Covers, part 2

1.) Clockwork - "Think" [James Brown]: this 1975 release, on Hialeah's Sound Triangle Records, sometimes has the feel of listening to a wedding band. But, Clockwork (pictured above) gives a worthy stab at The Godfather of Soul's classic tune. The drums are pretty nasty, but that doesn't make them the hardest working band in show business.

2.) Shango - "Sunshine Superman" [Donovan]: on the 1969 release from this four-man hybrid band (made up of musicians from St. Croix and California), there are a number of Caribbeat/rock covers. Steel drums, vibes, and locomotive rhythms make for an interesting interpretation that doesn't stray too far from the original.

3.) The Micronotz - "Scarborough Fair" [Traditional]: taken from their "40 Fingers" album (1986, on Homestead), this is a straight-forward, melodic punk cover of Simon & Garfunkel's rendition. Their sound has been described as falling somewhere between Hüsker Dü and The Ramones.

4.) Giorgio - "Knights In White Satin" [Justin Hayward]: this is mister Moroder's 1976 version of The Moody Blues "Nights In White Satin." Like a slow disco mindfuck, Giorgio whisper-sings Hayward's lyrics over a bed of percussive string delays, guitar rhythms, digital harpsichord, and synth washes.

5.) The Family - "Nothing Compares 2 U" [Prince]: this track is sort of a reverse cover. It's the rarely recognized original recording of the Prince-penned song, made famous by Sinéad O'Connor. The Family was formed by Prince, and the band "performed" songs written, recorded, and produced by The Artist (apparently, Paul Peterson's voice was just dubbed over the finished tracks). The song was released in 1985, on their only album. {thank you, Pres, for sharing this one}

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