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MrMojoRisin's avatar

All I got to say here is that some of the analysis on "Cathy's Clown" is awesome and gave me a whole new appreciation for the song. The internal contradiction within the song is definitely there, and it really works to its benefit! Anyways, thanks once again.

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charlyarg's avatar

I liked Jimmy Reed's cover. And Lucille is fine for me, I mean you can't outdo Penniman in his game, so you gotta change it. I agree with Love Hurts. A strange case where the first version I heard (Nazareth) is not my favourite, but it's a close second. Believe it or not I hadn't heard Roy's version. Yeah, I prefer the Everlies, and then Nazareth. In a similar subject, for a time I was on the fence about Words Of Love: Buddy or Beatles (first one I heard)?

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MaxEd's avatar

I find Everlys' take on "Lucille" interesting. At least, it sounds different - noticeably different. Maybe it's my imagination, but I get a sense of decadence from their version. Little Richard's lyrical hero is loud, possibly inclined to violence as much as wild passion. Everly Brothers seem to sound like a spoiled rich brat, who will definitely not go after his woman with fists, but might send some henchmen to harass her until she comes back to him in tears. I might be over-reading here, but the combination of aggressive rock'n'roll beat and Everlys' vocals spurs my imagination.

Also, I have nothing against their version of "Baby What You Want Me To Do", maybe because I heard it first. Maybe it adds nothing to Reed's, but it's OK.

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George Starostin's avatar

Ha! I guess it's all because of the whiny flavor in "Luciiiiiiiiiiiiiille!.." It does sound a little like a spoiled kid, used to always getting what he wants. Well, yes, like I said, their adding extra harmonies does the trick.

"Baby What You Want To Me Do", on the other hand, gets no special treatment, and they simply have too many teeth in their mouths and not enough alcohol in their stomachs to make it work. Actually, come to think of it, I don't know a single version of that song I'd prefer over Reed's, which is strange, because normally, the Stones and the Animals could both do Reed pretty well.

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Bob's avatar

This version of this song is also a keeper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQcQwqpbboQ

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George Starostin's avatar

Yes... isn't it interesting that just about everybody and their Grandma have covered 'Love Hurts', but absolutely no one has ever been able to properly cover 'Cathy's Clown'?

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