Best/Worst Tribute Albums

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Joe_Stax · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:48 am Post subject: Best/Worst Tribute Albums

The other day I came across mention of an album titled Not So Pretty, a tribute to the Pretty Things.

I only recognized one or two of the groups present, like thee Headcoatees and the Tell Tale Hearts, and I got to wondering if this would be any good, given that the originals are so boss, and we all know that covers tend to fall a little flat.

So I want to know your picks for best or worst tribute albums. They can be from any time, covering any artist or style.
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One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Astrakhan · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 135 Location: nowhere, man

It seems to me that there was a brief golden age of tributes in the early 90's, when you'd have tributes to both mainstream figures and cult heroes.

One of my favorites, which manages to straddle the mainstream and cult divide, is Beat the Retreat, a tribute to Richard Thompson. I got this in what must have been 1992 or 93 on cassette. Oh, the good old days of the mix tape.

Thompson's songs are magnificent, and the artists all deliver excellent versions.

The "mainstream" is represented by the likes of REM, David Byrne and Bonnie Raitt. Slightly less well known are Maddy Prior & Martin Carthy and June Tabor who each get to do two songs.

This is one record I recommend to anyone curious about Richard Thompson, as it presents an instant "best-of" his considerable body of work. Try it--you'll not be disappointed.
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What a shame Mary Jane caught a pain at the party!

Joe_Stax · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:21 am Post subject:

That Richard Thompson disc is an excellent choice, Khan. I got turned on to that a long time agoby a friend, and my clearest memory of that is listening to a tape copy she gave me while driving through New York state en route to Connecticut. I loved REM's version of Wall of Death.

There were some other things from that era that I recall. Jim E. gave me a vinyl copy of Beyond the Wildwood, a Syd Barrett tribute. The bands on this one were fairly obscure...looking at the track listing, I recognize Plasticland and the Mock Turtles and no-one else.

I also have one called Time Between, which is a pretty decent tribute to the Byrds. This had some higher profile names involved, including Richard Thompson, Robyn Hitchcock, and Dinosaur Jr. I picked this up at Stan's Record Bar in Lancaster PA.

Now, I haven't listened to these in a long time, so I think I'll have to dig into the collection and give these a spin. Offhand, I seem to remember they were a mixed bag, but I may be pleasantly surprised.
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One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

I've always liked "Come And Get It - A Tribute To Badfinger". Very Happy

Peace!

-R.A.L.
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The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

JimENight · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 183

I have always kept far away from tribute albums. Something always seems so crass about them, and I rarely hear anything on them that stands out so there's never been an incentive for me to throw my money at them.
However, Joe Stax did turn me on to a pretty good one - Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute To Rocky Erickson.
Poi Dog Pondering's cover of "I Had To Tell You" is simply one of the most wonderful songs ever recorded!

Joe_Stax · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:52 am Post subject:

Hey Jim E. I'm glad you dig that tune. It's easily one of my all time faves, and that album delivers some pretty good interpretations of the songs of Roky Erickson.

The album starts really strong, with ZZ Top's version of Reverberation, and maintains momentum for most of the first half. Early peaks include Poi, the Judybats take on She Lives in a Time of Her Own, You Don't Love Me Yet by Bongwater, and Doug Sahm really rocks You're Gonna Miss Me.

After that, I think it slips. REM really try to sell I Walked with a Zombie, and while I sort of liked it, it's not a particularly strong song to begin with...

But yeah, I have to agree that tributes in general tend to be pretty weak, and were just another way to cash in most of the time. But once in a while you could find one with some heart, like this one. And while that doesn't really offset the bad ones, it shows how a tribute could be done with the right mix of artists and someone producing who cared about the source material.

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One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

I think the intent is what matters here. If it's a tribute to the Velvet Underground with Celine Dion singing "All Tomorrow's Parties" and James Blunt somewhere on it....... But seriously, folks.........
It can be interesting to see how the songs are interpreted by other artists.
Just my two cents on that. Wink

Peace!

R.A.L.
_________________
The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

Joe_Stax · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:26 am Post subject:

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

Liking the "Mystery Date" analogy, Joe! Laughing

The twist on those tribute albums are the "all covers" collections by a single artist that occasionally pop up. I don't know who started the trend, but it might be Penn's own Cameo-Parkway label with those "All The Hits" comps by Dee Dee Sharp, Bobby Rydell, etc.
There's always "Faithful" from The Todd, for all-'round musical enjoyment.
I could mention Metallica's "Garage Days Revisited", just to be a pain in the ass. Razz

"The Beatles At The BBC" almost qualifies for the category, as well.

Paz!

Rockin' Art Louie Ooie Loowis
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The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

Astrakhan · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 135 Location: nowhere, man

I'd like to add a twentieth anniversary tribute to one of the Beatles' classics. In 1987 NME put out a collection called Sgt Pepper Knew My Father. It was unique at the time for paying tribute to a single album, rather than assorted tracks by a group or artist.

The artists are, generally, quite good, and many of the individual tracks stand up well after another 20 years. You can't complain about the calibre of the performers, with Sonic Youth, the Fall, the Triffids, Billy Bragg and Michelle Shocked contributing. Taken out of the context of the concept, their renditions would fit well onto their own releases.

Of course, it can't top the original, but it's not without its charms.

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What a shame Mary Jane caught a pain at the party!