The 100 Greatest Cover Versions: The Ultimate Playlist (The Ultimate Playlist Series)

Which Blondie Top Five was originally a flop for a West Coast power pop band? Who wrote Alice Cooper's 1973 hit 'Hello Hurray', and which folk singer first recorded it? Who launched their career with a tear and a cover of a little known Prince song? Where was Joe Cocker sitting when he came up with the idea of covering 'With a Little Help from my Friends?'. Everybody likes a good song and a good story. The 100 Greatest Cover Versions traces the histories of some of the great songs you may know only as second-hand recordings and explores some unusual and creative takes on a few of pop's well-known tracks. Based on the Independent's popular long-running Story of the Song column, this collection features previously unpublished pieces alongside fully expanded, updated stories. Robert Webb details the background to each song how it was written, who first recorded it and how it came to be covered and explains how, in some cases, the cover version has become more popular than the original. Artists range from Patti Smith to the Happy Mondays, David Bowie to Florence + the Machine, and Stevie Wonder to Robert Wyatt. The book also includes additional further listening suggestions and a bonus track. Whether you download, rip from CD or stream your music, the Ultimate Playlist series provides the perfect accompaniment to your personal compilation. The series aims to guide listeners through large and often bewildering back catalogues of the major artists as well as key genres and styles in popular music. If you love music and you enjoy knowing more about the history behind some of pop's greatest songs, then you will love this book. The 100 greatest cover versions of some of the greatest songs ever written. Cover versions are an interesting concept, as it shows a song in a different light and may cause the song to gain a new audience through this experimental recording process. Each of the 100 tracks has the artist which covered the song and the name of the artist who wrote, or performed, the song originally. Through an engaging web of stories detailing the background of each track, how artists came to cover them and how sometimes these cover versions become more popular than the original. This book has surprises for the new and old music fans which may be surprised to find that their favorite artist, or groups, most famous single was a cover version. In the age of digital downloading, where music fans download single tracks rather than an artists entire album, the playlist is becoming the means for music fans of putting together a personal compilation album of their favorite songs. This 'digital mix-tape' is a principle feature of the main media players such as iTunes and Spotify and this book aims to guide listeners through large and often bewildering back catalogs of the major artists catalogs - as well as key genres in popular music - by suggesting key tracks which can form a thorough playlist for your computer or MP3 player. Showcasing The 100 Greatest Cover Versions Of Some Of The Greatest Songs Ever Written. Through An Engaging Web Of Stories, It Details The Background Of Each Track, How Artists Came To Cover Them, And How Sometimes The Cover Versions Became More Popular Than The Original. Robert Webb. Annotation Showcasing the 100 greatest cover versions of some of the greatest songs ever written. Through an engaging web of stories, it details the background of each track, how artists came to cover them, and how sometimes the cover versions became more popular than the original