I used to shake my head in disgust whenever I'd hear a fab four cover. I remember wondering why Elton did Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - what was the point? It was like remaking Gone with the Wind or repainting the Mona Lisa. It's already been done perfectly, what exactly do you hope to prove by covering it?
Fortunately, I'm not as jaded and protective of the Beatles as I once was. In fact, I've learned to see Beatles covers as a genre of music unto itself. It's interesting to listen to the infinite variations each artist brings to the table. Sure, they're horrible 99 times out of a 100; but, like a B-movie, you learn to appreciate its awfulness (if that makes sense).
Of course there's a limit to my tolerance. I put one track on this mix tape that crosses the line - Bananarama's version of "Help". Whereas Shatner's "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is wonderfully bad, this 80s synth cover is beyond bad. I literally have a physical reaction to this song; my hands become sweaty and clammy, my heart palpitates, and my left eye twitches uncontrollably... I had to shut it off for fear of a stroke.
That being said, there are some good ones on here. My personal faves are Junior Parker's desolate version of "Tomorrow Never Knows" and Nilsson's medley, "You Can't Do That".
The Truth - Girl
Sparks - I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Bee Gees, Peter Frampton - Getting Better
Peter Sellers - A Hard Day's Night
The Hollies - If I Needed Someone
William Shatner - Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
Cilla Black - For No One
The Gods - Hey Bulldog
Harry Nilsson - You Can't Do That
Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude - Wilson Pickett
David & Jonathan - Michelle
August - Eleanor Rigby
Grady Tate - And I Love Her
Barracudas - All My Lovin'
Hans Staymer Band - Come Together
Tom Newman - She Said She Said
George Benson - Golden Slumbers / You Never Give Me Your Money
Junior Parker - Tomorrow Never Knows
Tomorrow - Strawberry Fields Forever
The Ramsey Lewis Trio - A Hard Day's Night
St. Louis Union - Girl
Bananarama - Help
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