Welcome to the inaugural Covers Of Invention blog.
I begin with a current Da Doo Ron Ron fave rave, Nancy Holloway's captivating interpretation of Little Anthony and the Imperials 'Hurt So Bad'. An American who re-located to Paris in 1960, Nancy released a succession of perfectly palatable but mostly inconsequential yé-yé / easy MOR-styled ditties during the sixties to mid-seventies. The notable exceptions being 'Hurt So Bad', her fab cover of Wanda Jackson's 'Whirlpool' ('Tu n'es pas venu') and the jazzy, much-sampled, 'Sand And Rain'. All three are regular Da Doo spins and utterly essential!
'Hurt So Bad' was produced by famed French arranger / conductor Daniel Janin and features on Nancy's 1969 album, 'Hello Dolly'. As is often the case, 'Hurt So Bad' is the LPs only moment of truly towering brilliance (I own creaking shelves of vinyl albums that contain just that one stand-out tune!) though typically the record company failed to grant the track a 'single' release! Not EVEN as a b-side! Doh!
So what makes Nancy's such an extraordinary rendition? Her forlorn, heart-frazzling vocal though star-strafingly dazzling is pretty much expected, however its Daniel Janin's musical backdrop that truly startles. A funky drummer lays down a dope beat, righteous Walls-of-Jericho horns va-va-voom and the entire caboodle is propelled by a slinkily seductive bassline. The song spirals to a dramatic crescendo with Nancy beseeching, "Please don't go, no, no, no, Don't hurt me so bad, I'm begging you please." Scintillating stuff.
Other female artists who have recorded cover versions of 'Hurt So Bad' include Nancy Wilson (excellent!), Dionne Warwick (so-so), Baby Washington (pretty good) and Linda Ronstadt. There are numerous male recordings including The Delfonics, David Cassidy, The Lettermen, Richard 'Groove' Homes, Grant Green, Mantovani, El Chicano and Willie Bobo. However, Nancy Holloway's is definitely my preferred version and - in my humble opinion at least - even eclipses the Little Anthony and the Imperials original.
FIND IT!
Original Album
Nancy Holloway - Hello Dolly (Concert Hall)
Compilation Albums
Various - Escale-Party Sur Air France (Concert Hall)
Various - Melodie En Soul Sol - Paris 70's (Kif) Available as both vinyl album & CD
Hey Chris, like the new blog - sounds like a great idea! I'll add a link from our L'Amour Electronique blog.
ReplyDelete[a tip about posting youtube videos, blogger crops 'em if they are at full size, but you can change the dimensions in the embed code width="400" height="324". It's a bit of a pain, but at least you don't lose the edges]
cheers Domx
http://www.lamourelectronique.blogspot.com