A couple of cover versions of classic songs today from Susannah Hoffs - settle down at the back Swiss Adam
One is reasonably good and the other utterly appalling.
Let's start with the reasonably good. Another one from the Austin Powers soundtrack with Susannah covering the Burt Bacharach classic The Look of Love. There are obviously better ones out there but it passes muster.
She has connections with Austin Powers in that she is married to it's director Jay Roach and the band Ming Tea consisting of her, Matthew Sweet and Mike Myres also features.
Brace yourselves now. The title of her 1991 debut solo album When You're a Boy gives a clue. A dreadful album and one which is going back.Allmusic gives it 1.5/5 which is overly generous
The final track the cover of Bowie's Boys Keep Swinging is truly awful
Bought in Dingwall.
Something better tomorrow
Susannah Hoffs - The Look of Love
Susanna Hoffs - Boys Keep Swinging
You know I love the song The Look Of Love but was very worried last year to hear it being used for a soup advert! Nice version here by Susannah.
ReplyDeleteSusannah Hoffs also did a version of Alfie for the film called "What's It All About, Austin?" - Will have to feature that one myself at some point.
Is the start of new series - "bloody awful cover versions"? I've just lost 86 seconds of my life listening to the second track here. I'm not even going to bother with the first track, I don;t like any other versions I've heard of it and this is highly unlikely to be any good.
ReplyDeleteThe first song is much much better than the second although that would not be hard
DeleteI've just had a quick gander at the personnel on 'When You're a Boy' - Benmont Tench, John Entwhistle, Jim Keltner, Juliana Hatfield... even Donovan puts in an appearance. Did none of these well established music industry heavyweights have the gumption to stand up and point out the sheer awfulness of Susannah's version of 'Boys Keep Swinging'? You're dead right though, her reading of 'The Look of Love' is quite acceptable by comparison.
ReplyDeleteOoof! Can't stand Susanna Hoffs' warblings! She ruined The Bangles for me with her excessive vibrato! She's practically another Stevie Nicks in my opinion. And in my house, that's an insult. Any version of "Boys Keep Swinging" without Adrian Belew's guitar solo [which is half of the song] is wanting.
ReplyDeleteI don't need to hear these. The picture is enough.
ReplyDeleteHoly Mary mother of God! That is abolutely dreadful. Are we sure Susanna's responsible for this and not some imposter? I can't believe she could ever be so cringeworthy! I need a lie down...
ReplyDeleteI was prepared to stand up for Ms. Hoffs because I usually have quite a bit of time for her, particularly her work with Matthew Sweet. But that Bowie cover truly is as dreadful as everyone keeps saying it is. The backing track is one John Shuttleworth would throw out.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, by the way. Looking forward to hearing more of your holiday purchases.
ReplyDeleteI think I can safely say that they are all better than When You're a Boy!
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