ELLA SINGS THE BEATLES

Artist: ELLA FITZGERALD; Title: CAN'T BUY ME LOVE; Label: VERVE; Format: 7"; Cat. No.: VS 519; Year: 1964; Country: UK

Jazz themed post for today - inspired by a local jazz singer I've had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know recently. So Nina - this one's for you.

Released in 1964 this is Ella's take on the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" - which until recently (ie last weekend) I didn't realize that she'd recorded at Abbey Road studios.  As she wanted to record her version in the studios where the original was created.  It's this rather excellent version, that Ella pretty makes her own, that open a lot of doors for Lennon & McCartney/The Beatles as it meant that the serious music establishment began to take notice of what they were doing. Plus also giving them a lot more creative control as a consequence.

The flip side is Ella's version of the Richard Rogers' "The Sweetest Sounds" - again recorded at Abbey Road - with arrangements like those on the A Side by Johnnie Spence.  Although I'm wondering who's the producer on this - was it Verve's label boss Norman Granz - or could it even be George Martin?

Artist: ELLA FITZGERALD; Title: SAVOY TRUFFLE; Label: REPRISE; Format: 7"; Cat. No.:RS 20875; Year: 1970; Country: UK

Next up this promo copy of the other Beatles track Ella did - and one that probably not a lot of people are aware she did.  A cover of George Harrison's "Savoy Truffle".  It's from Ella's first album for Reprise - and the parent LP also includes a cracking N. Soul styled version of 'Get Ready' as well as a sublime cover of Smokey's 'The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game'.  It comes within a year of another cover of George Harrison song - Sinatra's version of 'Something' which was also released on Reprise (and ironic that of all the Beatles songs out there - Ole Blue Eyes went for one of George's).  Back to the music, and again as Ella genereally does she makes the song pretty much her own.

The flip side is an okayish version of Bacharach & David's "I'll Never Fall In Love Again".

VINYL INTERNATIONAL - (CONT.) EUROPEAN DECCA 45s

Slightly different format for this entry - as I'm just concentrating of the sleeve art of these three european 45s and one LP - all released on Decca in the 60s.

ARTIST: Lulu & The Luvers; TITLE: Shout; LABEL: Decca; FORMAT: 7"; Cat. No.: DL 25 148; YEAR: 1964; COUNTRY: NED.
First up is this 1964 offering.  Which I think is the  Dutch issued version of Lulu's debut - and here still credited alongside her backing band The Luvers.  And a cracking version of the Isley's tune - which I fairly certain most people SHOULD know!

ARTIST: Lulu; TITLE: Can't Hear You No More; LABEL: Decca: FORMAT: 7"; Cat. No. (Not Given); YEAR: 1965; COUNTRY: NED.
This second one from Lulu is from around 1965 - and def is Dutch - having picked up a couple of Dusty Springfield single form this favorieten express series the last time I was in Amsterdam, and is the Goffin & King penned "Can't Hear You No More" - which carrying on with the Dusty connections also crops up her 2nd LP 'Everything's Coming Up Dusty' issued around the same time as this single.

ARTIST: The Who; TITLE: Out On The Street; LABEL: Decca; FORMAT: 7"; Cat. No.: 45-GO 6409; YEAR: 1965; COUNTRY: NED.
The next one is this Dutch issued single from The Who "Out On The Street - and the opener to their debut LP 'My Generation'.  Interesting to note that it's part of Dutch Decca's 'American Series' - were the marketing people attempting to push the band as a US/black R'n'B act I wonder?

ARTIST: Them; TITLE: Them (One More Time); LABEL: Decca; FORMAT: LP; Cat No.: (Not Given); YEAR: 1965; COUNTRY; NED.
Last up is the sleeve of this Dutch LP from Them - and I'm guessing is the follow up to the debut 'Angry Young Them' as the track listing's comprised of single A & B sides and the tracks their EP's issued in the UK.  And the fact that tracks like the cover of Dylan's 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue aren't listed.

THE 3 TEMPTATIONS OF THE ROLLING STONES

Like most bands who started in the 60's the Stones did their amount covers in their early years - obviously in the case of Jagger and Co it's mainly blues, but like The Beatles before them they also did a fair amount of Soul stuff too.  There's a version of Marvin Gaye's "Hitch Hike" on the 1965 'Out Of Our Heads' LP (Decca SKL 4733) (along with versions of Don Covay's "Mercy Mercy"and Barbara Lynn's "Oh Baby (We Got A Good Thing Going)"), but what I'm concentrating on is the 3 cover of tracks by The Temptations spread over a 12 year period - i.e. 1967-1978.

Artist: The Rolling Stones; Title: Flowers;  Label: DECCA/NOVA; Year: 1967; Format: LP; Cat. No.:6.21.407;  Country of Issue: Germany.
First up is "My Girl" which appeared on the non-UK album 'Flowers' issued in 1967. The track is unreleased for the session for 1966's 'Aftermath' LP and was my own introduction to the song - having heard this ahead of the Otis Redding version and then eventually the Temptations' original version.  It's a good version and Jagger treats it with the respect it deserves.  It finally made its UK debut on the 1971 'Stone Age' (SKL 5084) comp that Decca put out after the Stones had set up their own label via Atlantic.

Artist: The Rolling Stones; Title: Ain't Too Proud To Beg; Label: ROLLING STONES/ATCO/CONTINENTAL; Year: 1975; Format: 45; Cat. No.: 3-05-101-004; Country of Issue: Brazil.
Next up is 1975 version of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" - which I hadn't realized they'd done - and from the 'It's Only Rock 'n' Roll' LP and again unissued as a single here in the UK.  And rather good it is too - well worth checking out - as the previously owner of this Brazilian copy, someone called Vitor thought too, as he was happy to put his name to it twice!!!!

Artist: The Rolling Stones; Title: Some Girls; Label: ROLLING STONES/EMI; Year: 1978; Format: LP; Cat. No.: CUN 39108. Country of Issue: UK.
The 3rd Temptations cover they did (as far as I'm aware) is the version of "Just My Imagination" that's on 1978's 'Some Girls'.  Again a creditable cover and like the version of "My Girl", my own first experience of the song.