Snapshots #369: A Top Twelve Songs covered by Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello is one of the foremost songwriters of his generation. But he's not averse to singing other people's songs too. 

Here are earlier versions (not always the originals) of those songs, and twelve Elvis covers...

12. Nathan is Best!

Nathan Jones & George Best...

George Jones - A Good Year For The Roses

Elvis Costello - A Good Year For The Roses

11. Ugly Kenny.

Ugly Betty meets Kenny Everett...

Betty Everett - Getting Mighty Crowded

Elvis Costello - Getting Mighty Crowded

10. Kaine, coded.

Anagram!

The song was written by Leon Payne but originally recorded by...

Eddie Noack - Psycho

Elvis Costello - Psycho

9. American sandwich in the automobile with George. 

The sandwich would be a hoagie, in a car, with Michael...

Hoagy Carmichael - My Resistance Is Low

Elvis Costello - My Resistance Is Low

8. James was outlawed from Arfur's Club.

Jesse James was an Outlaw; Arfur Daley's club was The Winchester.

Jesse Winchester - Payday

Elvis Costello - Payday

7.  Where you might get trapped by a preacher.

The Amen Corner - World of Broken Hearts

Elvis Costello - World of Broken Hearts

6. Father Christmas meets Quasi-Girl. 

OK, so Quasimodo's lady was Esmerelda, not Esmeralda. Sue me. 

Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Yes, there were earlier versions of that tune, notably by Nina Simone and The Animals. But neither were quite as D-I-S-C-O.

Elvis Costello - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

5. Uncle, and resident of Dagenham.

Uncle Sam and Dagenham Dave...

Sam & Dave - I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down

Elvis Costello - I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down

4. Liverpudlian egg scramblers.

The Merseybeats - Really Mystified

Elvis Costello - Really Mystified

Or, you could have had...

The Merseybeats - I Stand Accused 

Which was originally by...

Tony Colton & The Big Boss Band - I Stand Accused

But neither is quite as in your face as this...

Elvis Costello - I Stand Accused

3. Night train.

Sleeper - What Do I Do Now?

Elvis Costello - What Do I Do Now?

2. Unsolve Zara Arch.

Anagram!

Charles Aznavour - She

Elvis Costello - She

1. Not Rod Stewart's baby.

Rod sang Oh No, Not My Baby. This is Oh no.

Oh yes it is!

Not the best song on the list today, but it's the first time Yoko has appeared on Snapshots... and well, I figured it would keep George happy.

Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice

More Elvis covers tomorrow.

More Snapshots next Saturday.

Saturday Snapshots #369

Welcome back to Saturday Snapshots, where we're always aiming for a new Lowe.

Sometimes people complain that certain of the artists featured on this quiz are a bit too modern: young, hip and contemporary pop stars that those of a certain advancement in years might struggle to identify (or even have heard of). This week's quiz is for those of you who might feel that way. You'll be pleased to know that the most recent act on today's countdown last had a hit in 1997. None of that post-millennial nonsense today!

Who are the old folks below... and how are their songs connected?

12. Nathan is Best!

11. Ugly Kenny.

10. Kaine, coded.

9. American sandwich in the automobile with George. 

8. James was outlawed from Arfur's Club.

7.  Where you might get trapped by a preacher.

6. Father Christmas meets Quasi-Girl. 

5. Uncle, and resident of Dagenham.

4. Liverpudlian egg scramblers.

3. Night train.

2. Unsolve Zara Arch.

1. Not Rod Stewart's baby.

Answers tomorrow morning. If we're all still here...

Listening Post #14: Vote Tramp!

Still in a severe state of shock after yesterday's nightmare, I stumbled upon an Irish band who were far more deserving of a vote than Bono... or their almost namesake.

Tramp are from both sides of the Irish border, united in a terrific "alt-indie" racket with some amusingly snipey lyrics. 

Lowered suspension

You rev your engine

You're compensating

You think I'm waiting

For a manly manly manly boy like you

You're the reason I like girls too

You'll wreck your exhaust giving off

All that testosterone

I'm weak at the knees

From your Lynx pheromones

Your lion-compass-rose tattoo is a red flag

Surely she doesn't want you all because she's a slag

Cruising estates

Looking at your face

Is like looking at a red light

When I'm running late

Alpha of the pack

Out on the attack

The things you say wouldn't be okay

Even if she was of age

Positive Songs For Negative Times #84: Bonoooooooo

Imagine the people of Ireland had a referendum to decide their all-time greatest pop hero.

Imagine that enough of them (not necessarily a majority) voted for Bono, and that he was thereby crowned Greatest Irish Pop Legend, despite the fact that a significant proportion of Irish residents would have rather given the award to Chris DeBurgh, Boyzone or even fucking Jedward - anyone but that unutterable gimp Paul Hewson.

Imagine you could only vote in this referendum if you were Irish, and that the rest of the world could only look on in horror, BUT... as a consequence of the result, every single person on the face of the planet was forced to see Bono's smug mush on TV every night for the next 5 years, and we all had to listen to at least one U2 album a week BY LAW.

I don't know why I dreamt all this last night. It must have been something I ate.

Here's Stephin Merritt and the Gothic Archies...

Listening Post #13: The Dead Walk

I took Sam Trick or Treating last Thursday. It's not something I derive a whole lot of enjoyment from - "we never had all this malarkey when I was a kid", etc. etc. This time was a little different though, partly because (for once) it wasn't raining, but mostly because of the performance of the above couple, who went above and beyond in their dedication to All Hallow's Eve.

The man was dressed in a labcoat, smeared with blood, crouched over a mocked up corpse that was laid out on his drive, "eating its entrails". When unwary Trick or Treaters approached the house for sweets, he staggered out into the street moaning like an extra from The Walking Dead. Some kids screamed and ran away from him, but he kept up the act until his wife (dressed in a "Zombie Killer" T-shirt) shouted at him to "get back over and clean up your mess". To which he complied. They were both firmly in character and I've seen a lot of zombie movies with far worse acting.

Made my Halloween, so it did.

I did a Top Ten Zombie Songs way back in 2012. But here are a few more, not included on that list.

Harry Belafonte - Zombie Jamboree

Jan Davis - Watusi Zombie

Green On Red - Zombie For Love

The Pop Group - Citizen Zombie

Caroline Trettine - Human Zombie Blues

Disco Zombies - Disco Zombies

Billy Taylor & The Teardrops - Wombie Zombie

The Hooters - All You Zombies

The Monochrome Set - Love Zombies

The Young Werewolves - Zombie Car Chase

Faith No More - Zombie Eaters

The Flaming Lips - If I Only Had A Brain

And, especially for Ernie...

The Zombies - Time Of The Season