Snapshots Spillover - More Elvis Cos-Covers

Here are some more songs sung by Elvis when he's not singing his own songs. Compare and contrast, if you've got nothing better to do today.

We'll start with one from my third (or possibly fourth, or possibly fifth) favourite Springsteen album...

Bruce Springsteen - Brilliant Disguise

Elvis Costello - Brilliant Disguise

Next up, a classic from Gram and co... even if Elvis chose to change the title.

Flying Burrito Brothers - Hot Burrito No. 1 

Elvis Costello - I'm Your Toy

Let's go way back now, to 1953, and one of the founders of rock n roll...

Big Joe Turner - Honey Hush

Elvis Costello - Honey Hush

Sadly, I couldn't find a photograph of Teacher's Edition, otherwise I would definitely have featured them in this week's quiz, for obvious reasons...

Teacher's Edition - I Wanna Be Loved

Elvis Costello - I Wanna Be Loved

Quite a fun video, I hadn't seen that before.

Here's something strange to make you scream...

Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Strange

Elvis Costello - Strange

And also from Kodak Variety, a singer who always makes me think of Somewhere Down The Crazy River...

Little Willie John - Leave My Kitten Alone

Elvis Costello - Leave My Kitten Alone

Meanwhile Elvis is obviously a big fan of Memphis Soul Man James Carr, having covered him twice...

James Carr - Pouring Water on a Drowning Man

Elvis Costello - Pouring Water on a Drowning Man

James Carr - The Dark End of the Street

Elvis Costello - The Dark End Of The Street

I like to pick a couple of obscure acts for Snapshots every week, just to stretch your braincells. But this Aussie band might have been pushing the obscurity factor a bit much, even for Ernie.

Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons - So Young

Elvis Costello - So Young

Far less obscure, in fact one that's been covered by everybody and his dog...

The Kinks - Days

Elvis Costello - Days

And I need no excuse to feature these guys, ever...

Louvin Brothers - Must You Throw Dirt in My Face

Elvis Costello - Must You Throw Dirt in My Face

I had a load more, but you're probably getting sick of them now, so let's finish today with the song that almost tipped Ernie off to this week's answer, and probably helped Parsley The Goat clinch it.

Saturday Snapshots #93 - The Answers

All American Girl Carrie Underwood welcomes us to this week's answers - she's determined to stop Rol, Before He Cheats. Although she doesn't even know his Last Name.

(Look, I'm moving house in a week. Give me a break if the puns aren't up to standard. Also there is no suggestion here that I cheat when putting this quiz together. How would I even do that? Why would I even do that?)

Summer holidays are upon us, so I expect absentees over the next few weeks. Well done to Alyson for taking this week's early bird prize... and leaving some for others to crack!


10. Bodyline, perhaps? That's (how) to do it!

Bodyline was a cricketing scandal involving fast bowling.

Mr. Punch always said, "that's The Way to do it".

Fastball - The Way

Nobody remember this one?

9. Bogie in Florida meets Jeeves's pal... and Magnum's.

Bogie went to Florida in the movie Key Largo. (Great flick.)

Jeeves's pal was Bertie Wooster.

Magnum's pal was Higgins.

Bertie Higgins - Key Largo

Video of the week. If, like me, you have no shame.

8. Das Kapital? Winded.

What is the capital city of Germany?

Oof!

Berlin - Take My Breath Away

7. Led Zep's mutt races to Camptown to find Armstrong Avenue.

Led Zeppelin's drummer was John "Bonzo" Bonham.

A mutt is a dog.

Campdown Races sing this song, doo dah, doo dah...

Neil Armstrong was a spaceman, on an Avenue he'd be urban.

Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - Urban

Yes, that was my token "50th Years Since The Moon Landing" clue, Lynchie. If I'd been cleverer, I'd have done the whole ten that way.

6. Black & white is dead... staring hideous amour in the face.

Living Colour - Love Rears Its Ugly Head

5. Size doesn't matter, not when you're running a temperature.

Little Willie John - Fever

4. Iv no job! Have to rely on our dad!

Anagram.

Our dad = Our Father. Which is a prayer. See? (If in doubt, try to work out if the most obvious song will fit the clue.)

Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer

3. Sailors' caps and disposable beakers found at the wedding venue.

American Sailors' caps and disposable beakers were both known as Dixie Cups.

Dixie Cups - Chapel Of Love 

2. Not a toaster, more an immersive visual experience... you crazy fool!

Toasters used to be cliched Wedding Presents. This isn't a toaster though, it's David Gedge's other band... "an immersive visual experience".

Cinerama - Maniac

1. A big hug if you take care putting the stickers on.

Get Out Of This Town! At least until next Saturday morning when it all starts again...

My Top Ten Kitten Songs

This is Millie, the new addition to our family. Too soon? I did think so... but I've been proved wrong. A welcome blast of sunshine and fun in these darkest of times...

The big problem with songs about kittens is that they're rarely actually about kittens. Kitten, is seems, is a popular metaphorical term of endearment, and just about the only song on this list which appears to be about an actual kitten is about a dead one. So I'm not dedicating any of these to Millie. Ten great songs, nevertheless...


10. Bellowhead - Moon Kittens

Bellowhead go John Williams. Better than that might sound.

9. Whitesnake - Kitten's Got Claws

The thing about Whitesnake was, around about the time this came out, they were showing their kitten side more than their claws. Power ballads had taken them into the charts and their metal beginnings were all but forgotten. This was them showing they still had their claws. You won't like it, it ain't cool, but it did the job for teenage rock fans back in the mid 80s.

Can you believe this is the first time Whitesnake have featured on this blog? I can't.

8. The Kelley Deal 6000 - When He Calls Me Kitten

What Kelley did when she got out of rehab.

7. Lily Rae & The Saturday Girls - Little Kittens

Dark and creepy - Nick Cave would be proud. From Lily's debut record, available on The Indelicates' Corporate Records label. Since then she's gone on to form the band Fightmilk: also worthy of your attention.

Don't forget that little kittens have the sharpest claws!

6. Hefner - Hello Kitten

Another song about...

I'm gonna make myself go blind tonight

...well, not kittens.

5. British Sea Power - Electrical Kittens

I've featured this here before, but no reason not to do so again. My favourite song from the latest BSP album.

4. REM - Star Me, Kitten

I guess that should be **** Me, Kitten... or @%$# Me, Kitten. It's one of those songs that sounds beautiful, but if you study the lyrics you'll choke on the metaphors. Of course, you could also scare yourself half to death with the REM & William S. Burroughs version...

3. Riff Raff - Kitten

Billy Bragg and Wiggy, back when they were still in short pants.

2. Angelica - Why Did You Let My Kitten Die?

Forgotten noughties indie from half of The Lovely Eggs. Indie-girly-pop loveliness with a sting in the tail.

1. Little Willie John - Leave My Kitten Alone

"Laying in the back seat, listening to Little Willie John..."

Yes, it was Elvis Costello who introduced this song to me... but it was Robbie Robertson who introduced me to Little Willie. And the original has added meows!



Any cuddly kitten songs in your collection?