Cover versions of Kinks (Ray Davies) songs

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I have never been able to get into the Kinks, despite the fact that I am suppose to honor Ray Davies as a great English songwriter. Help me back into them, by suggestng the best cover versions you know. I'll start out with the easy ones:

Pretenders - Stop Your Sobbing
The Jam - David Watts
The Fall - Victoria

― Mitya (mitya), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:10 (twenty years ago)

"Mr. Pleasant" by the Mission

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:12 (twenty years ago)

"You Really Got Me" by Van Halen

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:14 (twenty years ago)

"All Day and All of the Night" by the Stranglers

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:14 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone ever covered "Ape man"? If not, they fucking well should.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:19 (twenty years ago)

"Days," in gorgeous versions by both Elvis Costello and Kirsty MacColl.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:34 (twenty years ago)

Where is the Costello version found? I'd like to here that.

― D. Bachyrycz, Friday, 9 December 2005 03:42 (twenty years ago)

"Lola" by the Raincoats

― sonore (sonore), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:43 (twenty years ago)

The new Gravenhurst on Warp has a cover of "See My Friends."

― telephone thing, Friday, 9 December 2005 03:45 (twenty years ago)

The Chocolate Watchband version of "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" is really good.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:48 (twenty years ago)

Heartful of Soul by Afrika Korps

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:49 (twenty years ago)

Pretty Things version of "House in the Country"

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:51 (twenty years ago)

Yo La Tengo loves them some Kinks.
"Big Sky" is on Ride the Tiger and "Oklahoma USA" is on Fakebook.

― I do feel guilty for getting any perverse amusement out of it (Rock Hardy), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:52 (twenty years ago)

Cathy Dennis - Waterloo Sunset

― Ben Dot (1977), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:59 (twenty years ago)

Hugo Largo does a nice version of "Fancy".

The Cravats are credited with doing "Situation Vacant" as a B-side, but I've never heard it to confirm that it's the Kinks song.

― sleeve (sleeve), Friday, 9 December 2005 03:59 (twenty years ago)

"Till the End of the Day," Big Star

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Friday, 9 December 2005 04:01 (twenty years ago)

There's also an outtake of the Jam running through "Dead End Street" on their box set.

― D. Bachyrycz, Friday, 9 December 2005 04:03 (twenty years ago)

Dud: Sly Stone, "You Really Got Me" (he did it in 1982, nuff said)

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Friday, 9 December 2005 04:13 (twenty years ago)

The Costello version of "Days" was on the Until The End of the World soundtrack (one of my favorites) and also on his covers disc, Kojak Variety (one of my least favorites).

Ah, and I forgot "This Is Where I Belong" by Frank Black.

Also cf., the Kinks tribute on Rykodisc:

1. Fountains Of Wayne – “Better Things”
2. Steve Forbert – “Starstruck”
3. Jonathan Richman – “Stop Your Sobbing”
4. Bebel Gilberto – “No Return”
5. Josh Rouse – “A Well Respected Man”
6. Cracker – “Victoria”
7. Queens Of The Stone Age – “Who’ll Be The Next In Line”
8. Matthew Sweet – “Big Sky”
9. Lambchop – “Art Lover”
10. Bill Lloyd & Tommy Womack – “Picture Book”
11. Tim O’Brien – “Muswell Hillbilly”
12. The Minus 5 – “Get Back In Line”
13. Fastball – “‘Till The End Of The Day”
14. Ron Sexsmith – “This Is Where I Belong”
15. Yo La Tengo – “Fancy”
16. Ray Davies & Damon Albarn – “Waterloo Sunset”

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Friday, 9 December 2005 04:18 (twenty years ago)

Television: Days

and there's a live version of Jeff Tweedy doing Oklahoma USA floating around on the Internet

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 9 December 2005 04:33 (twenty years ago)

Television did "Days?"

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 9 December 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)

Television's "Days" is an original. A gorgeous song, but not the Ray Davies number.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Friday, 9 December 2005 04:35 (twenty years ago)

"Warning" by Green Day
"One and One" by 2 Live Crew

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 9 December 2005 05:09 (twenty years ago)

3. Jonathan Richman – “Stop Your Sobbing”

Neat!

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 9 December 2005 05:16 (twenty years ago)

I don't think it was a Ray song (can't remember) but Jason Falkner has a great cover of "Wicked Anabella" floating around.

― caspar (caspar), Friday, 9 December 2005 05:38 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone ever covered "Ape man"? If not, they fucking well should.

I give you "Apeman" by the Esso Trinidad Steel Band, produced by Van Dyke Parks:

http://s44.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1T3AZDS5SRHSY1KJUF0C0OE84Q

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Friday, 9 December 2005 05:42 (twenty years ago)

It works!

― jim wentworth (wench), Friday, 9 December 2005 06:07 (twenty years ago)

dave berry - "this strange effect"
peggy lee - "i go to sleep"
pretenders - "i go to sleep"
lyres - "love me till the sun shines" *
david bowie - "where have all the good times gone"

* this one by dave davies, not ray davies

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Friday, 9 December 2005 07:38 (twenty years ago)

I wouldn't recommend Bowie's version of 'Where Have All The Good Times Gone?' He sounds like he's on downers, man.
There's a tune on the new Belle and Sebastian album which steals from 'Victoria'. much as 'I'm a Cuckoo' nicked from Thin Lizzy.

― snotty moore, Friday, 9 December 2005 08:28 (twenty years ago)

Boss Hog - I'm not like everybody else
Broken Dog - Lazy old sun

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Friday, 9 December 2005 11:48 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone ever covered "Ape man"? If not, they fucking well should.
-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), December 9th, 2005.

yes - former marillion lead singer Fish included it on his covers album. from what a i remember it was ok, altho not that different from the original

― Robin Goad (rgoad), Friday, 9 December 2005 12:34 (twenty years ago)

I think Alex meant anyone good ever covered "Apeman"

― We Buy a Hammer For Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 9 December 2005 12:37 (twenty years ago)

Young Fresh Fellows - Got My Feet On The Ground
on a single somewhere in my pile of 45s...

― pauls00, Friday, 9 December 2005 12:42 (twenty years ago)

My favorite Kinks song "She's Got Everything" was covered badly by The Romantics, I haven't heard the newish Old 97's treatment.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Friday, 9 December 2005 13:06 (twenty years ago)

(again) Van Halen - Where Have All the Good Times Gone

― earlnash, Friday, 9 December 2005 13:06 (twenty years ago)

The Buff Medways - Misty Water

What a great cover!!!

― Louie_Strychnine, Friday, 9 December 2005 13:27 (twenty years ago)

Is 'Susannahs Still Alive' a Dave Davies song? Anyhoo Cardiacs did a most ripping version.

― mzui (mzui), Friday, 9 December 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, pretty sure that's Dave.

One of the Loud kids on PBS's An American Family- but not Lance- sang "Apeman" for his sisters, although I don't think that was released. It was a pretty good version.

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 9 December 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

Affairs of the Heart - "Waterloo Sunset"

― Tony Bleach (blackshoeswhitesocks), Friday, 9 December 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

The Smugglers do "I'll Remember" on their Rosie album.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Friday, 9 December 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

Days - Elvis Costello:
http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0UU6EYVTV33F314DF5O6556NVJ

― D.I.Y. U.N.K.L.E. (dave225.3), Friday, 9 December 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

Ack. Just slsk'ed it.

― Mitya (mitya), Friday, 9 December 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

There was also a Sub Pop tribute released around the time of the Rykodisc comp. I remember Murder City Devils did "Alchohol."

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Friday, 9 December 2005 18:43 (twenty years ago)

Herman's Hermits - Dandy
Redd Kross - Fancy
Cud - Lola

The first two are really good. Peter Noone's voice on Dandy is really great. Cud's one is a bit crap.

― everything, Friday, 9 December 2005 18:52 (twenty years ago)

What about "King Kong"? There's another overlooked gym that's begging to be covered, but I don't think it has.

― darin (darin), Friday, 9 December 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Sub Pop Kinks Tribute tracklisting:

1. C Average / Revenge
2. Young Fresh Fellows / Gotta Get The First Plane Home
3. Mark Lanegan / Nothin' In The World Can Stop Me Worryin' 'bout That Girl
4. Mudhoney / Who Will Be the Next in Line
5. Model Rockets / Ring The Bells
6. The Fallouts / This Man He Weeps Tonight
7. Heather Duby / The Way Love Used to Be
8. Baby Gramps / Sunny Afternoon
9. The Murder City Devils / Alcohol
10. The Congratulators / Session Man
11. Love As Laughter / Tin Soldier Man
12. The Fastbacks / Waterloo Sunset
13. Jon Auer / Fancy
14. The Pinkos / Brainwashed
15. Larry Barrett / Act Nice and Gentle
16. The Minus 5 / Wicked Annabella
17. The Makers / Strangers
18. The Briefs / Come Dancing
19. Nikol Kollars / I Go to Sleep

― sleeve (sleeve), Friday, 9 December 2005 21:24 (twenty years ago)

did anyone mention the Swamp Rats doing "She's Got Everything"? I think it's from the same time the Kinks did that song, which was perhaps 1966? It's a pretty good version--it's a hard song to fuck up.

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Friday, 9 December 2005 23:17 (twenty years ago)

That is a good song. My buddy Mr Fine Wine made me a great Kinks tape and that was the first number.

― k/l (Ken L), Saturday, 10 December 2005 00:11 (twenty years ago)

I'm not like everybody else -- The Heidy-Ho Contingent (me and brother's shitty myspace "band"!http://www.myspace.com/theheidyhocontingent)!!

― Trafalga, Saturday, 10 December 2005 03:16 (twenty years ago)

Thank GOD someone mentioned Kirsty MacColl's "Days". *WHEW*

― Vinegar and Artichoke Hearts (Bimble...), Saturday, 10 December 2005 03:49 (twenty years ago)

Cathy Dennis - Waterloo Sunset
-- Ben Dot (wearethedot...), December 9th, 2005.
and sunny afternoon and she co-wrote an original.
now she writes for kylie minogue.

― jad boy, Saturday, 10 December 2005 04:00 (twenty years ago)

cheated:
http://www.secondhandsongs.com/artist/380.html
no ape man.

― jad boy, Saturday, 10 December 2005 04:09 (twenty years ago)

The Knack "The Hard Way"
801 "You Really Got Me"

Has anyone ever covered Sweet Lady Genevieve?
.

― Allen Baekeland (Allen Baekeland), Saturday, 10 December 2005 04:19 (twenty years ago)

The Cascades play a song that Ray Davies wrote (but I believe never played) in the MST3K movie Catalina Caper.

― The Yellow Kid, Saturday, 10 December 2005 06:17 (twenty years ago)

Yellow Kid, that sounds intriguing-- what's the song called?

― Trafalga, Saturday, 10 December 2005 07:32 (twenty years ago)

Sonic Youth do "Victoria" on the 4 Tunna Brix record. Not in any typical SY style, though, just a bash-up somewhat like the Fall version. To me it's not really even identifiable as them.

― nickn (nickn), Saturday, 10 December 2005 11:01 (twenty years ago)

The Ophelias did a great cover of Wicked Annabella on a 12". Good luck finding it.

― dlp9001, Saturday, 10 December 2005 14:51 (twenty years ago)

"Stop Your Sobbing" is a great song, but I only know the version by the Pretenders. I think it's a great choice for them to cover, but I imagine it would be even more wonderful to have Ray Davies singing it.

― youn, Saturday, 10 December 2005 15:17 (twenty years ago)

Why just imagine it?
http://s42.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1N3DDAYVWY6B32TVNZLJYYYWMT

― I do feel guilty for getting any perverse amusement out of it (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 10 December 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

Thanks! I'm at work right now, but I'll listen to it when I get home. Obviously, I should be working.

― youn, Saturday, 10 December 2005 15:45 (twenty years ago)

Thanks for that link to secondhandsongs, jad boy.

― Mitya (mitya), Saturday, 10 December 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)

me doing "David Watts" at last year's WFMU record fair. pls don't tell Ray.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 10 December 2005 21:19 (twenty years ago)

The Chocolate Watchband version of "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" is really good.

I agree. The Nomads did a good version too.

Dave Berry recorded "This Strange Effect," though I've never heard his version (in fact hadn't heard the Kinks version until 2001, when it appeared on the BBC Sessions; it's beautiful).

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Sunday, 11 December 2005 03:23 (twenty years ago)

Elliott Smith did four Kinks covers live at some point. I have them on MP3 somewhere. They included -

Do It Again
Dead End Street
Here Comes Flash
Big Sky

Pretty bad quality, but considering my love for both The Kinks and Elliott smith, I was thrilled to find them.

― Erock LAzron, Sunday, 11 December 2005 23:50 (twenty years ago)

So that would mean Hooverphonic's "This Strange Effect" is also a Ray Davies song, no?

― Mitya (mitya), Monday, 12 December 2005 01:18 (twenty years ago)

The Cascades play a song that Ray Davies wrote (but I believe never played) in the MST3K movie Catalina Caper.

Yellow Kid, that sounds intriguing-- what's the song called?

"There's A New World"

― The Yellow Kid, Monday, 12 December 2005 06:34 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.