Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: hydrargyrum on June 25, 2009, 11:41:28 AM

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: hydrargyrum on June 25, 2009, 11:41:28 AM

So I started playing with a cover band a few months back, and I've been having a heck of a good time playing some of my old favorites.  However, since this is such an enlightened, and tasteful bunch, I thought I would see if anybody had suggestions for good cover songs.  We tend towards classic rock, though I wouldn't count us out for more modern stuff, or a bit of country (Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash etc.).  Anyone have any suggestions for songs that aren't too difficult, and are fun to play?  Any cover band experiences anyone would care to share?  My thanks to all who contribute.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: lbpesq on June 25, 2009, 12:39:42 PM

The combo of Townes Van Zant and Willie Nelson brings to mind a great Townes song that Willie covered: Pancho & Lefty.  Also a classic fun song my band does is the Kinks' Apeman
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on June 25, 2009, 12:51:44 PM

Bill: a great Townes song? I would like to suggest that that's repetitive & redundant.  Damn, what a writer!  
 
Kevin: Or you could combine genres - here's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHPnpWc2SE4) a version of Townes's Lungs done hard.  It could just as easily work a la Uriah Heep - speaking of whom, how about Stealin'?
 
Peter

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: alembic76407 on June 25, 2009, 02:20:46 PM

Bill, Apeman is one of my favorite Kink songs
and my band plays Poncho & lefty
 
love those songs
 
Sir David

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: hydrargyrum on June 25, 2009, 02:50:43 PM

Bill,
 
Pancho and Lefty is one of my all time favorites (both the original and the Willie/Merle version).  Repetitive and redundant Peter?  Bite your tongue sir! (Okay maybe a little, but still some of most touching lyrics I've ever heard).  That was a very nice version of Lungs by the way.  I also love Townes' cover of Dead Flowers on the Big Lebowski.  I'm going to definitely check out that Kinks tune as well. I always felt my classic rock education was lacking for not exploring their music further.  Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: dnburgess on June 25, 2009, 03:02:02 PM

Wishing Well by Free. Killer riff. Nice arrangement - and Andy Fraser is one of my favourite bassists from the era.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: dnburgess on June 25, 2009, 03:08:23 PM

Rebel Rebel by Bowie. If your guitarist can cut it. Great basss line - Herbie Flowers I think.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: keith_h on June 25, 2009, 03:19:37 PM

Most anything by Thin Lizzy. I always thought Foghat Fool for the City or Slowride would go over well also. I don't run across either band being played by the local cover bands.  
 
Keith

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on June 25, 2009, 04:08:30 PM

Methinks you misunderstood, Kevin - I was commenting on great & Townes song being redundant, not the song - it's one of my all time favorites (as soon as I'm done posting, I think I'll pick up my guitar & sing it to my dog - she being the only one here).
Secondly, The Big Lebowski is the greatest movie ever made.
Thirdly, I've heard several people (including Ray Davies) make the argument that Dave Davies defined the rock guitar solo on You've Really Got Me.  They may have a point.
 
Peter

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: kenbass4 on June 25, 2009, 04:09:07 PM

We do Jailbreak by Thin Lizzie, and it ALWAYS goes over well.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: fmm on June 25, 2009, 04:42:29 PM

Charlemange, Burton Cummings.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: hydrargyrum on June 25, 2009, 04:50:50 PM

Peter,
 
My sincere apologies, clearly you have excellent taste.  I would agree (not that it would matter), that the Big Lebowski is the pinnacle of cinematic craft, to date.  I'm going to devote myself to finding some Kinks stuff immediately.  Aside from the radio classics, and the odd soundtrack, I must admit ignorance.
 
David,
 
I'm on lead guitar, so you definitely should be suspicious of my abilities .
 
Keith and Ken,
I'll definitely revisit some Thin Lizzy tracks. Slow Ride has been a favorite since I first saw Dazed and Confused.  
 
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: sonicus on June 25, 2009, 05:09:51 PM

Here's a mix of tunes _____
Lonesome On'ry and Mean--Waylon Jennings
Come Back Baby--- Hot Tuna
Truckin'--- Grateful Dead
Dark Star --- Grateful Dead
Rock and Roll Hochie Coo--- Johnny Winter

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: elwoodblue on June 25, 2009, 05:29:09 PM

Alot of Neil Young might fit the bill, not too complicated with lots of energy.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: sonicus on June 25, 2009, 05:34:24 PM

Ok here's set # 2
I've Always been Crazy--- Waylon Jennings
Searching---  Lynyrd Skynyrd
Born to be Wild--- Steppenwolf
US Blues--- Grateful Dead
Dinos Song--- Quicksilver Messenger Service
Who Do You Love ---Quicksilver Messenger Service
 
(Message edited by sonicus on June 25, 2009)

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: olieoliver on June 25, 2009, 06:02:06 PM

Some real fun songs to play with great basslines and are easy to learn,
Delbert McClinton- Shakey Ground
Wilson Pickett- Mustang Sally
ABB-One Way Out
 
They always get a great response from the crowd too.
 
OO

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: sonicus on June 25, 2009, 06:05:51 PM

OH yes_ Mustang Sally is a good one!  
 
OO you got some good ones there!

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on June 25, 2009, 06:15:49 PM

Who Do You Love ---Quicksilver Messenger Service
 
Yeah! All 24.5 minutes of it!
Fresh Air would be good, too.
 
And on the subject of Waylon, just about anything off Honky Tonk Heroes (which are all, of course, actually Billy Joe Shaver songs).
 
And I've been listening to Pure Prairie League a lot lately - Woman off the proverbial eponymous debut is great.
 
And, if you're playing bars, just about anything off the first 3 albums by Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen should go over well.
 
Peter (who's starting way too many sentences with and tonight)
 
(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on June 25, 2009)

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: hydrargyrum on June 25, 2009, 06:20:26 PM

Thanks to everyone.  I appreciate all your comments.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: elwoodblue on June 25, 2009, 06:31:35 PM

...and don't forget 'Rawhide' if your ever stuck in the boonies with folks who like 'both' kinds of music...just make sure they have chicken wire fer the stage.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: bsee on June 25, 2009, 07:45:32 PM

Here's our set list for a cancer benefit we're playing in a couple weeks:
 
Get Down Tonight
Dirty Little Secret
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Plush
The Middle
I Need to Know
Come As You Are
This Love
I Feel Good
White Rabbit
Somebody to Love
Tie Your Mother Down
Rock and Roll
 
plus a few originals tossed in...
Guitar/bass/drums plus a female vocalist.
 
-bob

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: 57basstra on June 25, 2009, 07:47:31 PM

Try Walk Away by the James Gang. Great live song.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: David Houck on June 25, 2009, 07:53:48 PM

Interestingly, in 1988 REM released an album called .. Eponymous.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: crgaston on June 25, 2009, 08:13:10 PM

Here are some of my current faves...
 
The Linda Rondstat version of Willin' (although the Little Feat version is OK, too)
 
Deirks Bentley's Got a Lot to Leavin' Left to Do segues nicely into Are you sure Hank Done it This Way by Waylon Jennings
 
Castanets by Reckless Kelly
 
Jealous Again by the Black Crowes
 
Cuts Like a Knife by Bryan Adams
 
Copperhead Road by Steve Earle
 
And lastly The Boys from Oklahoma by Cross Canadian Ragweed
 
Mr. Panzer, Flax, Keavin, et al., if you aren't familiar with that last one I must insist that you have a listen immediately.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: bracheen on June 26, 2009, 06:49:27 AM

Wow a lot of great songs listed here.  I'll add Hot Smoke and Sassafras by Bubble Puppy

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: olieoliver on June 26, 2009, 06:59:45 AM

You know one I've never got to do but always wanted to,
Last Child by Aerosmith. Great bassline and groove in that song.  
 
Tom Hamilton has always been underated as a bassist to me. He has some great lines and grooves.
 
OO

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: lbpesq on June 26, 2009, 07:45:00 AM

Charles:
 
Loved The Boys From Oklahoma.
 
By the way, I know the one limit placed on this request was No Freebird, but if you haven't heard The Toyes reggae version of Freebird, you're really missing out.  Hilarious AND it works! (The Toyes did the original Smoke Two Joints).
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: gtrguy on June 26, 2009, 09:33:02 AM

Gawd help you, but I have been down this road a few times.
 
Brown Eyed Girl, never fails to get them dancing
Brick House
Play that funky Music
Mustang Sally
 
There are top requested songs for DJ's listed by year on the net. You can't go wrong using those lists since that is your competition. Just pick songs from the top 150 or so that the crowd will dance to and you will have a band that is booked!
 
Avoid the temptation to play just songs the band really likes if you are going to play out. The top dance clubs will have several bands that rotate through and they will play 60 - 70% the same material. You can go and take notes.
 
Good Luck,
Dave

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: eligilam on June 26, 2009, 09:34:55 AM

My band does a Blink 182-esque version of Any Day Now by Ronnie Milsap, and it really gets them jumping.  Cool, chromatic progressions (and written by Burt Bacharach to boot).

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: white_cloud on June 26, 2009, 10:41:25 AM

Alright Now - by Free...classic rock tune with nice bass part by Andy Fraser!
 
John.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: olieoliver on June 26, 2009, 10:46:17 AM

SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL....
 
....bass, drums and vocals...what else do you need?!

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: dadabass2001 on June 26, 2009, 04:25:16 PM

A witness?
 
Mike

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: Bradley Young on June 26, 2009, 10:01:47 PM

Since you said Willie, I'd suggest:
 
On the Road Again (everyone knows it, great lyrics)
You were always on my mind
Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: hydrargyrum on June 27, 2009, 03:54:27 AM

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful.

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: garethnh on June 27, 2009, 07:48:19 AM

This our setlist for tonight. English audience so songs by the Jam and a few other british bands in there, but plenty of Who and Jimi!
 
1.      I PREDICT A RIOT
2.      I CAN?T EXPLAIN
3.      ETON RIFLES
4.      DAYTRIPPER
5.      SEVEN NATION ARMY
6.      PURPLE HAZE
7.      DOWN IN THE TUBESTATION
8.      BEHIND BLUE EYES
9.      TAXMAN
10.      FIRE
11.      SONG 2
12.      TAKE ME OUT
13.      SHOULD I STAY...
 
1.      CHELSEA DAGGER
2.      TEENAGE KICKS
3.      EVER FALLEN IN LOVE
4.      TURNING JAPANESE
5.      START
6.      SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE
7.      PINBALL WIZARD
8.      5.15
9.      LITTLE WING
10.      GOING UNDERGROUND
11.      SHAKIN? ALL OVER
12.      SUPERSTITION
13.      BE MY GIRL
 
1   HEY JOE
2   MY GENERATION
3   HUSH
4   MY SHARONA

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: garethnh on June 27, 2009, 08:00:23 AM

Oops....double post!
 
(Message edited by garethnh on June 27, 2009)

Title: Taking Requests, No Freebird
Post by: David Houck on June 27, 2009, 07:50:33 PM

Here's one we used to do quite a few years back.  Great bass line, and people love the tune.
Me'Shell and John, Wild Night (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJAnL2k8d7A&feature=fvst)