The Top 5 Stunning and Top 5 Shocking Soul/Jazz Covers

As Blam Jam takes a bank holiday break, it's a good time as ever to
probe the art of a cover version.

And if a lot of effort has gone into a cover, then I suppose
it can be an art, certainly in the case of Inner Life and
their defining disco arrangement of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".

Though in recent times there's been the emergence of LPs filled
to the brim with covers that are either indistinguishable from
the originals, or blander in comparison.

Recent examples including Beggar and Co's recent album,
and the Elements of Life long player.

(Cue a cacophony of booing in disagreement.)

But really? Another "faux-latin" cover of "Pasttime Paradise"?

Inspired by Sage's rundown of the 5 Best and 5 Worst covers,
I've assembled my own inferior attempt, showcasing the best
and worst from the soul vaults (in no particular order),
so let's wait no longer.

The 5 Best Soul/Jazz Covers

Monday Michiru - "As"



This is far from a lazy Stevie cover.

The first time I heard this broken beat arrangement I was in tears,
such an amazing arrangement distinct from the original,
and it made me pay attention to the well crafted lyrics.

It’s the piano chords in the chorus that do it for me, and this,
like many of Monday’s covers shows that you are never going
to get a carbon copy of the original when she makes her mark
on a well-known song.

(Louie Vega, take note.)

As her afro-cuban rendition of a well known Sister Sledge song
also illustrates.

Incognito - "That's The Way Of The World"




Around about this time in 2006, my excitement reached a
massive height (though not as high as it would the following year)
upon hearing that the Cog were going to cover an
Earth Wind and Fire anthem.

How did I feel when I first heard it?

Well you can hear my immediate reaction, from when myself
and Pippa ST gave it a spin on my soul show at Smoke Radio
in September that year. (I was just getting the hang of this radio
nonsense back then)



A month later I heard it performed live at Incognito's Jazz Cafe gig
and I doubt anyone was able to control themselves.

Especially after Bluey mentioned that he included the cover
on the album "Bees + Things + Flowers" as a get well card
to Maurice White who has been suffering Parkinson's disease.

Any hardcore Earth Wind and Fire fan will also be able to
spot the melodic nods to "Can't Hide Love" and "Burnin' Bush",
and as a whole, it's impossible to listen to without trembling.

Al Jarreau - "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"



A much needed relief after being tortured with the "rocked up"
Michael Bolton version on Sage's countdown.

This jazzy arrangement of the Otis Redding tune has an
amazing flow to it where seems to come and disappear,
with some amazing Rhodes chords adding a new perspective
and Al's dreamy vocals, wow.

Released in 1978, it's not the only cover from Jarreau's "All Fly Home" LP
what with an equally good rendition of "She's Leaving Home".

The definitive tune to play whilst watching the sun setting.

Bah Samba Featuring Alice Russell - "Portuguese Love"



You know you've done a good cover when it renders the public
memory of the original to be non-existant.

Bah Samba and the amazing Alice Russell achieved just that in 2005
with their cover of the Teena Marie tune, turning it from a blissful ballad
to a lively latin dance tune, with amazing musicianship blended
together with Alice's stunning vocals.

I've included the extended Phil Asher remix above which just has to be
heard from beginning to end.

The Sunburst Band - "In The Thick Of It"



Another slow one turned soulful house stunner.

Joey Negro and his team of musicans along with Angela Johnson
on vocals give the Brenda Russell ballad from 1979 an amazing 
makeover and one that still proves popular on the dancefloors.

This one was another instant winner on first hearing it, and even
if I hear it played in a club, I will still get a little teary.

In fact after downloading the "Reprise" mix with just the strings on
their own, I was uncontrollable.

Just amazing.


So those are the five stunners, we're about to move on to five soulful
stinkers...

The 5 Worst Soul/Jazz Covers

Dwele - "That's The Way Of The World"



Any soul fans who have spoken to me, will be aware of my hatred
for a compilation of Earth Wind and Fire covers released in 2007 called "Interpretations".

What an absolute waste.

To think that Maurice White actually had a hand this album is
beyond me as most of the covers (with one or two exceptions)
are just painful.

To be honest, I'm certain his involvement in the album itself
was similar to that of Joe Barbera in the Tom and Jerry Movie.

And after all the effort that Bluey and Incognito went into making
their cover of "That's The Way Of The World" they opted for a bland
neo-soul version which sounds like the demo tune on a Bontempi organ.

I've nothing against Dwele, as he's capable of far better,
but for something that lacks the effort that the Cog gave to this tune,
Ugh.

And I'm not finished with this album, oh no...

Brand New Heavies - "Many Rivers To Cross"



There are certain songs that many will say are sacred and should not
be touched, and for me, the Jimmy Cliff tune is one such song.

UB40, Cher, even Vince Kidd off of series one of The Voice, have
been unable to outdo this elegance of the original and The Brand
New Heavies didn't fare that much better either.

I suppose my dislike for their version was because it just
wasn't what they were about at all.

An attempt at taking a new direction saw the hiring of new vocalist
Nicole Russo, a sort of poor man's Roisin Murphy and the musical
direction shifted from jazzy soul, to bland R&B mediocrity.

Adding salt into the wound on their 2004 album "Allabouthefunk"
was this painful cover lacking the emotion of the original.

The album proved very unpopular with the BNH fanbase resulting
in Nicole's departure and the return of N'Dea Davenport on the
band's subsequent album.

In fact the band have erased all traces of Nicole from the biog
on their website and are now back to what they do best, if
their latest album is anything to go by.

UB40 - "Homely Girl"



Seriously, have UB40 ever made a good cover version?

This one in particular defines cod-reggae at it's most accurate,
as quite frankly it just stinks.

It didn't realise how bad it really was until I heard the Chi-Lites original,
and oh my, there are no words.

I still love the woodwind taunt after the lyric "to be somewhere
in the dark with you".

Digressing, if you want a reggae cover of that song that's more faithful
to the original, Inner Circle's interpretation from 1974 is more
than commendable.

Meshell Ndegeocello - "Fantasy"



Another offering from the EWF "Interpretations" album and this
is even worse.

There's experimental covers, and then there's excremental covers.

Really there are no words.
 
To this day, the band are still happy to have their songs defecated on
during their live shows as this rendition of "After The Love Has Gone"
featuring Mario Biondi (!) painfully proves.

You'd think that one day, the Italian singer would finish
his mouth full before he starts singing.

Cliff Richard - "Teardrops"



I suppose Mario Biondi borrowed a delusional belief from the
Peter Pan of pop into thinking he could lend his voice to almost
any song possible.

This is one of many atrocities from Sir Cliff's 2011 LP "Soulicious"
which won the dishonour of Blam Jam's Rotten Raspberry that year
with it's hilariously bad array of soul interpretations.

Even the video shows no effort in originality.

Why the likes of Lamont Dozier, and Candi Staton agreed to this
album I have no idea, though my only hope is that it has
prompted the crazed fans of Harry Webb into looking into the
superior originals of his watered down covers.

As at the end of the day, it may be a soul album but it's still bloody
Cliff Richard.


So those are my selections of the best and the bland of soul/jazz
covers, but as a whole, the best covers are those
that can be interpreted brilliantly with just the use of the human voice.

And none finer than that of Mr Gregory Porter.

Thanks for reading.

Show 158: "Gotta Keep On Striving" - 18.08.13

Summer Special Hour 1

Mel Tormé
"Too Darn Hot"
Mel Torme Swings Shubert Alley
Phoenix

Aziza
"La Costa" (House Remix)
Jazzsoetry Vol. 1
Lind Mill

Blam Jam's 2013 Summer Stunners: Number 3
Kings Of Tomorrow Featuring April
"Fall For You"
Fall For You EP
Defected

Juicy Jam
Umboza
"Sunshine"
Now 34
EMI

Gipsy Kings
"Volare"
Mosaique
Sony

Blam Jam Birthdays: Monday Michiru

"Look Into The Past"
Jazz Brat
Verve Forecast

"I Can't Help It"
Don't Disturb This Groove
Grind Gallery

Blam Jam Birthdays: Leroy Burgess Turns 60

Black Ivory
"You And I"
Best Of Perception And Today Records
BBE

Phreek
"Weekend"
Patrick Adams Presents Phreek
Atlantic
 
Dazzle
"You Dazzle Me"
Good Times 3
Phoenix

Caprice
"100%" G.I Disco
BBE

Aleem
"Get Loose"
G.I. Disco
BBE

Belita Woods and Leroy Burgess
"Best Of Me"
This Is Elephunk
Elephunk

Sunburst Band and Leroy Burgess
"Survivin"
Movin' With The Shakers
Z

Hour 2
Beginning Of The End
"Funky Nassau"
Funky Nassau
Alston

Tito Puente and India
"What A Difference A Day Made"
Jazzin'
Tropi Jazz

Siesta
Sueno Latino
"Sueno Latino"
12"
BCM

Blam Jam's 2013 Summer Stunners: Number 2
Lone
"Airglow Fires"
Online Download
R&S

Blam Jam Birthdays: Robert Plant

Merengada
"Stairway To Heaven" (Phunk Investigation Radio Mix)
12"
Absolute

King Curtis
"Whole Lotta Love"
Live At Fillmore West
Atlantic

Summer Dub Dub
Smerins Anti-Social Club
"Dr Who"
Shapes 10:02
Tru Thoughts

Matt Bianco
"You'll Never Know"
Hideaway
Edel


Ipanema Intermission
Astrud Gilberto
"The Girl From Ipanema"
Cocktail Disco
BBE

Blam Jam's 2013 Summer Stunners: Number 1
Todd Terje
"Strandbar" (Samba Mix)
12"
Olsen

Andrew Ashong And Theo Parrish
"Flowers"
12"
Sound Signature

Blam Jam Belter!
Anakage
"Lovely Day"
(Unreleased)

Show 157: "Reach For It" - 11.08.13

Summer Special Hour 1

Rudolfo & Su Tipica RA7
"La Colegiala"
Greatest Cumbia Classics Of Columbia Vol. 1
Miami Records

Shaun Escoffery
"Days Like This" (Danny Dee Mix)
CD Single
Oyster Music

Gregory Porter
"Liquid Spirit"
Liquid Spirit
Blue Note

Bah Samba Featuring Alice Russell
"Portuguese Love"
4
BKO

David Byrne
"Make Believe Mambo"
Rei Momo
Sire

Lionsclub
"Baywatch" (Japanese Version)
TV And Movie Themes
Vielklang

Juicy Jam
B-15 Project
"Girls Like Us"
CD Single
Relentless

Feet
"Nightlife" (eEsa's Quinto Remix)
12"
RaFa Music

Bahama Soul Club Featuring Bessie Smith
"Moaners"
The Cuban Tapes
Buyu

Robert Glasper Experiment Featuring Jill Scott
"Calls"
Black Radio 2
Blue Note

Whitney Houston Tribute
Whitney Houston
"Million Dollar Bill"
I Look To You
Jive

Whitney Houston Featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price
"Heartbreak Hotel"
My Love Is Your Love
Arista

Ely Bruna
"I Will Always Love You"
Lounge Cover Collection 3
Irma

Laurie Holloway
"Guantanamera"
Sounds From The Lounge
Castle Pulse

Hour 2

George Duke
"Malibu"
The Aura Will Prevail
MPS

George Duke
"I Want You For Myself"
Master Of The Game
Sony

Mario Biondi and The High Five Quintet
"This Is What You Are" (Opolopo Remix)
12"
Expansion

Siesta
Heather Johnson
"Love Is Stronger Than Pride" (Dolls Combers Mix)
The Sweetest Gift
King Street Sounds

Sunlightsquare
"Afro Boogie Super Hombre"
Online Download
Sunlightsquare

George Duke
"You'll Never Know"DreamWeaver
BPM

Summer Dub Dub
Easy Star All-Stars Featuring Mojo Morgan And Steel Pulse
"The Girl Is Mine"
Thrillah
Easy Star

Otis Gayle
"I'll Be Around"
Studio One Soul
Soul Jazz

Zo! Featuring Jeanne Jolly
"Tell Me Something New"
ManMade
The Foreign Exchange

Muzart
"Let There Be Harmony"
Muzart
Expansion

Ipanema Intermission
Papik Featuring Tom Gaebel
"The Girl From Ipanema"
Lounge Cover Collection 5
Irma

George Duke
"Overture"
Guardian Of The Light
Epic

Sterling Ensemble Featuring Troy McMurray
"You Got Me Singin" (Mr. V & ReelSoul Remix)
12"
Sterling Blue Music

Re-living Margate 2013 "I Love Days Like This!

So where was I last Sunday?

Straining my throat, and enjoying some of the finest music
ever made both live, and via many a superb DJ set, it could
only be the 2013 Margate Soul Weekender.

















Three days of non-stop happiness.

Originally starting off as just one of the music stands at
the August carnival in Margate back in 2002, the event has
evolved into a massive weekend, and this year had the best live
line up to date.

Acts included 80s soul veterans Loose Ends with Carl McIntosh,

















Gospel artist Chidi who really surprised me.





















Blam Jam favourites Smoove and Turrell, who underwent a lot
of "Hard Work" to get there from the North East.


















April's album profile act The Doggett Brothers and
special guest vocalist Katie Leone. Simply stunning.
















And possibly my highlight of it all, Bah Samba and special
guest Juliet Roberts, who performed "Portuguese Love" and
her solo stunner "Caught In The Middle".





















































The weather was superb all weekend and as it got darker
you were spoilt for choice in terms of DJ sets, whether
it be the smooth grooves of Jason Anderson and Roni O'Brien,

















the exciting and eclectic rhythms from Fitzroy Da Buzzboy
and his literal headphone.

the mayhem from Jonny and Messy


















the happening house from Paul French at the Rokka,
(seemingly absent in this photo, but there in spirit)

















or the old soul favourites from radio legend Greg Edwards.

















Overall, an amazing weekend, amazing people, and I for one,
am getting bloody impatient for the 2014 event.