I'm listening to Elvis Presely's first hit "That's All Right Mama". It was recorded in 1954 at Sun Studios in Memphis, TN. It still sounds good to me. Fresh and Clean! This song never did much for it's writer Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup.

I say it's the singer, most of the time. What rocks your soul, the singer or the song?

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2001

Answers

A lot of times it's the singer. Example: "Blinded by the Light". (Even though Bruce Springsteen normally is a good singer... Manfred Mann just made that song what it was, though.)

However, with a lot of old standards, it's the song.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2001

I don't think that a great singer can totally save a horrible song, but a horrible singer can wreck a great song.

Still, I think it's the singer that does it for me. Some voices just send chills down my spine. Janis Joplin's voice could make my heart hurt singing the ABC's, and Leonard Cohen only has to mutter and I'm a big pile of jelly.

But Leonard couldn't save "Jazz Police". No matter how cool he is, I snort every time I listen to that song.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2001

Word on all that, Robyn. And Billie Holiday can sing the most banal of lyrics and make them sound striking.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

Joseph--I think I have that particular Elvis tune on an old 45. I had no idea that was his first hit, though. Thanks for the info.

I think it is the interpretation of the song, which can sometimes come down to the musician(s) involved (Warren Cuccurullo's version of "Ordinary World" on his Road Rage CD has no vocals but it is very evocative anyway) and which can sometimes be the singer(s) (see covers compilations like the Red, Hot + Blue Cole Porter collection, where Sinead O'Connor tears "You do Something To Me" UP!).

In short, I take it on a case-by-case basis. Good quessie, though.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

Thanks for your responses. Joplin, Cohen, Springstein, Holliday are/were all great vocals. I can understand the attraction.

Milla, I think that may have been a 78. If you had a copy that wasn't played out, it would be worth some good money.

Thanks again folks. I'm in to a music/folklore thing right now, and I enjoy your responses.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

I do own some 78s, but the item I'm thinking of with "That's All Right, Mama" is definitely a 45. It is possible, of course, that what I own is a re-release or re-issue of some sort, or that I am mistaking this particular song for another. Back in the day, they were a bit lax about putting dates and songwriter credits and the like on the record labels. Now I'm curious! When I have some free time, I will go dig my 45s out and see.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Definitely the singer. Listen to how many remakes of the same song by different singers can vary in quality so wildly. I'd still listen to a great singer doing a bad song.

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

There's an entire album of "Louie Louie" covers. Man, that would be hell for me. Could any of those bands / singers redeem "Louie, Louie" for me?

I don't think so.

Also, hell is listening to Simon Le Bon cover "Lay, Lady, Lay", because that is, like, in my top 10 most- loathed songs of all time. I usually tolerate Le Bon's vocal stylings (such as they are) just fine.

I guess, for me, it is usually the song. If the tune and the words appeal, then while it is possible for someone to ruin THEIR version of a song, it doesn't ruin the song overall if I like some form of it. However, there are some singers who could sing all my favourite tunes and I'd still hate them.

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001

There was a short-lived punk band in New Orleans many, many years ago, named "Totally Cold," and they did a sped-up cover of "Lay, Lady, Lay" that is so awful it's hilarious. I think it was brilliant to pick that song if you're a punk and want to annoy and irritate your listeners. :-)

-- Anonymous, March 29, 2001