Category Archives: Didn’t Know It Was a Cover

Didn’t Know It Was A Cover | R.E.M.’s Strange

Posted on September 4, 2023 by the press music reviews

British punk band Wire were at their most direct and economic on their unadulterated masterpiece Pink Flag. The album was one in a holy trinity of inspirations for a then-teenage Michael Stipe, who purchased Horses by Patti Smith, Marquee Moon by Television and Pink Flag by Wire in rapid succession. … Continue reading →

Posted in Didn't Know It Was a Cover, R.E.M., Wire | 6 Comments

Didn’t Know It Was A Cover | David Bowie’s Boys Keep Swinging

Posted on May 11, 2023 by the press music reviews

Bowie’s brilliant ‘Boys Keep Swinging’ was built on an identical chord sequence as ‘Fantastic Voyage’, a point noticed by very few people when the two were paired as a single in 1979. Over time it has become common knowledge that … Continue reading →

Posted in David Bowie, Didn't Know It Was a Cover | 26 Comments

Didn’t Know It Was A Cover | David Gilmour’s There’s No Way Out Of Here

Posted on June 13, 2022 by the press music reviews

While enjoying some much-needed respite from the claustrophobic Pink Floyd machine, David Gilmour summed up his fraught situation with one of his best solo efforts and the great ‘missing’ Floyd song: ‘There’s No Way Out of Here’ – but it … Continue reading →

Posted in David Gilmour, Didn't Know It Was a Cover, Pink Floyd | 12 Comments

Didn’t Know It Was A Cover | The Flying Burrito Brothers’ Wild Horses

Posted on November 17, 2021 by the press music reviews

Gram Parsons rewired country music into his own beautiful vision where his considerable gifts were evident on one of his finest ever recordings.  Gram Parsons, an immensely talented musician haunted by personal demons and a penchant for cocaine and heroin … Continue reading →

Posted in Didn't Know It Was a Cover, Eagles, Gram Parsons, Rolling Stones, The | 20 Comments

Didn’t Know It Was A Cover | Elvis Costello’s Shipbuilding

Posted on July 28, 2021 by the press music reviews

This relentlessly affecting composition was co-written by Elvis Costello and producer Clive Langer intended for English musician Robert Wyatt in 1982.  Langer, not happy with the lyrics that he had written himself, presented the tune to Costello, and within days … Continue reading →

Posted in Didn't Know It Was a Cover, Elvis Costello, Producers | 19 Comments

Didn’t Know It Was A Cover | David Bowie’s Red Sails

Posted on April 25, 2021 by the press music reviews

David Bowie – Red Sails Bowie was dabbling in German rock as early as Diamond Dogs’ Sweet Thing (reprise), and he clearly loved the likes of Kraftwerk, but his music was far more influenced by the Köln rhythms of Neu!, … Continue reading →

Posted in David Bowie, Didn't Know It Was a Cover, Neu! | 6 Comments

Didn’t Know It Was a Cover | Steve Miller Band’s Jet Airliner

Posted on August 5, 2020 by the press music reviews

Jet Airliner Steve Miller Band’s classic track off the 1977 blockbuster Book of Dreams is a cover. I learnt this today. The track was originally written by underrated blues/rock artist Paul Pena in 1973 about his airplane trip from Boston … Continue reading →

Posted in Didn't Know It Was a Cover, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Didn’t Know It Was a Cover | Kiss’ King of the Night Time World

Posted on August 4, 2020 by the press music reviews

King of the Night Time World Ever wondered why Kim Fowley was writing with Kiss in 1976? That’s because King of the Night Time World is a cover! In a weird situation Kiss covered this song by little-known power-pop band … Continue reading →

Posted in Didn't Know It Was a Cover, Kiss | 4 Comments