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Post by jackorion on Aug 13, 2018 14:46:41 GMT
Hey folks,
I'm starting to pick up a few 'covers' gigs (restaurants, hotels etc etc) which are well paying but not always the most receptive to original music and so I must learn some more covers. However I'm stuck for song choices a little bit as I've always said to myself I wouldn't cover anything that I don't like or that I feel doesn't fit in with my musical persona - so far that's served me well as I still get enjoyment out of playing the covers I do and I haven't diluted the 'Ben Morgan-Brown' brand by playing unsuitable songs...
Here's what I cover currently:
Strolling Down The Highway - Bert Jansch Long Long Long - The Beatles Mr Tambourine Man - Bob Dylan Reynardine - Bert Jansch Blackwaterside - Bert Jansch Norwegian Wood - The Beatles Key To The Highway - Big Bill Broonzy Blues Run The Game - Jackson C Frank Pink Moon - Nick Drake God Only Knows - The Beach Boys Something - Beatles First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
There's a few there that get good audience recognition and also a few that those in the 'know' often come up to me and say 'thanks for playing that' ...
I probably need between 5 and 10 songs, stuff that fits in with the songs I'm already doing well but it'd be good to have a couple of well known tunes - at the moment I'm thinking about 'Streets of London' and maybe Beeswing, obviously streets is well known and the music buffs will like beeswing but does anyone have any suggestions? I'm probably good for Beatles and Bert Jansch tunes though ;-)
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Post by ianh on Aug 13, 2018 15:00:11 GMT
I'm assuming these are solo? Beeswing is a lovely song, and works great with some other accompaniment
My 17-year old son is doing some covers gigs locally, and he's doing an interesting mix of acoustic-y stuff, including: Richard Thompson's 'Withered and died' (which reminds me that '1952 Vincent black lightning' would be a good choice) Tom Waits' 'Broken Bicycles' and 'heart of Saturday night' Dylan - 'things have changed' Leonard Cohen - 'Dance me to the end of love' and 'so long marianne' Van Morrison - 'madame george'
a couple of other thoughts: for Ralph McTell, how about 'Barges'?
I could go on for ages... Good luck with the gigs
Ian
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Aug 13, 2018 15:15:06 GMT
What about some James Taylor? Even if people don't 'know' them, they'll probably recognise them... Fire and Rain, Carolina In My Mind, Sweet Baby James.
Billy Joel - Matter Of Trust, Downeaster Alexa
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Post by lavaman on Aug 13, 2018 16:51:01 GMT
These tend to go down well ..
Sloop John B Don't Think Twice It's Alright Needed Time Delilah
Iain
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Post by dreadnought28 on Aug 13, 2018 22:02:01 GMT
Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley did well singing “covers”, Eva Cassidy too.
Anything written by Paul Simon goes well. Tom Wait’s Looking for the Heart of Saturday Night and Ol’ 55 Cat Stevens Moonshadow and others Don McLean, lots of good songs not just the obvious ones. From a Distance , written by Julie Gold and recorded by Nanci Griffith first and then many others including moi before Bette Midler and Cliff Richard.
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Post by scorpiodog on Aug 14, 2018 9:43:05 GMT
Songs that people don't normally cover with an acoustic guitar often go down well.
Have you thought about Billy Joel's New York State Of Mind or Say Hello, Wave Goodbye by Soft Cell (David Grey did a version of this)? Lots of songs by Burt Bacharach work well with an acoustic guitar treatment (I like This Guy's In Love With You). Some 20's and 30's songs work well (Miss Otis Regrets, Moonlight Becomes You, Every Time we Say Goodbye).
I think the problem with covering classic acoustic tracks is that the audience tends to compare them with the original, unless you can think of some way to distinguish it from such. I learned "More Than Words" by Extreme to play at a wedding a couple of weeks ago, and I can't imagine playing it often or even ever at a gig, because it's so well known, and I'm no Nuno Bettencourt!
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Post by oustudent on Aug 14, 2018 19:13:11 GMT
How about Tom Paxton, or is that well before your time
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Post by thejamsinger on Aug 14, 2018 21:53:43 GMT
A lot will depend on the audience. Have you considered something more modern like, Stereophonics, Jake Bugg, Passenger or even some acoustic versions of heavy rock like highway to hell, you shook me all night long. Motörhead even did a slow bluesy version of Ace of spades which goes down well. Like I said it all depends on the audience even some Oasis songs always go down well.
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Post by ianh on Aug 15, 2018 11:47:00 GMT
Saw a busker in Edinburgh at the fringe yesterday doing an exquisite finger-picked version of Coldplay's 'Fix You' Bit modern for me, mind....
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Post by PistolPete on Aug 22, 2018 20:06:27 GMT
Mustang Sally Sex on Fire Wonderwall Free Bird
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Post by dobro on Aug 22, 2018 23:43:39 GMT
Songs I tend to play besides my own: Blues Run the Game Courting Blues Waltzing's for Dreamers Kathy's Song Homeward Bound Missing etc etc etc
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doc
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Post by doc on Aug 23, 2018 11:07:37 GMT
These ones always seemed popular:
Tom Waits - I hope that I don’t fall in love with you
Over the rainbow. Eva Cassidy’s approach is popular.
Any number of Paul Simon songs
Why does it always rain on me.
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Post by walrus on Aug 24, 2018 21:44:40 GMT
Some great suggestions ☝🏻
Having listened to you on SoundCloud (my compliments to you) and taking your current set list into consideration, I’ll recommend
Here Comes the Sun Don’t Dream it’s Over Rocket Man
And maybe a wild card
Wichita Lineman
Mike
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colins
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Post by colins on Aug 24, 2018 22:29:55 GMT
I always used to have success with Joni Mitchell pieces, the best in my opinion is'Urge for Going' not only is it a great song, but if you listen to Jodi's original version it is a lesson on how to accompany a song on guitar.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 24, 2018 22:51:16 GMT
I am a complete sucker for these two pretty old songs with gorgeous melodies, but I reckon they could suit your style well, Ben. Here are modern(ish) recordings of them -
Keith
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