I’ve made two points when writing these posts before.
Firstly, that the version you hear first is, generally, the one that you love the most, and
Secondly, and perhaps less contentiously, if you can do a cover version which so obliterates the original as to make people assume your recording is the first, then you’ve won.
So today’s post was prompted by BBC4 and it’s Top of the Pops repeats (essential viewing at Dubious Taste Mansions) moving into 1988.
Whenever a new year is moved into, it is usually book-ended by an hour long show which focuses on the happenings of the new year, and features songs which were massive back in the day.
Such was the case here, as the series eased even further ahead of me and my futile “records I bought in order” musings.
Unsurprisingly this record came up, which I didn’t buy at the time and have no regrets whatsoever in that regard:
Yazz and the Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up
Unsurprising, because it was an absolute smash hit and simply could not be ignored when talking about the hits of the year.
But did you know that it’s a cover version?
Nope, thought not.
Here’s the original, from 1980:
Otis Clay – The Only Way Is Up
You’re welcome.
More soon.
A History of Dubious Taste 