GROOVY NOODLES
THE ELM TREASON WEEKLY E-ZINE
MAY 24, 2024
THIS WEEK: Million Dollar auction goodies… Bassist dies… Graceland fraud … New Guns N Roses album? … Fab Billionaire…
MUSIC NOODLES
– Charlie Colin, founding bassist of the band Train, died this week at the age of 58. He apparently slipped in the shower.
– Elvis Presley‘s granddaughter has sent an investment company intent on auctioning off Graceland running. Riley Keough didn’t just convince a judge to block the auction of Graceland on Thursday, but she scared off Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC for good. Keough’s lawyer said the loan never happened and Naussany “appears to be a false entity created for the purpose of defrauding.” A Tennessee judge sided with her.
– According to Slash, Guns N’ Roses are at work on a new album and he’s involved in the process.
– Paul McCartney has become the first billionaire musician in the U.K. McCartney’s name appeared in the 2024 edition of The Sunday Times Rich List, which placed him at number 165 alongside his wife, Nancy. According to the list, the Beatles legend’s net worth is £1billion, which equates to approximately $1.27 billion.
– Dead & Company launched its 24-date Dead Forever residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere on Thursday, May 16, celebrating the band’s nearly 60-year history and extend its legacy.
Another Year Gone
Birthdays over the past week…
50 – Singer-Songwriter Jewel Kilcher (May 23)
59 – Tremt Reznor of Nine Inch Nails (May 17)
65 – Paul Di’Anno, original lead vocalist for Iron Maiden (May 17)
65 – Morrisey of the Smiths (May 22)
66 – Jane Wiedlin, rhythm guitarist for the Go Gos (May 20)
74 – Lyricist Bernie Taupin (May 22)
75 – Keyboard player Rick Wakeman (He joined YES in 1971) (May 18)
78 – Cher (May 20)
79 – Pete Townshend of The Who (May 19)
Your Answer Is…
Greetings Treasonites!
Covering another artist’s song is very common. Whether it’s done as a tribute or a chance to put one’s own creative spin on it, some of the most beloved songs of all time are, in fact, cover songs.
Sometimes, the cover version of a song becomes bigger and more well-known the original. To some, it may even be better.
That’s what we are asking this week: “Name a cover song you think is better than the original.”
Your answer is:
RELEASES OF NOTE THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
1967- Headquarters – Monkees
1969 – Tommy – The Who
1996 – Soundgarden – Down on the Upside
2019 – Rocketman (movie) – Elton John biopic
LATEST TREASON NOODLES
– For everyone who grabbed themselves a super-limited edition “WITH YOU” CD, GREAT GREAT NEWS! Shipments started going out this week!
Woo Hoo!
E-mails started going out on Wednesday with tracking numbers.
If you’ve already received your e-mail notification, awesome!
If you haven’t, fear not… all notifications will be sent by Saturday morning (May 25th), the latest, so be sure to check the e-mail address you used when you bought yours.
We sincerely appreciate your patience… and of course, your amazing support!
elm treason song of the week
“FORT MISERY” from the album “ACOUSTIC TREASON”
One of our all-time most requested tunes – and certainly, one of our most fun!
Smell the sawdust, grab a beer and come meet the Ladybug, Little Diamond Tina, the Genius King and the newsman.
Andy and Bobby alternate lead vocals across four verses – each in a different key – and get the audience going with a romping, beer-barrel, frolic through a chunky rhythm section and super-catchy refrain.
All roads lead to Fort Misery!
TEN AUCTION ITEMS OVER $1 MILLION
Here are ten iconic music items that sold at auction for over a million dollars.
The Dance Floor From ‘Saturday Night Fever:’ $1.2 Million
Elvis Presley’s 1942 Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar: $1.32 Million
Janis Joplin’s Painted Porsche: $1.76 Million
Jerry Garcia’s ‘Wolf’ Guitar: $1.9 Million
Bob Dylan’s ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ Lyrics: $2.045 Million
John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ Piano: $2,100,000
Ringo Starr’s Beatles’ Drum Kit: $2.2 Million
John Lennon’s Painted Rolls Royce: $2,299,000
David Gilmour’s Black Stratocaster: $3,975,000
Kurt Cobain’s ‘MTV Unplugged’ Acoustic Guitar: $6 Million
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK
The Treason Boys, Summer 2017 – Lehigh Valley, PA
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
This is it! The MOST ASKED QUESTION we get: “How and Why did you make the transition from traditional plugged-in rock and roll to ROCKOUSTIC?” HERE is how all THAT started.
Our latest video
“Lock and Load” with the second single from our latest album “WITHOUT A TRIBE.”
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
6 YEARS AGO
The Hootie & the Blowfish album Cracked Rear View is certified for selling 21 million copies in America, overtaking Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction as the top-selling debut album of all-time in that country.
7 YEARS AGO
After performing with Soundgarden in Detroit, Chris Cornell is found dead from an apparent suicide at the age of 52.
12 YEARS AGO
Donna Summer dies of lung cancer at her home in Naples, Florida, at age 73.
16 YEARS AGO
Lou Pearlman, manager of Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, is sentenced to 25 years in prison on four federal charges: two counts of conspiracy, money laundering and using false statements in a bankruptcy proceeding.
32 YEARS AGO
Bette Midler is Johnny Carson’s last guest on The Tonight Show (his final show, the following night, has no guests).
41 YEARS AGO
ZZ Top release their video for “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” marking the first appearance of the Eliminator, Billy Gibbons’ 1933 Ford Hot Rod.
44 YEARS AGO
Drummer Peter Criss leaves Kiss. He is replaced by Eric Carr, but returns to the band (along with Ace Frehley) in 1996.
45 YEARS AGO
Elton John becomes the first western act to tour the U.S.S.R. when he plays the first of eight concerts at a show in Leningrad.
49 YEARS AGO
After a show in Knoxville, Tennessee, Alice Cooper leaves one of his stage props, a 13-foot boa constrictor, in the hotel bathroom, where it escapes down the toilet. The snake shows up two weeks later in a room occupied by country singer Charley Pride; Cooper learns to put the lid down.
59 YEARS AGO
The FBI ends its two-year investigation into the Kingsmen song “Louie Louie,” determining that the largely indecipherable lyrics are not obscene.
62 YEARS AGO
Less than three months before her death, Marilyn Monroe makes one of her last public appearances at President John F. Kennedy’s 45th birthday celebration, where she famously sings “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” in his honor.
ELM TREASON’S LATEST RECORD
Our latest record WITHOUT A TRIBE is getting some seriously awesome feedback from everywhere. We are STOKED! It is, we believe, our best work to date… and now it can be yours on CD, vinyl or digital formats. CLICK HERE to bring your copy home.
FIRST VIDEO FROM “WITHOUT A TRIBE”
We now have TWO music videos from our new album “WITHOUT A TRIBE.” Here is the first one, “UP TO ME.”
Beef Fighting Man
It is
Helpful Neighbors
Without Question
Groan
Powerful Truth
It’s a Marathon… Not a Sprint
Both
Makes Perfect Sense
Undeniable
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Copyright 2024 Groovy Noodles, LLC
anything by Umpfrey McGee. They’re covers ROCK!
Not familiar with the work of Umphrey McGee. But always eager to explore and discover.
Thank you, Wayne
I actually really like “Changes” from Butterfly Boucher with the cameo from David Bowie coming in on the chorus. Oddly enough, I discovered it on one of the Shrek soundtracks…which are all really dynamite, imho.
Yes, quite familiar with that one.
Thank you, Jaymie!
Nothing Compares 2 U by Prince covered by Sinéad O’Connor!
Great pick.
Desperado, Linda Ronstat’s cover of the Eagles song.
Linda does a great job.
Wrecking Ball by David Rawlings & Gillian Welsh.
Here
s the original:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MljrD0-DzqQ
And heres the one I like better by Hard Working Americans:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvBk3ZLJzMA
They turned it into such a Beautifully Sad Song. It
s onea my go to songs when I need to cleanse through a good cry...............With Neals guitar playing and Todd`s vocals leading the way to true emotion.I listened to both, and I have to agree with you.
I (Andy) love that you posted links to both versions.
Thanks so much, Rick
All Along the Watchtower. Respect.
Hard to disagree with that one.
Some Days Are Diamonds by Amos Lee (original by John Denver); Twist and Shout by the Beatles (original by the Isley Bros.)
I (Andy) know them both. And I agree with them both, for what it’s worth.
Triumph covering Joe Walsh, Rocky Mountain Way and an honourary mention/shoutout to Bare Naked Ladies cover of Bruce Cockburn’s, Lovers in a Dangerous Time, not better BUT the magic of Steven and Ed’s different vices and harmonies bring this song to a different level
Stellar, Shelley.
And I think you are spot on with “lovers in a dangerous time.”
Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt”
So good.
Disturbed’s cover of The Sounds Of Silence, orig by Simon & Garfunkel.
This one always gets lots of mentions among those discussing cover versions eclipsing the original.
Covers i like better than the original
Diamonds and Rust Judas Priest
Stone Cold Crazy Metallica
America Yes
Hoedown ELP (sorry Aaron Copeland) 😀
oh yeah one more
The Nile Song — Voivod
They kill it. If you haven’t heard it, go have a listen. Voivod takes it to a new level of kick ass. the guitar work alone is orgasmic.
I don’t know if this counts? I think Hearts version of Stairway To Heaven was pretty amazing. I don’t know if they actually have a recording It on there own? It was a tribute to Led Zeppelin.on tv. I’m drawing a blank, other that, Originals are usually the best.
It’s pretty damn good. I (Andy) will give you that. I have watched that performance many times.
Any song Linda Ronstadt covered was better than the original. (IMO)
She had a way of making any song she sang her own.
Careless Whisper – Seether
Smooth Criminal –
Alien Ant Farm
Sounds of Silence –
Disturbed
All Along the Warchtower – you know who…
Just to name a few..
Great choices, Michael.
I (Andy) Especially like “the careless whisper” pick.
Elton John – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.
Elton did a great job with this song. No question.
Fever – The Cramps
Power of My Love – Jack White
Jolene and Look Me Over Closely – The White Stripes
I (Andy) am digging your picks, Lisa.
The easy choice (but not wrong) is All Along the Watchtower, Bob Dylan (OG)/Jimi Hendrix (cover). I think Amy Winehouse’s cover of Valerie (The Zutones) has to be in the conversation.
I (Andy) definitively agree with the former. And I absolutely love your pick for the latter.
Anything Elvis covered!! YAHOO
There are actually quite a few Elvis covers that I enjoy very much.
Nice choice.
I love Chuck Prophet singing Loving her was Easier, and I also love Janiva Magness album of John Fogerty songs and Maria Muldaur singing Bob Dylan songs plus Ron Sexsmith doing Broken Hearted People and Where’s my Everything? I love tribute albums; you get these random artists who sing their songs and most do a great job or even better
Just remembered I love Rita Coolidge doing Bird on a Wire and Johnny Cash doing Heart of Gold..
I (Andy) find tribute albums one of the most interesting and rewarding explorations when trying to discover new music.
Sea of Love by the Honeydrippers. The Night Before by Restless Heart—believe it or not, I like their version better than the Beatles.
I (Andy) do like restless heart’s version of that song.
Very much.
Lyle Lovett covering the Grateful Dead song Friend of the Devil on the tribute album Deadicated.
Believe it or not, I (Andy) have not heard that yet. I will have to make it so.
Spooky originally by ” The Classics IV ” was a good tune. But, when Atlanta Rhythm Section got a hold of it…Mind Blown!! The guitar solo is one of my favorites ever. It was also covered by others, Dusty Springfield, Joan Osbourn, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and I’m sure others.
The Atlanta rhythm section did a great job of making that song their own. Agreed.
As much as I love Bruce, have to hand it to Manfred Manns Earth Band and how they did Blinded By The Light
Heard it through the grapevine. YAHOO