Christine Singing Other People’s Songs

[aleuzzi]

We generally regard Christine as a songwriter who sings her own material. That’s certainly what she’s best known for. But the YMLF cover thread that popped up today got me thinking about the songs she has covered.

For the most part, she’s a pretty persuasive interpreter of songs written by others. Her readings of Dan Perfect’s “Northern Star” and “Calumny” are outstanding. But has she ever improved on better-known versions of songs? Her “I’d Rather Go Blind” and “Crazy Bout You Baby”—are these better than the respective Etta James and Ike-Tina Turner interpretations?

On the other hand, I think her version of Tony Joe White’s “I Want You” is superior to his. And her performance of Bobby Bland’s “I’m On My Way”
is, to my ears, pretty much equal.

On her 1984 album, I think the weakest songs are the covers…

Thoughts about Christine covers?

[Macfan4life]

Interesting thread. When I heard Chris was covering Elvis's Cant Help Falling In Love, I got really excited. However while its fairly good, I thought she would have done a better job. For some reason, I want to like the song better. I can't put my finger on why either.

I thought she did a good job on Keeping Secrets and I'm The One. However, you can sense they were not written by her. I dont ever see her telling some guy "I'm not your psychiatrist" She never tells guy's off in her songs (for the most part).

[aleuzzi]

Interesting thread. When I heard Chris was covering Elvis's Cant Help Falling In Love, I got really excited. However while its fairly good, I thought she would have done a better job. For some reason, I want to like the song better. I can't put my finger on why either.

I thought she did a good job on Keeping Secrets and I'm The One. However, you can sense they were not written by her. I dont ever see her telling some guy "I'm not your psychiatrist" She never tells guy's off in her songs (for the most part).

Yeah, the phrasing on I’m the One doesn’t sound natural to her. Her lyrics tend to be concise and allow her space to draw out syllables. I’m the one and Keeping Secrets have more words than is usual for her.

I also agree on the Elvis cover. It’s not bad—it’s just not great. Very pleasant and forgettable.

[David]

She used to be good at covering blues. Remember “Jumping at Shadows” by Duster Bennett? She sang that live just a year before he died, and she slipped into that tune very naturally. She should have put it on one of her solo albums.

[Phoenixgypsy]

I might be in the minority, but I love her version of "I Can't Help Falling in Love" - I wish they would remaster that track and put it on CD or a streaming service.

[FuzzyPlum]

well, her version of the dreadful When You Say is actually palatable!!!

[jbrownsjr]

She used to be good at covering blues. Remember “Jumping at Shadows” by Duster Bennett? She sang that live just a year before he died, and she slipped into that tune very naturally. She should have put it on one of her solo albums.

There's a low quality bootleg of "jumping" and her vocals and keys are absolutely fantastic. Good one.

[aleuzzi]

There's a low quality bootleg of "jumping" and her vocals and keys are absolutely fantastic. Good one.

Yeah—I love that version. Have it on my iTunes.

[jbrownsjr]

I love her version of I'd Rather Go Blind. I have a friend that loved it more than the Etta James version. I don't know that I'd personally go that far. But, I heard Christine's version first, and I do think it's sang with a unique and personal point of view.

And who doesn't love: "2AM and it's you on the telephone, cryin' in your sleep...."?

[Macfan4life]

I love her version of I'd Rather Go Blind. I have a friend that loved it more than the Etta James version. I don't know that I'd personally go that far. But, I heard Christine's version first, and I do think it's sang with a unique and personal point of view.

And who doesn't love: "2AM and it's you on the telephone, cryin' in your sleep...."?
You figure since I have a shoulder and live alone, you can come to me?

[jbrownsjr]

You figure since I have a shoulder and live alone, you can come to me?

I mean, who can sing that with a straight face!! hehe

[aleuzzi]

I mean, who can sing that with a straight face!! hehe

I mean, the shoulder is an essential body part.

[HomerMcvie]

I mean, who can sing that with a straight face!! hehe

At least the lyric wasn't in me, or on me.

Cuz that would be some slip your hand inside my glove sh*t.

[Macfan4life]

I mean, who can sing that with a straight face!! hehe
I don't like playing detective still I keep finding clues
We've got to stop this pretending and pay the dues



Chris's 1984 album had such country vibes. I think that was because of Sharpe. Both him and Burnette have a country vibe to them. It was odd when I got this vibe that a English blues player would sound country. Songs like So Excited, Love Will Show Us How, I'm the One, and Keeping Secrets have a tang of country sound and the lyrics could be full blown country. So Excited was co-written by Sharpe, Burnette, and McVie and could have easily wound up on the country charts. She also could have performed it on Hee Haw. That was a mainstay on TV in Homer's area in the mid 80s.

[jbrownsjr]

At least the lyric wasn't in me, or on me.

Cuz that would be some slip your hand inside my glove sh*t.

Homer, why is it that every time you find romantic infidelity,
you make a point to let me know? ?????

[aleuzzi]

Homer, why is it that every time you find romantic infidelity,
you make a point to let me know? ?????

Coz he’s a devil and an angel.

[jbrownsjr]

Coz he’s a devil and an angel.

The combination drives MacFan wild!

[HomerMcvie]

I'm the one! :p

[jbrownsjr]

I'm the one! :p

That was perfect!! We should write bad lyrics too!!

[HomerMcvie]

That was perfect!! We should write bad lyrics too!!

I thought we did that already.

John, you're One In A Million.

[jbrownsjr]

I thought we did that already.

John, you're One In A Million.

And you're Keeping Secrets!

[aleuzzi]

She used to be good at covering blues. Remember “Jumping at Shadows” by Duster Bennett? She sang that live just a year before he died, and she slipped into that tune very naturally. She should have put it on one of her solo albums.

I have a great bootleg of FM doing it at the end of one of their 1976 shows. Christine sounds great, there.

Couldn’t find it on YouTube, but I did find this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zSNiOkDro-c

[jbrownsjr]

I have a great bootleg of FM doing it at the end of one of their 1976 shows. Christine sounds great, there.

Couldn’t find it on YouTube, but I did find this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zSNiOkDro-c

You can really hear the difference in talent... lord have mercy.. :laugh::wavey:

[aleuzzi]

You can really hear the difference in talent... lord have mercy.. :laugh::wavey:

One is jumping at shadows, the other shouting pale shadows.

[jbrownsjr]

One is jumping at shadows, the other shouting pale shadows.

I think I was in as much pain as Christine with the sounds of sustained pale shadows.

[dougl]

While not a cover, this song written by Bob Welch has always been one of my favorite vocals from Christine.

https://youtu.be/XBvW_2RHuwk

[aleuzzi]

While not a cover, this song written by Bob Welch has always been one of my favorite vocals from Christine.

https://youtu.be/XBvW_2RHuwk

I agree. She nails this. Why they didn't exploit this arrangement more frequently is beyond comprehension. Bob could whip up 6-8 songs at a time. It wouldn't have hurt him to give Christine one of his Heroes songs, possibly "Angel." But then maybe Christine didn't want too many of her vocals on a record? That sounds like something she'd say.

Whatever the case, her phrasing and tone on "Keep On Going" is fantastic. The song glides along in a seductive, eerie way.

[jbrownsjr]

I agree. She nails this. Why they didn't exploit this arrangement more frequently is beyond comprehension. Bob could whip up 6-8 songs at a time. It wouldn't have hurt him to give Christine one of his Heroes songs, possibly "Angel." But then maybe Christine didn't want too many of her vocals on a record? That sounds like something she'd say.

Whatever the case, her phrasing and tone on "Keep On Going" is fantastic. The song glides along in a seductive, eerie way.

I agree!! Her voice is so seductive on this track. I can't hear Bob singing it, and I'm glad he didn't.

[nicepace]

Whatever the case, her phrasing and tone on "Keep On Going" is fantastic. The song glides along in a seductive, eerie way.

Yes! I think the bass line contributes to this in a big way.

[HomerMcvie]

Yes! I think the bass line contributes to this in a big way.

I agree! I've been on a Mystery To Me kick the past few evenings. It's such a fantastic album. It should be as revered as Rumours!

[jbrownsjr]

I agree! I've been on a Mystery To Me kick the past few evenings. It's such a fantastic album. It should be as revered as Rumours!

The album is fantastic. And the closing song leaves you satisfied.

[DownOnRodeo]

Oops, I didn't realise Keep On Going was written by Bob Welch. The instrumentality certainly has his signature but I always assumed it was penned by Christine. Makes more sense now.

[aleuzzi]

The album is fantastic. And the closing song leaves you satisfied.

It really is a meaty record—a lot of great music on it. My only beef is the way it’s engineered and recorded. The speakers are too close, I think. In this regard Penguin is actually superior. Nothing on Mystery sounds as good as, say, “Night Watch.” A good point of comparison is “Caught in the Rain” and “The Way That I Feel.” Both songs are essentially acoustic guitar and piano, but whereas “Feel” is a more original and fulfilled song, “Caught” sounds way better. I don’t have the technical skills or vocabulary to say what I want to say.

The drum sound (not the playing or the drum parts) on Mystery also sounds odd, like a toy instrument, or a garage recording with all the reverb sucked out of the room? I don’t know how to explain it. All I know is the ONLY problem I have with Mystery (apart from two dud tunes) is how it was recorded/engineered.

For what it’s worth, this is the only beef I have with Bare Trees, too, though there the sound is problematic in a different way, like it’s too muddled and all the levels are running at the same frequency or something. No dynamics there. Mystery’s problem is different.

Both Future Games and Penguin (which are comparatively more uneven than either Bare Trees or Mystery) sound crisp and lush.