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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!grkermi!andrew
From: andrew@grkermi.UUCP (Andrew W. Rogers)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: Cover version of "I got you babe"
Message-ID: <603@grkermi.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Sep-85 08:12:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: grkermi.603
Posted: Wed Sep 11 08:12:05 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Sep-85 23:18:19 EDT
References: <1145@mtgzz.UUCP>
Reply-To: andrew@grkermi.UUCP (Andrew W. Rogers)
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 38
Summary: 

In article <1145@mtgzz.UUCP> seb@mtgzz.UUCP (s.e.badian) writes:
>	Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders and UB40 have released
>a new version of the Sonny and Cher classic(?) "I got you babe."
>I happen to really like the new version. It has a distinct
>reggae beat and it certainly benefits from not having Sonny's whiny
>voice singing the male lead.

Or Cher's singing the female lead!

>	Some friends of mine have also heard the new version and
>really find it obnoxious. Anyone else find that this cover version
>breathes some new life into an old, pop tune?

Yes (although I still prefer the Dictators' version).  I've never cared
that much for the original, although I admit it was certainly clever of
Sonny to blend the folk-rock style with the Spector 'wall of sound' for
the instrumental track.

Sonny, of course, had been one of Spector's assistants prior to his success
with S&C - and he learned his lessons well.  ("Just You", recorded in '64
but not a hit until late '65, shows the Spector influence even more.)  Prior
to working with Spector, BTW, Sonny had been a producer/A&R man with Specialty
(he co-wrote the B-side of Larry Williams' "Bony Moronie"), released several
singles under the pseudonyms Don Christy and Ronny Sommers, and co-wrote
Jackie DeShannon's/The Searchers'/The Ramones' :-) "Needles and Pins".  (An
account of his pre-S&C career appeared in the now-defunct Time Barrier
Express.  Write for copies.)

I'm sure you all know what Cher's been up to recently.  Last thing I knew,
Sonny had opened a restaurant.

>...just running up that hill...

Hey, I actually heard that one last night!  Not bad, but I wouldn't trade
the Nightcrawlers or Bob Kuban & the In-Men for it...


AWR