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UNDERCOVER
Adapting someone else’s composition is a heady challenge and an almost obligatory step in an artist’s career but one which is not without risk in certain
cases. The stimulation may come from a sort of gauntlet of style being thrown
down or from the great pleasure of reworking, reviewing a work that one has
loved. Whatever the trigger, adaptation is always a test of an artist’s taste and
the limits of his or her creativity and talent even. Certain new versions become
even more famous than their originals, pushing the initial artist into obscurity. A
recent example of this is the adaptation of Torn by NATALIE IMBRUGLIA which
immediately became an international hit. But who remembers the original version by EDNASWAP on their “Wacko Magneto” album?
Covering is often an opportunity to play with the style of a composition, which
proves that the original was a good song and that with the injection of different
talent, it can be adapted to any given style. A famous example of this is the
exceptional adventure of « My Way ». It was written by French man Jacques
Revaux under the title « For Me », it was then presented to Claude François
who adapted it with Gilles Thibaut to produce « Comme d’Habitude ». The song
was relatively successful in France in 1967 but then PAUL ANKA heard it and
adapted it into English two years later under the title of « My Way ». He offered
the song to « THE VOICE », Mister FRANK SINATRA himself. This was the
start of the song’s fabulous international career. Over one thousand versions
of « My Way » have since been recorded, the best known being those by ELVIS PRESLEY, EDDIE COCHRAN, TOM JONES, THE PLATTERS, LUCIANO
PAVAROTTI, RAY CHARLES, NINA HAGEN… the version by NINA SIMONE
is, in my opinion, one of the best covers while SID VICIOUS’ atomic production
perfectly illustrates the theory of a good song being adaptable to any style.
All the artists that record for ZE Records have made at least one cover version.
It was a natural step forward to bring them together on this compilation. COATI
MUNDI has adapted Tropical Hot Dog Night, one of the most joyous songs ever
written by Don Van Vliet for his band CAPTAIN BEEFHEART. RUEBEN BLADES
is present as a Latino guest star. ALAN VEGA pays a tribute to GENE VINCENT
with his version of Be Bop a Lua. CRISTINA revives her French roots and offers us a highly personal, Latin version of La Poupée qui fait Non produced by
August Darnell from Michel Polnareff’s first success. CASINO MUSIC, whose
leader GILLES RIBEROLLES parodies the French Lover on the previous track
by CRISTINA offers an excellent cover of The Beat Goes On, written by Salvatore Bono & Cherilyn LaPiere, better known as Sonny & Cher. Their Frenchy
compatriots SUICIDE ROMEO have lent their influence to Needle in a Camel’s
Eye by Brian Eno, in a version that is cleverly close to the original.
James White took up the challenge with a version of (Tropical) Heatwave by
Irving Berlin (with Anya Phillips as the platinum blond) made popular by Marilyn
Monroe in the film « There’s No Business Like Show Business ». Lili Marlene by
Marlene Dietrich is reviewed and adopted by Kid Creole & the Coconuts, sung
in German by Adriana, accompanied on the piano by Stony Browder Jr., August
Darnell’s brother and co-founders of Dr Buzzard’s Original Savannha Band. AURAL EXCITERS, Bob Blank’s After Hours Party Band offer their version of My
Boy Lollipop, originally created by Jamaican teenager Millie Small, who brought
the first N°1 in the British charts (N°2 in the USA) to a young producer called
Chris Blackwell on his then new label, Island Records. My Boy Lollipop is still
today one of the top selling Reggae singles in the world.
Lizzy Mercier Descloux gives her offbeat version of Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get
it On, recorded in Rio de Janeiro during sessions for her « One for the Soul »
album. Sweet Pea Atkinson in a duo with Caroll Hall, supported by WAS (NOT
WAS), cover Anyone who had a Heart by Burt Bacharach, originally made famous by Dionne Warwick. In 1980 LIO recorded Gillespie and Coots’ You go
to my Head, also interpreted famously by Billie Holiday, her version though
remains fresh and visionary even. The newcomers to ZE in 2004 also rose to
the challenge with pleasure. Miss OD backed by Gentleman’s League pour
out a very smooth version of Dindi by Jobim, originally interpreted by Astrud
Gilberto and also sung magnificently by Sinatra. BOHEMIANS Vs COW BOYS
featuring Miss OD and Shuuko electrify Money, the Tamla Motown classic by
Barret Strong. Finally LISI, a daughter of Cuban exiles in Miami rips into (with
great class and style) Johnny Mercer and Harold Harlen’s American classic
Come Rain or Come Shine, made popular by numerous artists including Judy
Garland, Sinatra and Billie Holiday.
The difficulty in adapting a song lies in the capacity of breaking with its past history, its origins in order to take a hold of it, breathe a different life into it, reinvent
it, even revolutionize it…injecting new emotion to a song that has already made
its mark: what a challenge!!
Michel Esteban
Paris, October 2004
CREDITS
01 • Miss OD & GENTLEMEN LEAGUE • Dindi • 3:05
(Antonio Carlos Jobim / Aloysio de Oliveira) Published by Rondor
Originally popularised by Astrud Gilberto
Recorded at South Factory Studio, 2004
All instruments, Arrangements & Mix by Michel Bassignani
Produced by M & M
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 2004
02 • JAMES WHITE & THE BLACKS • (Tropical) Heatwave • 3:50
(Irving Berlin) Published by Warner Chappell
Originally popularised by Marilyn Monroe
Recorded at Blank Tapes, NYC 1978. Produced by James Chance
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 1979
03 • LIO • You Go to My Head • 2:35
(Coots / Gillespie) Published by Warner Chappell
Origally popularised by Billie Holiday
Recorded in Bruxelles 1980. Produced by Marc Moulin & Dan Lacksman
Original sound recording made by OVERSEAS UNLIMITED © 1980
04 • LISI • Come Rain or Come Shine • 2:40
(Johnny Mercer / Harold Harlen) Published byWarner Chappell
Originally popularised by Judy Garland & Frank Sinatra
Recorded in Miami, 2004. Overdub & Mix by Michel Bassignani
Produced by Lisi and M & M
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 2004
05 • CASINO MUSIC • The Beat Goes On • 3:53
(Sony Bono) Published by PECF
Originally popularised by Sony & Cher
Recorded in Paris 1981
Produced by Casino Music & Michel Esteban
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 1981
06 • SUICIDE ROMEO • Needle in a Camel Eye • 4:18
(Brian Eno) Published byEG Music
Originally popularised by Brian Eno
Recorded at Compass point Studios, Nassau - Bahamas 1981
Produced by Alex Sadkin & Michel Esteban
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 1981
07 • ALAN VEGA • Be Bop a Lua • 2:21
(Gene Vincent / Sheriff Tex Davis) Published by Hill & Range Songs Inc.
Originally popularised by Gene Vincent
Recorded at Skyline Studio, NYC 1980
Produced by Alan Vega
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 1980
08 • AURAL EXCITERS • My Boy Lollipop • 5:09
(Johnny Roberts / Morris Levy) Published by Nom Music Inc.
Originally popularised by Millie Small
Recorded at Blank Tapes, NYC 1979.
Produced by Bob Blank.
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 1979
09 • BOHEMIANS VS COW BOYS Feat. SHUUKO & Miss OD • Money • 3:53 •
(Berry Gordy / Janie Bradford) Published by EMI Music Publishing
Originally popularised by Barrett Strong & The Flying Lizart
Recorded at South Factory Studio. All instruments by Albin de la Simone &
Michel Bassignani. Mixed 2004 by Michel Bassignani
Produced by M & M
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 2004
10 • CRISTINA • La Poupée Qui Fait Non • 5:10
(Michel Polnareff / F. Gerald)
Published Ma music Inc Semi
Originally popularised by Michel Polnareff
Recorded at Blank Tapes, NYC 1980
Produced by August Darnell
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 1980
11 • COATI MUNDI • Tropical Hot Dog Night • 5:46
(Don Van Vliet) Published by Singing Ink Music B.M.I
Originally popularised by Captain Beefheart
Recorded at Planet Sound NYC 1983
Special Cameo Appearance Ruben Blades
Produced by “Sugar-Coated” Andy Hernandez
Original sound recording made by Coati Mundi Productions © 1983
12 • LIZZY MERCIER DESCLOUX • Let’s Get It On • 4:57
(Marvin Gaye/ Ed Thownsend) Published byJobete Music
Originally popularised by Marvin Gaye
Recorded at Polygram Studios, RIO de Janeiro, 1985
Remixed 2004 at South Factory Studio by Michel Bassignani
Produced by Michel Esteban
Original sound recording made by Polydor © 1985
13 • KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS • Lili Marlene • 3:54
(Norbert Scultze /HansLeip) Published by EMI Music Publishing
Originally popularised by Marlene Dietrich
Recorded at Blank Tapes, NYC 1980. Produced by August Darnell
Mixed by August Darnell & Bob Blank
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 1980
14 • SWEAT PEA ATKINSON & CAROL HALL • Anyone Who Had a Heart • 3:05
(Burt Bacharach / H. David) Published by MCA Music LTD
Originally popularised by Dione Warwick
Recorded in Detroit 1982. Produced by Don Was, David Was & Jack Tann
Mixed by Michael H. Bauer
Original sound recording made by ZE records © 1982
This 2004 Compilation Selected and Produced by Michel Esteban
P & © ZE Records Mundo Ltda 2004
Remastered by Charlus de la Salle at Sounth Factory Studio
DESIGN
Art cover & Booklet & Desing by Michel Esteban