Which artist "owns" a song

[Maccagirl]

My picks are Judy Garland with "Over the Rainbow" and Patsy Cline with "Crazy". I can't think of any one else singing those songs.

[taterguy]

1. Syd Straw owns CBGB's

The events in that song either happened to her or she's the greatest actress of all-time.

[AllegroRondo]

2. Johnny Cash with "Folsum Prison Blues"

[Joe Fields]

3. The Beatles...all of their music.

[taterguy]

4. What about "Matchbox"?

I'm genuninely curious if you think they're the only ones who should perform it or are the only ones that can sound good performing it.

[Joe Fields]

6. Personally it doesn't matter if they sang "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

No one could do it better. My apologies to Stevie Ray Vaughn.

[taterguy]

7. I asked about Matchbox

[Joe Fields]

13. I think I replied, didn't I?

[taterguy]

17. So you genuinely think their version is better than the one by Perkins?

I realize that music taste is subjective but that's one of the most twisted and disturbing things I've ever read.

[Joe Fields]

19. Unequivocably, yes. But, that is just my opinion. Opinions vary.

[Javaman]

25. The original by Carl Perkins is the best. nt

[Maccagirl]

8. As a huge Beatle fan I understand

what you're saying. There have been great covers of Beatles song (Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help From My Friends", Wilson Pickett's "Hey Jude" etc, and the boys themselves did incredible versions of "Long Tall Sally" and "Rock and Roll Music".

[Joe Fields]

14. If, by "owning" a song, you mean only being able to identify that song

to a particular artist, then I would stand by my statement. While I agree that Joe Cocker gave a great cover of "With a Little Help From My Friends," I believe everyone associates and identifies with the Beatles when they think of that song, if for no other reason than it was part of Sgt. Pepper. I realize that you are only citing examples of good covers of Beatles songs, but I can't imagine, since we are talking about owning songs, that anyone who thinks of "Hey Jude" thinks about Wilson Pickett.

Conversely, I don't think of anyone but Little Richard when I think of "Long Tall Sally."

[DrDan]

11. Michael Jackson bought publishing rights to Beatles

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a951027.html

[Joe Fields]

15. That isn't what we are talking about here.

[DrDan]

20. oh yeah - I see that now - guess I should read the entire post,

shouldn't I

[DrDan]

21. Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour --- Ray Charles - Georgia on my Mind

Dvae Brubeck - Take 5
Frank Sinatra - New York New York
Astrud Gilberto - Girl Form Ipenema

[HughBeaumont]

30. Listen to Isaac Hayes' version of "Something" and get back to me.

Exponentially better and far more haunting and soulful than the original, IMNSHO.

[Radical Activist]

46. Nah. Joe Cocker did two of their songs

better than they did.

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. Don McClean - American Pie

If he doesn't own it, he should. Madonna butchered it.

[Maccagirl]

10. Yep

He wrote it, sang it, it's his.

[Phillycat]

9. Louis with What a Wonderful World.

[Lyric]

12. A list:

Willie Nelson: On the Road Again, Always on my Mind
The Eagles: Hotel California
Pink Floyd: Another Brick in the Wall, Wish You Were Here
George Jones: He Stopped Loving Her Today
Conway Twitty: Hello Darlin', It's Only Make Believe
Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter
Metallica: One
U2: With Or Without You, Sunday Bloody Sunday

I could think of tons more, but these are the first that popped into my head. I'm sure they've all been covered, but I'd never buy a cover of any of these songs--the original is what I'll always hear in my head.

[ForrestGump]

26. Elvis Presley did the original version of "Always On My Mind,"

in 1972. I think that was exactly a decade before Willie's cover. He did it at the same session in Hollywood that yielded "Burning Love."

I guess Willie did put his own stamp on the song, if only because his voice has very little in common with any of Elvis'. :D

In return, Elvis did versions of Willie's "Funny How Time Slips Away" (it became a staple of his live concerts in the '70s, especially on tour) and "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain."

[grace0418]

16. Etta James "At Last"

That song should never be redone, it's perfect the way she sang it.

[Orrex]

38. A fine song, to be sure, but...

When did it become law that every wedding reception must include it?

I mean, I love my cigar, but...

[grace0418]

40. Well, it's better than Bryan Adams screeching "Everything I doooo..." or

some other crap from the late-80s/early-90s.

[Orrex]

43. Well, that's like saying that a loving caress is better than a kick in the groin

Anyway, I underwent a radical experimental surgical procedure to remove that portion of the brain that housed my ability to hear crappy 80's/90's music.

[grace0418]

45. That must be why you think they only play "At Last" at wedding receptions, because

you've been rendered completely deaf at the other 75% of wedding receptions. ;)

[Orrex]

47. Very strange

All this time I've been wondering why the guests have been milling about the dancefloor with no music playing...

It's all so clear to me now!

[grace0418]

51. Mystery solved!

So stop trying to give everyone the Heimlich manuever. They're just dancing.

[Orrex]

52. Actually, that used to be an effective icebreaker

"Excuse me, miss, you appear to be choking. Allow me to assist."

[WeRQ4U]

18. Anything by Smashing Pumpkins...

Billy Corgan's voice, although horrible, cannot be replaced. The song all sound really strange without it.

[GumboYaYa]

22. Peggy Lee - Fever.

Even though it is a cover by her, she owns that song.

[Left Is Write]

23. Patti Smith - Because The Night

[VenusRising]

48. I actually liked 10,000 Maniacs cover of that better.

:hide:

[Tektonik]

24. no one

[mark414]

27. Billie Holiday and 'Strange Fruit'

that song leaves me with chills as strong the 100th time as they were the 1st

[Orrex]

35. Holy shit, what a song!

I literally (and I do mean "literally" rather than "Oh my God really") couldn't believe it when I first heard it, which to my shame wasn't all that long ago--maybe three years. I was certain that it was a current performer singing in Holiday's style, because I couldn't accept that she'd had the courage to record it.

Damn, what a song!

I'm not by any stretch of imagination qualified to judge such things, but I'd nominate that as the most powerful song of the past 100 years or so.

[Javaman]

28. Ramones - Blitz Krieg Bop. nt

[begin_within]

29. Nat King Cole owns "Stardust" (his 1957 recording of it)

[Orsino]

31. Ray: "Georgia"...or "What'd I Say?" n/t

[bridgit]

32. tom waits owns - Chocolate Jesus...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wfamPW3Eaw

[Orrex]

37. And Downtown Train

I don't care who else covers it. Rod Stewart sounds like a super-creepy stalker, and Patty Smyth's version is just a joke.

Hell, Tom owns everything he sings.

[bridgit]

53. hahaha, you have that right friend...

:hi:

[SKKY]

33. Anything by Queen...

...Although Nine Inch Nails did serious justice to "Get Down, Make Love", I really can't think of anyone else
doing Queen music. Freddy has a voice that comes along once in a lifetime.

[MonkeyFunk]

34. Tony Orlando

"Knock Three Times"

[Orrex]

36. Kristofferson notwithstanding, Janis owns "Me and Bobby McGee"

[speedoo]

54. I listened to Kris' version the other day.

It's very underrated, much more melancholy than Janis' version. I think Kris' version is not well known only because Janis turned it into such a huge hit, which in part was due to the timing of her death, during the production of the "Pearl" album featuring the song. I'm guessing only a few people connected to Janis ever heard it while she was alive. I remember buying the album when it came out, posthumously... the song was a smash hit but I just wonder if it would have been as big if not for her death.

The irony is, Kris is rumored to have seduced Janis (or maybe, allowed her to seduce him) in order to get her to record it. He was not a big selling artist at the time, and he needed the royalties.

Actually, his record company re-released his debut album ("Kristofferson") with the name "Me and Bobby McGee" after Janis' hit made the song so well known, and the album, unchanged except for the title, sold much better.

[SteppingRazor]

39. Judy Garland's Over the Rainbow is rubbish.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=293x824

:P

On edit: Judging by your OP, I assume you're talking about peopel who have covered other people's material? (Since it's pretty obvious that a songwriter "owns" his/her own tunes unless someone else does a more-definitive version).

If that's the case, I think there's lots of good examples of someone's cover of a tune taking over the original.

Jimi Hendrix doing Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" is an oft-cited example.

The Pogues doing "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is a good one.

I'm sure there's many more, but my brain hurts right now.

[VenusRising]

49. I disagree with your link.

That is a Kellogg's Rice Krispies commercial song.

Judy owns SOTR.

[hellbound-liberal]

41. Depending on what you mean by "owning" a song, I think Eva Cassidy owns "Fields of Gold"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDMqFvh5Lcs

She also did a really nice version of Over the Rainbow but this song stands out. Sting liked it as well.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

42. Judy singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"...

Every holiday season I hear all the remakes, and I can only say to the various artists, "Give it up! Don't even try!"

Aretha singing "Respect", comes to mind. I agree with the poster who said Nat's "Stardust". Tiny Tim with "Tiptoe Through the Tulips". :D

I wanted to add Pavarotti singing "Nessun dorma" from Turandot. Chills, every time!

[Beausoleil]

44. Talking Heads

Owns anything by Talking Heads except they may co-own "Take Me to the River" with Al Green.

[Mike Daniels]

50. Rod Stewart with "I Know (I'm Losing You)"

Probably one of his best covers in that he totally ripped the song free of the Motown arrangement and made it his own creation.