Ric’s Quick Picks (replacing my original title – Ricki’s Quickies – which I deemed needlessly provocative and double entrendre-esque) will run as midweek fillers (or the SNS) in Pencil Storm throughout April as I shake off my winter torpor. (Was it just me or did March last for SIX MONTHS this year?)
The idea of RQP will be specific topics with a lot of videos and VERY little of my normal over-the-top, verbose, what-is-this-guy-ON-about? verbal overload.
Up first – Great Cover Versions of Rock & Roll Tunes
Performers who produce high-quality cover songs don’t just RE-DO older tunes, they RE-THINK them. Here’s some of my favorite examples……
THE MOVE / CALIFORNIA MAN / 1972
CHEAP TRICK / CALIFORNIA MAN / 1978
THE SMALL FACES / AFTERGLOW (OF YOUR LOVE) / 1969
FLO & EDDIE / AFTERGLOW (OF YOUR LOVE) / 1973
GLORIA / THEM / 1964
GLORIA / THE PATTI SMITH GROUP / 1975
Ricki C. is 72 years old. He has been involved professionally in rock & roll in some capacity - performer, roadie, rock writer - since 1968 when he sang his first song for pay in public; “Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf at a classmate’s basement birthday party. That cover was NOT in the same league as these.
bonus video / The Move / Brontosaurus / 1970
(This is The Move tune from which Cheap Trick copped the middle section of their cover of “California Man” above. Both songs written by Roy Wood.)