welcome aboard the good ship Cover Nerd. And if you have a favourite cover, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here




Voice Of The Beehive - I Think I Love You (1991)

When the horrific events last Monday of the bombs in Boston first came on the news, I wanted to know why. A few days later the explosion happened in Waco, I was sitting at the dinner table with Old Pa & Ma and Shell Hunter and we wondered if they were A connected & B something relating to the Waco disaster from 1993. They were almost 20 years apart to the day. Thankfully they've caught the guys responsible for Boston and it seems that the incident in Waco was an accident.
Thinking back to 1993 I remember what I was doing when the news came in about the siege in Waco finally being over.
I had fancied a girl at a neighbouring branch of the bank I worked in for a long time and had asked her to go on holiday with me thinking it would be the perfect opportunity to show how cool I was and get her to fall in love me. Unbelievably she agreed, I thought I was well in and I was, right up until the moment my mum was driving us to Gatwick for our flight and asked if she was required to collect us a week later. At this point my heart broke, the (I'm not gonna name her) girl said "No its okay, David (not his real name) is going to collect me" He was supposed to be her ex. They had officially split up and I was trying to become her next boyfriend.
Yes, I once owned this treasured CD single limited edition

Not the best start to a week alone together in Tenerife but I decided to hell with it, I would try and enjoy the sun and beers and worry about girls later. I bought a great book, that contained both Red Dragon & Silence Of The Lambs which I completed that week and listened to most of the 20 C90's I'd brought with me. One of the highlights was the morning stroll to collect an overpriced day old copy of The Sun. This was before t'internet and Sky Sports being available in every small bar. I needed to keep up to date with the footie and that's when I saw the headlines from April 19th.
When the week was over and it was time to leave the hotel at 9am I looked in the fridge and saw I still had 3 bottles of Bud left. Determined not to leave them behind I opened all 3 and proceeded to drink the first one waiting for the lift. No 2 for the lift down and the 3rd for the walk to the waiting bus. Perfect end to a pretty shitty week. Within the year they were married and I had to wait til 2001 before I tracked down my shell, or at least her daughter...
This song brings back some good memories, if only because it was on one of the aforementioned C-90's. Classic trashy pop. I love(d ??) it.... I think.

NERD ALERT! - The drummer in Voice Of The Beehive was none other than Dan Woodgate, AKA Woody from Madness

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Sunday, 7 April 2013

COVER NERD! - Foo Fighters - 'Drive Me Wild'


By now you may have noticed I love a good cover, and this time I get to feature one of my favourite bands, so it's a win-win. If you have a favourite cover, please contact us and tell us why by clicking here



Foo Fighters - Drive Me Wild (1997)

When I was still at school I begged my parents to let me get a paper round cos I wanted to earn some money. There were so many records I wanted to buy and also games for my amazingly sophisticated super computer (ZX Spectrum +). But being the dopey accident prone kid I was there was no way they would let me go out that early. Eventually they came to a compromise and I was allowed to deliver a free paper, The Hounslow Recorder. I had to deliver it to two nearby streets, a total of 210 papers, and my fee for this ??? A paltry 1p per paper... I'm sure that was discrimination, but initially I was ecstatic.
After a few weeks however the novelty was slowly wearing off and I couldn't be arsed lugging that much weight around for such little return. In hindsight I should have thought of a better plan for dumping them, perhaps in the wasteland next to where we lived or something similar. But no, I went for the lazy/stupid option of "hiding" them in our shed. This worked perfectly for 3 weeks until my mum decided to go into the shed, I mean how dare she. That was my hiding place.
After receiving my punishment, which was to have my TV confiscated for a month, I also had to continue delivering the papers. The only difference being that my mum now drove me to the streets and helped me deliver half of them. Not so bad in the end methinks.

Does my grin drive you wild baby ??

What has this got to do with the song I hear you ask, well I'm getting there.
My brother worked for an air freight company and they used shredded newspaper to help with the packaging of certain items, he spoke to his boss and took 630 papers off my hands. I got £10.00 for the papers too, so in the end I came out financially on top !!!
My brothers boss was a pretty flamboyant guy, always bragging about his expensive cars and the like. He was big into his music and made a C90 tape for my brother with Mel & Kim's 'FLM' on one side and Vanity Six's self titled album on the other. I remember listening to the album and loving the naughty lyrics on some of the tracks. I still have the cassette, but unfortunately I don't possess a tape player anymore !!

I first heard the Foo Fighters version on a compilation CD called 'Sound As A Pound' on Parlophone records. Instantly loving it, I've since found out it was recorded in the same session that they did Baker Street in at BBC Maida Vale Studios in 1997 which is possibly one my favourite all time covers.

NERD ALERT! - Dave Grohl performed all instruments for their debut album, then formed the band in order to tour.


Unfortunately, I can't find a version of it on Spotify, but you can still subscribe to my Spotify playlist by clicking here

Sunday, 24 March 2013

COVER NERD! - The Cardigans - 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' & 'Iron Man'


Once again it's cover time in my bi-weekly spot where I share with you some of my favourites.

Tell me what you think and please feel free to submit your favourite covers by clicking here




The Cardigans - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1995)

It was the summer of '95 and the three of us were going on our first 'lads holiday'. We planned to drink plenty of the local beer and if we were lucky we might get to chat with members of the opposite sex. In hindsight, the second part was a tad ambitious but we were all in our early 20's and thought we were the dog's doodahs.
I remember we were dropped off at Gatwick and after checking in we hit the pub for a couple of pre-flight pints. On board we had a few more and then landed on the Greek Isle of Rhodes. Faliraki didn't know what was going to hit it. By the time we got to our hotel it was early evening and I decided that we needed a few supplies from the shop on site. When we got there they had litre bottles of Becks !!! So we got a bunch for the fridge and opened one each as we unpacked. I'm not sure which of us young old farts suggested it but we had a nap to get ourselves in prime shape to hit the town.

Are we all wearing our own jeans guys ??
I was woken up to hear Mark panicking that he'd shrunk. He had put his jeans on and after doing them up he realised he couldn't see his feet and the jeans were flapping at the bottom. The dozy git had put Darren's jeans on !! Mark is about 5'8" and Darren is 6'6". It was at this point I knew we were going to have great holiday. We did plenty of part 1 of our plan, and absolute zero of part 2 !!
As for this song, I had recently bought The Cardigan's album 'Life' after having heard 'Rise And Shine' and put it on a C90 with Elastica's debut album on the other side if I remember rightly to listen on my Walkman at the poolside. When this track came on, I recognised some of the lyrics, but as I'm a listen-to-albums-on-random person (see here for when this can go wrong) I didn't realise why. This was way before Ozzy's re-invention as a reality TV god and if it wasn't for the title I would never have put 2 & 2 together. They did it again on their follow up album 'First Band On The Moon' when they excellently covered 'Iron Man'


NERD ALERT! - Apparently, Lovefool is one of Beyoncé's favourite songs.


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Sunday, 3 March 2013

COVER NERD! - The Bluetones - Woman In Love


Once again it's cover time in my bi-weekly spot where I share with you some of my favourites.

Tell me what you think and please feel free to submit your favourite covers by clicking here




The Bluetones - Woman In Love (2002)

I love karaoke, however I need a beer or two beforehand.
I’ll start off by saying, I know I’m not a good singer, but I am told that I put on a good show. A few years back, I was on holiday in Pattaya, Thailand with Shellhunter and Old Pa & Ma. We decided to go out for a couple of pre-meal  Singha’s (I have to admit I hadn’t discovered Chang at this point) and found a quiet-ish bar to start the evening off.
After a while the music that was being played over the sound system stopped and a voice told us that it was karaoke time. We turned around to see this tall Thai person, microphone in hand start belting out a variety of songs. The voice was female, but we all agreed that we were witnessing a ladyboy in action. She/He was really good and we decided to stay a bit longer as the drinks kept on flowing. By now I had plucked up the courage to put my name down and started to look through their catalogue for my staple karaoke fave – West End Girls, I was gutted to find that they didn’t have it. As I was flicking through and on the verge of giving up I saw the Barbra Streisand classic Woman in Love and remembered that one of my favourite bands The Bluetones had covered it. I decided that it would be a fitting and ironic song for the occasion. When my time came, I belted it out to the best of my ability and was pleased that my fears of being laughed at were unfounded. I finished to a round of applause and a standing ovation from at least 5 people (albeit 3 have already been name checked earlier in this story) in the bar.

Don't bee sad, was my version really that bad ??
I haven’t performed it since, as there aren’t many ladyboy run karaoke bars in the Camberley area, which I feel is a shame !!
Before I had to worry about things like mortgages, I used to spend my money on DVD’s and CD’s, I used to buy the CD singles of my favourite bands, just to get the extra tracks, and hopefully a cover. This song was on the 2nd CD single of After Hours, and was also on their compilation album A Rough Outline (which features a few other covers too) I have recently had a clear out and thrown a number CD’s which is a shame but I did copy the tracks I liked to a hard drive to gather dust in a much smaller pile.

NERD ALERT! - I'm reliably informed that I went to Junior School with Mark Morriss, although I'm sure he doesn't remember much like I don't !!


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Sunday, 17 February 2013

COVER NERD! - Ben Folds 'Bitches Ain't Shit' & Barenaked Ladies 'Fight The Power'


I like my covers, some are good and some are bad, but to me I don't mind. I'm happy to find the obscure as well as the conventional. Here in my bi-weekly spot I hope to share with you some of my favourites.

Tell me what you think and please feel free to submit your favourite covers by clicking here


This time it's when geek's do rap (with apologies to Flycasual and his Yes Yes Y'All franchise) 



Ben Folds - Bitches Ain't Shit (2006)

I've always been a big fan of Ben Folds, with or without the Five, and enjoyed an excellent concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in January 2007 (it will always be the Odeon to me, as it was the site of my first ever gig for my brother's 10th birthday in 1979. The band in question was Showaddywaddy.... His choice, honest) where he played all of his hits and all of a sudden he started playing this. At the time, I knew that it wasn't a song I was familiar with from his extensive back catalogue, but I found myself singing along as I knew some of the words. It was only later when I got home and googled some of the lyrics that I remembered, I found out it was a Dr. Dre song. I'm sure he cringes at the thought of it. I don't though and think that Ben Folds has almost made the song his own.






Barenaked Ladies - 'Fight The Power' (1993)

I was a small-ish fan of the Barenaked Ladies when they hit the scene in England with their song 'One Week' in 1998 and as I had money to burn I bought a few CD's from their back catalogue. I still try and fail at singing along to the lyrics, but love the line about 'watching X-Files with the light's on'.
On a separate but connected note, I bought the soundtrack to 'Coneheads' which despite the film being utterly atrocious, the soundtrack is really excellent. It features some great covers, amongst them kd Lang & Andy Bell doing 'No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) which I vaguely remember them performing on a Brit Awards evening. Also Morten Harket's fabulous rendition of 'I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You' which I liked so much I demanded it be on my wedding album (consisting of 7 songs.... details available upon request for the romantics out there). And this bizarre but brilliant take on the seminal classic by Public Enemy, it's jazz-tastic !! The live video isn't as good as the studio recording they made, which is worth a listen via our spotify link below. Enjoy y'all.

NERD ALERT! - The Barenaked Ladies perform the feem toon to my favourite American sit-com 'The Big Bang Theory', us Nerd's have to stick together after all.


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