Best Cover of a Song Associated with Elvis Presley

[Adam Blake]

Unlike Hound Dog Taylor, who had an extra finger on each hand!

[nikki akinjinmi]

I thought about that too, but the original, which featured Rosie Gaines, turned up on his "Hits" package some years back and it is very good indeed - at least the equal of Ms O'Connor's better-known take on it according to my memory of hearing it.

Rob, I don't think this is correct.

My information is that the original of "Nothing Compares 2 U" , although written by Prince was performed by a group called The Family, a Minneapolis based group, with the lead vocal being done by St Paul (also known as Paul Peterson). The group also featured Susannah Melvoin, the sister of Wendy Melvoin, guitarist with Prince and The Revolution, and Wendy & Lisa fame. It also featured Eric Leeds, one time sideman with James Brown. (Incidentally, his brother Alan Leeds, I think was a road manager for James Brown some years ago.) The other members were Jerome Benton, and Jellybean Johnson. All the members had links to Prince and were on the Paisley Park label.

I have a vinyl copy of that album. Their album has long since been unavailable. I think it came out in 1985. It's very good too. I think probably their best known tune is "The Screams Of Passion".




I tried to find the main image from the album which is a photograph taken by Horst, but cannot find it. This one above may have been taken by him too, though I am not sure.

Edit: Found it

and

[Rob Hall]

I thought about that too, but the original, which featured Rosie Gaines, turned up on his "Hits" package some years back and it is very good indeed - at least the equal of Ms O'Connor's better-known take on it according to my memory of hearing it.

Rob, I don't think this is correct.

My information is that the original of "Nothing Compares 2 U"...

OK, OK, already: a guy can make a mistake can't he?

I stand corrected. This version must surely pre-date the version on Prince's "Hits" collection. However, the version on the "Hits" collection, which features Rosie Gaines, is pretty good.

Nice to see you back Nikki.

[nikki akinjinmi]

OK, OK, already: a guy can make a mistake can't he?

I stand corrected. This version must surely pre-date the version on Prince's "Hits" collection. However, the version on the "Hits" collection, which features Rosie Gaines, is pretty good.

Oh Rob, sorry, I wasn't trying to get at you. It's just that I have had the album by The Family since it came out in 1985. I think they had a lot of potential, but only released one album and disbanded. It's a shame, really because they did some interesting songs.

The Rosie Gaines version is good too. In fact she is one my favourite performers.

[Charlie]

I stand corrected. This version must surely pre-date the version on Prince's "Hits" collection.

I will cautiously propose the theory that when Prince writes a song for himself to sing, nobody can improve it because he makes it so personal to himself (although I've recalled that the Be Good Tanyas did a surprisingly good version of one of his own songs). When Prince writes for somebody else, he tailors it differently and so it becomes a song that others could have a bash at, and possibly improve.

Incidentally, the Beatles were nominated as an artist whose recordings of their own songs couldn't be improved, but I'm sure there are plenty of candidates with good covers. Funny thing is, I can't think of any of them.

[NormanD]

...the Be Good Tanyas did a surprisingly good version of one of his own songs). When Prince writes for somebody else, he tailors it differently and so it becomes a song that others could have a bash at, and possibly improve.

"When Doves Cry" on Hello Love . A good version, though Prince still wins hands down.

[Dayna]

Purple Rain by Lucky Petereon

[davidt]

Just came across this rocking version of Guitar Man whilst researching artists with upcoming free gigs at the National Theatre.

http://www.myspace.com/liamgrundy

One of videos is "Who will the next fool be" as a bonus.

David