How Not To Do a Cover Version

It is 1983. Paul Young has quit the Streetband and stopped “singing” about Toast.

Streetband – Toast

 Yup, that’s him alright.

He releases “No Parlez” and scores a Number One hit with this, a cover version of a Marvin Gaye track:

Paul Young – Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)

When I was younger, I always thought that to be a perfectly passable cover version. But then, when I was younger, I’d never actually heard the original. And once I had, I realised it really was nowhere near as good:

Marvin Gaye – Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)

But whilst Young’s cover pales into insignificance compared to the original, that’s not why we’re here.

Oh no.

For elsewhere on “No Parlez” is this, utterly awful cover of a truly great record:

Paul Young – Love Will Tear Us Apart

You don’t need me to tell you how superior the original was, now do you?

Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart

Thought not.

More soon.