Why do birds suddenly appear?

[venta]

It's Friday, and it's not really 3 o'clock, but some of us need to catch a lift to Derby. Anyway, it's time to go underneath the covers (with the lights out).

I always recommend listening to a cover version without knowing what or who it is, so click on the link before reading ahead...

link to cover version expired

That was the Manic Street Preachers covering Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head, the Bacharach and David song most famously recorded by BJ Thomas .

The concept of a Manic Street Preachers covers album is a strange and scary thing. But look... there is it, volume 2 of A Secret History. And do you know? It's actually not bad.

What interests me about their version of Raindrops Keep Falling... is that, bascially, it's dead straight. They haven't messed with it (or, in fact, got creative with it) at all, really, and yet (I think) it's unmistakably Manics from... well, probably from the first time Bradfield hits a high note.

This is probably the best known song on there, but the rest of the album veers around through Guns 'n' Roses, Primal Scream, Wham! and Frankie Valli. Mind you, their version of Bright Eyes is bloody awful. In general, though, it's an album well worth a listen.

Comments

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

Or you can get it on The HELP album if you fancy something more diverse and consistently splendid.

[lnr]

You tempt me. You tempt me *a lot*.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mm, that's where I have it. Lots of good stuff, and supports a good cause too. (At least, I assume it still does.)

[triskellian]

Nooo! The subject line has earwormed me! Arghhh!

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. You're right, the singing's distinctive. But oh dear.

Looking at the tracklisting on Amazon, I see it has their rollicking version of "Out of Time" which I know from the 40 years of Radio 1 covers anthology.

[satyrica.livejournal.com]

It was definitely at the high note that I recognised them :-)