View Full Version : The worst cover or 'tribute' album of all time
LordChaverly 19-09-2007, 13:48 Being a great fan of Led Zeppelin, and the owner of everything recorded by or of them I can find (including bootlegs and live shows), I was recently tempted to part with a couple of quid to buy a 'tribute' album currently being offered as a series by W.H.Smith. What a let down! I didn't expect anything approaching the quality of LZ (who can rival Robert's inimitable voice, or indeed Page's guitar riffs at their best, or Bonzo's drumming or John Paul's great bass lines - or the soaring sonic synergies resulting from their combined efforts). However, this 'tribute' album (on most of the tracks) sounds nothing like Zep at all - apart from a passable rendition of 'Black Dog'. I definitely think this CD deserves a high place in any league table of atrociously bad cover versions.
slimsid2000 19-09-2007, 13:55 Rev Ian Paisley's version of "When You're Smilling".
Phanerothyme 19-09-2007, 14:38 The Transformed Man - William Shatner.
Worst Ever.
Worst cover version ever? Hmm, I can think of a couple of turkeys!
Example 1: Will Young's version of the Doors' hit "Light my fire", I'm sorry but what the hell?! Worst cover version ever, Will Young sucks! (And no, not cos he's gay before the likes of Spiderpete start)
Example 2: AllSTARS' version of Bucks Fizz's "Land of make believe", this one actually wasn't THAT bad, the song just didn't need covering IMO.
A few Christmases ago, the mother in law gave my other half a CD entitled 'Nigel Kennedy plays The Doors".
Unfortunately I can't tell you whether it's any good, as it is yet to be taken out of its cellophane wrapper.
Treatment 19-09-2007, 15:55 Archbishop Rowan Williams version of Donovan's '' Poke at the Pope'' leaves a lot to be desired.
The Bee Gees starring soundtrack album of the movie version of Sgt Pepper was quite horrific.
There is a "Tribute to Deep Purple" album from the 1970s, btw, which at the time was available in all cheapo store and is now very collectable because it turned out that the young musicians earning a crust by pretending to be Deep Purple on this album were actually Thin Lizzy.
[QUOTE=Code13;2655122]The Bee Gees starring soundtrack album of the movie version of Sgt Pepper was quite horrific.
Quite agree with you there.Wasn't Peter Frampton on it aswell ?(although his Frampton comes alive is Superb)
sheffdan 19-09-2007, 21:04 Duran Duran's 1995 album Thank You was widely regarded as a turkey, but i liked it :) Although their version of 911 is a joke by Public Enemy was.....well a joke!
dennistowler 19-09-2007, 22:30 there was a cover of Fairytale of New York done by Boyzone or some such gang of talentless drones a few years ago.........nightmare
EdnaKrabappe 19-09-2007, 22:54 That Hard Fi cover of Toxic is pretty bad done for Radio 1.
Bloomdido 19-09-2007, 22:58 I was given the Zep covers ablum recently. Is it the 'Essential Collection'? Bizarre take on the originals but somewhat compulsive listening. It's so bad it becomes 'good'. I have a huge collection of Zep covers and this is unique.
JFKvsNixon 19-09-2007, 23:10 That Hard Fi cover of Toxic is pretty bad done for Radio 1.
I love the cover of toxic by Mark Ronson.
happyhippy 20-09-2007, 01:04 Being a great fan of Led Zeppelin, and the owner of everything recorded by or of them I can find (including bootlegs and live shows), I was recently tempted to part with a couple of quid to buy a 'tribute' album currently being offered as a series by W.H.Smith. What a let down! I didn't expect anything approaching the quality of LZ (who can rival Robert's inimitable voice, or indeed Page's guitar riffs at their best, or Bonzo's drumming or John Paul's great bass lines - or the soaring sonic synergies resulting from their combined efforts). However, this 'tribute' album (on most of the tracks) sounds nothing like Zep at all - apart from a passable rendition of 'Black Dog'. I definitely think this CD deserves a high place in any league table of atrociously bad cover versions.
So you never heard "Dread Zeppelin" in the early 90's? Truly execrable.
LordChaverly 20-09-2007, 08:38 I was given the Zep covers ablum recently. Is it the 'Essential Collection'? Bizarre take on the originals but somewhat compulsive listening. It's so bad it becomes 'good'. I have a huge collection of Zep covers and this is unique.
Yes, this is the one. The cover version i like best is 'Bootleg Zep'. This really rocks and the players do sound like Zep.
LordChaverly 20-09-2007, 08:39 So you never heard "Dread Zeppelin" in the early 90's? Truly execrable.
I actually liked this. Its not meant to a cover of Zep as such.
Those accusing Dread Zeppelin & Transformed Man of being rubbish are wrong (a FACT I can prove with charts and formulas). They are in fact splendid examples of splendidness.
steveb2007 20-09-2007, 09:10 Back In Black(ac/dc) Covered By Hayseed Dixie A Hillbilly Tribute,is Quite Horrific!!
BasilRathbon 20-09-2007, 09:12 Jamiroquai's cover of Stevie Wonder's entire career is pretty dismal.
alchresearch 20-09-2007, 09:59 Example 1: Will Young's version of the Doors' hit "Light my fire", I'm sorry but what the hell?! Worst cover version ever, Will Young sucks! (And no, not cos he's gay before the likes of Spiderpete start)
Actually, Will Young's version was a faithful reproduction of José Feliciano's cover.
Annoni_mouse 20-09-2007, 10:23 I had a Duran Duran album of covers a few years back (think it may have been called "Tribute"?)
On it, they did "911 is a joke" by Public Enemy.
No, no, no, no, no, no............
NEKRO138 20-09-2007, 10:56 Cradle of Filth's cover of Sheffield's own Heaven 17 hit Temptation. Awful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbGEFUtPsTE
BasilRathbon 20-09-2007, 10:59 I had a Duran Duran album of covers a few years back (think it may have been called "Tribute"?)
On it, they did "911 is a joke" by Public Enemy.
No, no, no, no, no, no............
.....there's No Limits!
(did they cover 2 Unlimited as well?)
Annoni_mouse 20-09-2007, 11:06 .....there's No Limits!
(did they cover 2 Unlimited as well?)
No, that was on the follow up album 'Duran Duran: Dance hits of the 90's'
To this day, their version of Dr Alban's 'Its my lfe' never fails to bring a tear to my eye..
Mighty_Boosh 20-09-2007, 11:06 Paul Anka has done some terrible covers
These 2 are prime examples
http://youtube.com/watch?v=X_wV39nSz2E
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TsS811o21-k&mode=related&search=
Mighty_Boosh 20-09-2007, 11:09 This is pretty bad, but I think this falls into the so bad its good category.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8qIJVgcS-ws
metalman 20-09-2007, 11:17 Madonna's cover of Don Maclean's American Pie. Dreadful and completely pointless.
Has anyone heard the string quartet tribute to the first Evanescence album (!)
Apparently James Last has covered Guns'n'Roses.
BasilRathbon 20-09-2007, 13:05 Joy Division's horrendous cover of Paul Young's "Love Will Tear Us Apart". Completely destroyed it for me.
steveb2007 21-09-2007, 10:37 as did Neil Diamond's horrendous version of UB40's classic,red red wine,for me...........
Dick_Turpin 21-09-2007, 12:19 Girls Aloud cover of 'Walk This Way'....
.. jesus wept.
Treatment 23-09-2007, 18:55 Girls Aloud cover of 'Walk This Way'....
.. jesus wept.
. . . and well he might.
happyhippy 23-09-2007, 19:20 as did Neil Diamond's horrendous version of UB40's classic,red red wine,for me...........
Neil Diamond wrote it, numpty.
alchresearch 24-09-2007, 07:50 Neil Diamond wrote it, numpty.
Steve may have been trying to be ironic, following BasilRathbon's post about Joy Division!
Plus, Diamond's original was ok. After he heard UB40's version he quite liked it and as a one-off did the rapping bit at one of his concerts. The crowd went wild and he continues to do it, despite it being cringingly awful.
Tina Turner's version of The Beatles 'Help'. Can't think of any other classic song ever being so violated :shocked: ...apart from Led Zep's Stairway to Heaven by Rolf Harris....and Scissor Sisters version of Floyd's Comfortably Numb.....and.....loads more that I can't even begin to list, I'm sure you can carry this on.....
Agent Gypo 24-09-2007, 21:58 Jamiroquai's cover of Stevie Wonder's entire career is pretty dismal.
Good sir, you've hit the nail on the head perfectly.
It pains me to say this, as I'm normally a big fan of his, but Meatloaf's version of "It's all coming back to me now" which is one of the major tracks on the new Bat out of hell 3 album, is crap IMO, even flippin' Celine Dion did it better! :gag: :loopy:
happyhippy 24-09-2007, 22:22 Jamiroquai's cover of Stevie Wonder's entire career is pretty dismal.
I can't believe I missed this post. I remember paraphrasing a journo's comments about Uriah Heep apropos Jethro Tull, which even ended up on the inner sleeves of 'Uriah Heep Live - January 1973', and saying that Jamiroquai were "tenth rate, watered down Stevie Wonder".
I'm glad someone else agrees.
alchresearch 25-09-2007, 07:36 When Sony gave Jamiroquai a ten album deal back in the 90's, they should have said that each album had to be different!
I loathe with a passion any covers of popular music played on the bloody pan pipes. This causes big rows in our house as the other half likes nothing better than to relax to 'Pan Pipes Play Metallica' or some such ordure. :gag:
steveb2007 26-09-2007, 13:55 Wot about those blonde twins off big bro singing 'Barbie Girl'.
How bad is that? :(
steveb2007 30-09-2007, 15:37 How about Frank Sinatra murdering the Sid Vicious classic 'My Way' .
Annoni_mouse 01-10-2007, 11:16 Can I add the Street's butchery of 'Your Song' for the recent Radio 1-established 1967 thing?
If played at the right frequency, I do believe it would have the ability to make people **** themselves.
shakermaker 01-10-2007, 11:27 How about Frank Sinatra murdering the Sid Vicious classic 'My Way'.
:D
Wot about those blonde twins off big bro singing 'Barbie Girl'.
How bad is that? :(
Very bad, the original was bad enough! :gag:
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