WELCOME TO MY NEW SERIES
EUREKA!
I HAVE FOUND THE
COOLEST COVERS IN THE
HISTORY OF THE WORLD!
Each volume of Eureka! brings you great original recordings
along with cover versions that are good, great or even better
than the originals. It's up to you to decide. I know what
you're thinking. You're thinking this series sounds
exactly like other series I have run over the years:
Battle of the Bands, Battle of the Banned,
Version Sacrifice, WWF Grudge Match
and Winning Hand. Well, you're wrong.
This isn't exactly the same. Those series
didn't include a picture of Peter Griffin!
you're thinking. You're thinking this series sounds
exactly like other series I have run over the years:
Battle of the Bands, Battle of the Banned,
Version Sacrifice, WWF Grudge Match
and Winning Hand. Well, you're wrong.
This isn't exactly the same. Those series
didn't include a picture of Peter Griffin!
Listen now to these confirmed classics and cool
covers and tell me which ones, if any, you prefer.
Remember, ladies and gentlemen...
This is only an exhibition...
This is not a competition...
Please... no wagering.
This is not a competition...
Please... no wagering.
I could listen to Johnny Rivers sing all day every day
and never get tired of his rich, soulful, Baton Rouge
influenced vocal style. In today's first edition of
Eureka!... Johnny performs three covers that
I believe are as good or better than the
originals. Listen and see if you agree.
THE BEACH BOYS
Penned by Brian Wilson with additional lyrics by Mike Love,
"Help Me, Rhonda" was first released with the spelling
"Help Me Ronda" on the 1965 Beach Boys album
The Beach Boys Today!
"Help Me, Ronda" - The Beach Boys
(from Mar. 1965 album The Beach Boys Today!)
The better known version is the #1 charting single with a different
arrangement released as "Help Me, Rhonda" and included on the
band's next album, Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!).
Check out this cool hybrid created by adding the
"wah-wah" vocals from an alternate mix.
"Help Me, Rhonda" (ultimate mix) - The Beach Boys
{May/June 1965, highest chart position
#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box, from July 1965
album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)}
JOHNNY RIVERS
In the summer of 1975, a cover of "Help Me Rhonda"
waxed by Johnny Rivers and featuring Beach Boy
Brian Wilson on backing vocals, reached the
top 30 on Cash Box and approached the
top 20 on Billboard's Hot 100)
"Help Me Rhonda" - Johnny Rivers
(Aug. 1975, highest chart pos.
#22 Hot 100/#30 Cash Box)
CHARLIE RICH
The song "Breakup" (aka "Break Up") was written and originally
recorded by country and rockabilly singer Charlie Rich and
released on his 1960 album Lonely Weekends.
"Breakup" - Charlie Rich (from 1960 album
Lonely Weekends With Charlie Rich)
JOHNNY RIVERS
On his 1965 live album Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go,
Johnny Rivers pleased the nightclub crowd by performing
this rockin' cover of "Break Up."
"Break Up" - Johnny Rivers
(from Aug. 1965 live album Meanwhile
Back at the Whisky à Go Go)
It took until 1998 for Johnny Rivers to release a
studio version of "Break Up" as one of the songs
on his album The Memphis Sun Recordings.
"Break Up" (studio ver.) - Johnny Rivers
(from Jan. 1998 album The Memphis Sun Recordings)
DORSEY BURNETTE
The Memphis-born Burnette brothers, Dorsey & Johnny, were successful
rockabilly singers, but their lives were both cut tragically short. Younger
brother Johnny drowned in a boating accident at age 30. Dorsey had a
heart attack and died at age 46. Let's turn back the clock to a happier
time in 1960 when Dorsey gained his biggest hit with a single that
reached the top 20 on the pop chart, a bible-themed song he
wrote entitled-- "(There Was A) Tall Oak Tree."
"(There Was A) Tall Oak Tree" - Dorsey Burnette
(Mar./Apr. 1960, highest chart pos.
#19 Cash Box/#23 Hot 100)
JOHNNY RIVERS
In September, 1965, one month after the release of Meanwhile Back
at the Whisky à Go Go, Johnny Rivers streeted the studio produced
folk rock album Johnny Rivers Rocks The Folk. One of the songs
on the LP is a fine cover of Dorsey Burnette's "Tall Oak Tree."
"Tall Oak Tree" - Johnny Rivers
(from Sept. 1965 album Johnny Rivers
Rocks The Folk)
I hope your memories are flowing like rivers...
...thanks to featured artist Johnny Rivers
along with The Beach Boys, Charlie Rich, Dorsey Burnette
and Argentine rock & roll/rockabilly cover artist Wow Rock.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE
TUNEFUL TAKEDOWNS,
MELODIOUS MAT MATCHES
AND BOFFO BEAT BOUTS
COMING UP IN THE
NEXT VOLUME OF
EUREKA!
Have a Shady day!
