HIT IT AND QUIT IT: HIT IT and QUIT IT- Aug. 22, 2011 [THE COVER VERSION SPECIAL pt. 1]

Over the years as a producer, I have attempted to re-create (or just stumble through) some of my favorite songs, both live and in the studio. Through this process I have had to ask myself- what makes for a good cover version? Should a cover be a faithful rendition? A complete re-interpretation? A genre, vibe or tempo flip? And should some songs, for whatever reason, not be touched with a ten foot pole?

The first step seems to be picking the right song to cover. How many cover versions of average or downright horrible songs have you heard (not to be confused with 'How many horrible versions of songs have you heard?'... think karaoke)? Probably few to none- what is the point of re-living a lackluster, unmemorable musical moment? Thus it should be no surprise that a well-written, catchy, thoughtful, layered, message-laden classic makes for perfect cover version fodder. Hence the frequency of Beatles, Stevie, Sly Stone, Burt Bacharach, Doors etc. covers I found while rifling through my records for this week's 'Cover Version Special'. A great song will usually inspire a slew of cover versions, often times released within a mere few years or less of the original release (or so it went back when vinyl was still being produced and jazz musicians had to find new ways to pay their bills).

Be warned- this week's show is a haphazard live-to-air assembly of a diverse array classics as you've never (or seldomly) heard before. With Frank Booker on leave this week and 3 new interns in the house it was hectic and fun all at the same time... (Biggups Jana, Koko B Ware and Shake n Blake, our newest additions to the HIQI fandamily)

{Another note, this will be Part 1 of a series as there are still a good many versions that need to be played, not to mention most of the playlist is pre-1990...}

HIQI AUG. 21, 2011- COVER VERSION SPECIAL PLAYLIST

Dennis Mobley and Fresh Taste – Superstition [P&P Records] /Stevie Wonder
Mike Mandel – Peg (Community Service Edit) [Vanguard] /Steely Dan
Chaka Khan – We Can Work It out [Warner] /The Beatles
Black Heat - Drive My Car [Atlantic] /The Beatles
Rueben Wilson – Stoned Out of My Mind [Cadet Records] /The Chi-Lites
The Wailers – What’s New Pussycat [Studio One] /Tom Jones
The Scribes of Ra– Problemes D’Amour (Dan Aikido Re-rub) [White] /Alexander Robotnik
Angela Bofill – People Make the World Go Around [GRP] / The Stylistics
Slingshot – Shook Me All Night Long [Quality Records] / AC-DC
Yellow Magic Orchestra – Tighten Up [A&M] /Archie Bell and the Drells
The Dirtbombs – Cosmic Cars [In the Red Records] /Cybotron
The Clash – Police and Thieves [Sony] /Junior Murvin
Devo – Satisfaction [Warner Bros] /The Rolling Stones
Trouble Funk – Trouble Funk Express [Funky Delicacies] /Kraftwerk
EU – Family Affair [T.T.E.D Records] /Sly and the Family Stone
Travis Biggs – Fly Like an Eagle [Souljazz] /The Steve Miller Band
Minnie Ripperton – Light my Fire [Capitol] /The Doors
Young Holt Unlimited – Light My Fire [Brunswick Records] /The Doors
Jimmy Castor Bunch– Purple Haze/Foxy Lady [RCA Stereo] /Jimi Hendrix
Love – Hey Joe [Golden Archive] /The Leaves (and Jimi Hendrix)
Simtec and Wylie – Maggie May [Mercury] /Rod Stewart
The Faboulous Counts – Hey Jude [Cotillion Records] /The Beatles
The Nite-Liters – Valdez in the Country [RCA Records] /Donny Hathaway
Stevie Wonder – We Can Work It Out [Tamla Motown] /The Beatles
Syreeta – She’s Leaving Home [Mwest] /The Beatles
Jose Feliciano – Golden Lady [RCA Victor] /Stevie Wonder
The New Birth – Fire and Rain [RCA] /James Taylor
Average White Band – Walk On By [Atlantic] /Isacc Hayes
Byron Lee and the Dragonaires- Apache [Dynamite Soul] /Incredible Bongo Band
Ernest Ranglin– Congo Man Chant [Island Jamaica Jazz] /The Congos
Process and the Doo Rags- Thin Line Between Love and Hate [Columbia] /The Persuaders