Beatles cover versions are ten a penny. Some good, some, er, not so good. Plus ça change. As with any reworking of someone else's song, unless you're bringing something new to the table, it's probably wise to stay the hell away.
Jeff Beck knew the rules. As did Jan Hammer. Listen to them giving the B side to I Feel Fine a right seeing to. I love this. It first appeared on Beck's second solo studio album Blow by Blow in '73. But it was a couple of years later when I first became aware of it (albeit in a live setting) when Fluff Freeman would play Beck and Hammer's album to death on his Saturday afternoon rock show. Not 'arf!
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Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group - She's a Woman (1977)
Nice! It would be roughly another decade and a half before I became aware of She’s A Woman, courtesy of Scritti Politti & Shabba Ranks’ cover version, quite a few more before I heard The Beatles’ original. All good.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten all about Scritti's versh - thanks for the reminder, K.
DeleteJeff Beck steered it just far enough away from the tune but was still able to get back to it when required. I love that. And, although it doesn't get played at many weddings, you gotta admit it beats Hi Ho Silver Lining!