Unexpected Cover Versions

The Beach Boys’ Barbara Ann, Jerry Lee Lewis’s Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, Rod Stewart’s Sailing, Marvin Gay’s I Heard it Through the Grapevine and the Moody Blues’ Go Now! are all – unexpected cover versions.
Listen to the show to hear the originals and covers of 16 classic cover versions.

Derek Shelmerdine, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
is one of the guests on Tony Higginson’s Book Club .

Live on Facebook and Zoom
Facebook – Beyond Books Media Ltd
…7.30 to 10.30 pm (UK) Monday 22 November
……take the opportunity to join in the conversation

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Unexpected Cover Versions
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Sometimes classic songs are unexpected cover versions

Some of the great rock’n’roll classics turn out to be cover versions.

The Beach Boys’ Barbara Ann, started out as an obscure 1961 doo wop song by the Regents. In 1962 surf duo Jan & Dean released the song on their album, Jan & Dean’s Golden Hits. The Beach Boys scored a top-5 on both sides of the Atlantic in 1966. Interestingly, the song took less than 15-minutes to record and features Dean Torrence (of Jan & Dean) on lead vocals.

Big Maybelle recorded the original version of Jerry Lee Lewis’s hit Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On. Rod Stewart’s #1 hit Sailing, started out on a Sutherland Brothers album. Heavily associated with Marvin Gay but The Miracles recorded the original version of I Heard it Through the Grapevine. As you can imagine, the Moody Blues didn’t record the original version of Go Now! That accolade goes to R&B singer Bessie Banks.

Some great examples of – unexpected cover versions.

Listen to the show to hear the originals and covers, of 16 classic cover songs. With a few extra cover versions included, just for good measure. Well, one of the songs we’re talking about is the garage classic, Louie Louie.

Derek Shelmerdine presents the outline of the story, with Tony and his other guests adding their own covers favourites. Plus, live music, poetry readings and some very lively conversation.

Tony Higginson’s Beyond Books Book Club

Every week Tony Higginson hosts his Beyond Books Book Club, which goes out live on Zoom and Facebook at 7.30 to 10.30 pm (UK) on Monday Evenings.
If you are watching the show live on Facebook – join in the conversation.

Author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled, Derek Shelmerdine is a regular monthly guest on the Beyond Books Book Club.

The Book Club has a regular panel of writers, poets, musicians and book-lovers in general. The discussion is wide ranging with readings, poetry recitals and live performances from the musicians.

A signed copy of Derek Shelmerdine‘s book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
is available from Tony Higginson’s online bookshop.