Old cover versions!

dlgladwin · She's So Modern

Old cover versions!

dlgladwin · She's So Modern

At least two are available on CD...not sure they're worth £5.99 each, mind...

1978 features Rat Trap:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Top-Pops-78/dp/B000086EJ5/sr=1-5/qid=1169480995/ref=sr_1_5/203-0170059-5327157?ie=UTF8&s=music

And, as I mentioned in the above post, 1979 features I Don't Like Mondays:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Top-Pops-79/dp/B000086EJ6/sr=1-11/qid=1169481119/ref=sr_1_11/203-0170059-5327157?ie=UTF8&s=music

Apart from those, I guess it's over to the original vinyl editions. A quick search has thrown up these:

Mary of the Fourth Form!

http://www.chicksonvinyl.com/show/176

She's So Modern!

http://www.chicksonvinyl.com/show/182

Would you believe...The Elephants' Graveyard?

http://www.chicksonvinyl.com/show/191

Clearly we need to hear all of these, and to find out whether singles missing from the above list (Lookin' After No.1, Like Clockwork, Someone's Looking at You, Banana Republic) or indeed anything later received the Top of the Pops or Parade of Pops treatment.

If we can get our mitts on this lot, we could concoct a whole alternative "Best of"!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

dlgladwin wrote:

I don't know if anyone else has any of these albums (originals or CD reissues) featuring versions of Boomtown Rats singles, but wouldn't it be great if we could compile a collection between us? Admittedly, it'd probably comprise just versions of Rat Trap, Mondays and She's So Modern...or maybe not? We've already got Diamond Smiles in the bag...so how many more are lurking out there?

I no longer have any of these. There was also 12 Tops and Hot Hits which were much the same thing. Wish I kept them, but the covers were getting kinda soiled........ (blame pubescent hormones)

Loads pop up on ebay, but there must be some geek run site that has mp3s of the tracks. (meanwhile a couple of geek run sites on the topic http://uproar.fortunecity.com/galaxy/399/hothits.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/pop2/frankswann/totp.htm )

Also worth noting some of the session musicians/singers on these became famous in their own right, most notably Elton John.

-- Edited by ArrGee at 13:23, 2007-01-24

dlgladwin · She's So Modern

It would be fantastic to hear them all, though, wouldn't it?

I'm going to record from a few bits of vinyl tomorrow night, so I'll include that cover of Diamond Smiles on my list, and report back.

But can it be as bad as the version of I Don't Like Mondays - sorry, "Ah Don' Like a-Moon-days" that I remember from one of those albums that I had as a nipper?

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

I seem to remember the TOTP albums were a little naff?? What are the Rats' songs like on them? I have never really gone for Rats' covers, as the real thing is too good.. However, given that Geldof is doing any new music at the moment, if I'm not getting new songs by the same artist, I'd be glad to listen to old songs by different artists. The sessions singers/bands sound interesting that ArrGee mentioned. If someone manages to get these as MP3's I'd be interested in hearing them.

dlgladwin · She's So Modern

Jules wrote:
I seem to remember the TOTP albums were a little naff?? What are the Rats' songs like on them? I have never really gone for Rats' covers, as the real thing is too good.. However, given that Geldof is doing any new music at the moment, if I'm not getting new songs by the same artist, I'd be glad to listen to old songs by different artists. The sessions singers/bands sound interesting that ArrGee mentioned. If someone manages to get these as MP3's I'd be interested in hearing them.

Yes, they were completely naff...which is the whole appeal!

I think that a properly-compiled collection of all these "budget" versions of Rats songs could take the form of a cheeky "tribute" album...

...so now all we need is a title, ideally taken from a Rats title or lyric.

Any suggestions?

-- Edited by dlgladwin at 08:52, 2007-01-25

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

dlgladwin wrote:

...so now all we need is a title, ideally taken from a Rats title or lyric.

Any suggestions?

I'll state the bleedin' obvious (including the lift from the Groovy Ghoolies) .....

Rat Crap
or
Chronic for the Troops

dlgladwin · She's So Modern

ArrGee wrote:
dlgladwin wrote:

...so now all we need is a title, ideally taken from a Rats title or lyric.

Any suggestions?
I'll state the bleedin' obvious (including the lift from the Groovy Ghoolies) .....

Rat Crap
or
Chronic for the Troops

Can't improve on those...but I'd rather mock up a sleeve for the latter!

Actually, that could work: replace the band with models from the TOTP album sleeves...

...but what about the tiger?

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

The Fine Art of Being Crap

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

dlgladwin wrote:

...but what about the tiger?

How about this tiger?

-- Edited by ArrGee at 16:23, 2007-01-25

Rita · House on Fire

I used to have a couple of the Parade of the Pops album (and some TOTP ones). If I can find them I'll have a look and see what they have on them.

-- Edited by Rita at 23:44, 2007-01-25

dlgladwin · She's So Modern

Rita wrote:
I used to have a couple of the Parade of the Pops album (and some TOTP ones). If I can find them I'll have a look and see what they have on them.

-- Edited by Rita at 23:44, 2007-01-25

Great stuff!

Fingers crossed for some more Rats covers!

dam9191 · House on Fire

Have you guys ever found enough newer bands that would be willing to do a cover album of Rats material?

I do agree that I always prefer the original over the cover, but it's kind of cool to see how many newer bands would be interested in that type of thing.

The reason why I mentioned this is a couple of years back a bunch of groups got together to make a Cars tribute album. All the bands wanted to pay tribute to the group, and some of the covers are interesting. The tribute album is on MySpace at:

http://www.myspace.com/carstribute

The record label is: http://www.notlame.com/ and they have done other tribute albums as well.

If any of you know up and coming bands or artists who would want to pay tribute to The Boomtown Rats, I think it would be an awesome idea for a way to bring attention to the music.

Peace & take care,
debm