Monday, 26 May 2025

LNL Midnight Mixtape: Cover Versions

Midnight Mixtape: Definitive Cover Versions

On the midnight mixtape, Tony Livesey was joined by Paul McNamee to look at listener selections (22/05/2025) with Songs where the cover version is better than original or the "definitive" version or as U2 put it, "Even better than the real thing!"

Songs in contention

  • UB40 - (I can't help) falling in love with you [Elvis Presley]
  • Guns n'Roses - Live and let die [Wings]
  • Isaac Hayes - Walk on by [Dionne Warwick]
  • Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends [Beatles]
  • Morrissey - That's entertainment [Jam]
  • Damned - Eloise [Barry Ryan]
  • Marvin Gaye - I heard it through the grapevine [Gladys Knight]
  • Joan Jett - I love rock'n'roll [Arrows]
  • Jimi Hendrix - All along the watchtower [Bob Dylan]
  • G Flip - Cruel Summer [Taylor Swift]
  • Maxwell - This woman's work [Kate Bush]
  • Nirvana - Man who sold the world [David Bowie]
  • Natalia Imbruglia - Torn [Ednaswap]
  • Arctic Monkeys - Baby I'm yours [Barbara Lewis]
  • Pet Shop Boys - Always on my mind [Elvis Presley]
  • Alien Ant Fram - Smooth Criminal [Michael Jackson]
  • Patti Smith - Gloria [Van Morrison/Them]
  • Aretha Franklin - Respect [Otis Redding]
  • Whitney - I will always love you [Dolly Parton]
  • Specials - Message to you Rudy [Dandy Livingstone]
  • Sinead O'Connor - Nothing compares 2 u [Prince]
  • Rod Stewart - Handbags & gladrags [Chris Farlowe]
  • Vic & Wonderstuff - Dizzy [Tommy Roe]
  • Soft Cell - Tainted love [Gloria Jones]
  • Tori Amos - Smells like teen spirit [Nirvana]
  • Siouxsie & Banshees - Dear Prudence [Beatles]
  • Clash - I fought the law [Crickets]
  • Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse - Valerie [Zutons]
  • Manic Street Preachers - Umbrella [Rihanna]
  • Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats [Knife]
  • Tricky - Black Steel [Public Enemy]
  • Roberta Flack - First time I ever saw your face [Ewan MacColl]
  • My Chemical Romance - Desolation Row [Bob Dylan]
  • Johnny Cash - If you could read my mind [Gordon Lightfoot]
  • John Cale - Heartbreak hotel [Elvis Presley]
  • Snapped Ankles - Fish needs a bike [Blurt]
  • Johnny Cash - Hurt [NiN]
  • Led Zeppelin - Dazed and confused [Jake Holmes]
  • Bryan Adams - Sunny [Bobby Hebb]
  • Blondie - Hanging on the telephone [Nerves]
  • Communards - Never can say goodbye [Jackson 5]
  • John Cale - Hallejuah [Leonard Cphen]
  • Plaebo - Running up that hill [Kate Bush]
  • Paul Young - Wherever I lay my hat (that's my home) [Marvin Gaye]
  • Ella Fitzgerald - Sunshine of your love [Cream]
  • Lemonheads - Mrs Robinson [Simon & Garfunkel]
  • Housemartins - Caravan of love [Isley Brothers]
  • Disturbed - Land of confusion [Genesis]

Final Mixtape

Here's the final mixtape! Thank you for Leigh created a "spotified playlist (plus the originals

[Side 1]
1. Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends
2. Joan Jett - I love rock n roll
3. Aretha - Respect
4. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing compares 2 u
5. Rod Stewart - Handbags & Gladrags
6. Soft Cell - Tainted love
[Side 2]
7. Roberta Flack - First time ever...
8. Clash - I fought the law
9. Nirvana - Man who sold the world
10. Marvin Gaye - ...Grapevine
11. Jimi Hendrix - All along the watch tower
12. Johnny Cash - Hurt
Hidden: Isaac Hayes - Walk on by

Previous Appearances

From the Livesey midnight mixtapes, 8 acts had never been on before Joe Cocker, Joan Jett, Aretha, Sinead O'Connor, Soft Cell, Roberta Flack, Clash, Isaac Hayes. Joan Jett and Isaac Hayes have in fact never appeared before. Appearances of those that have been on before altogether:
  • 13: Johnny Cash (11+2)
  • 10: Marvin Gaye (9+1)
  • 5: Aretha Franklin, Clash
  • 4: Jimi Hendrix (3+1),Nirvana (3+1), Sinead O'Connor
  • 3: Roberta FLack
  • 2: Joe Cocker
  • 1: Rod Stewart, Soft Cell
Clash been mentioned numerous times on Tony Livesey's midnight mixtape (4 times previously) but it's the first time, they have made the final 12.
Whilst first time Marvin Gaye's "I heard it through the grapevine" has appeared on Livesey's midnight mixtape, it's the 6th time in total that song has made an appearance. Joe Cocker has only ever appeared on the mixtape with "With a little help from my friends" (3 times).
Johnny Cash has now appeared in the last two mixtapes following "One piece at a time" in last week's "Betrayal" mixtape.

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