“Palisades Park” was a 1962 hit for Freddy Cannon. It was written by Chuck Barris, creator and host of the Gong Show. The Ramones and The Beach Boys are among the artists who covered it.
The actual Palisades Amusement Park closed in 1971.
Category: Music covers
Covers: You Got to Move
“You Got to Move” will soon be released in a version by Mavis Staples and the late Levon Helm recorded in 2011. It is better known in versions by Mississippi Fred McDowell (1965) and the Rolling Stones (1971). Check out the smooth version by Sam Cooke.
Covers: This Could Be the Night
“This Could Be the Night” was written by Harry Nilsson and first recorded by the Modern Folk Quartet in 1965 or 1966.
Covers: Pushin’ Too Hard
“Pushin’ Too Hard” by the Seeds (recorded in 1965) is a great example of garage rock.
Covers: Who’ll Be the Next in Line
“Who’ll Be the Next in Line” is a 1965 Kinks single. It wasn’t a big US hit at the time. I saw the Instagram post today about a cover by Francoise Hardy.
Covers: Papa’s Got Your Bath Water On
“Papas Got Your Bath Water On” was originally recorded by the great Memphis Jug Band in 1930. It was written by Hattie Hart who also sings it. Tuba Skinny has covered it – several videos on YouTube.
Covers: Come to the Sunshine
“Come to the Sunshine” is a 1966 Van Dyke Parks record of a song he wrote in 1965. It was covered by Harpers Bizarre in 1967 with Parks on piano. Parks has recorded some complex and adventurous records and is worth your time to check out.
Covers: That’s All Right Mama
“That’s All Right Mama” was originally a 1946 record by Arthur Crudup. As “That’s All Right”, it was Elvis Presley’s first single in 1954. Crudup’s version was issued on CD in 1992 as part of a wave of old blues music on CD after the success of the Robert Johnson box set.
50 Years Ago: Elvis Songwriter Dies in Poverty, as He Predicted
Covers: Blue Moon of Kentucky
“Blue Moon of Kentucky” was written by Bill Monroe who first performed it in 1945. Elvis Presley’s high-speed version was the B-side of his first single, “That’s All Right” (1954) which was also a cover. Check out the New Orleans jazz version by Tuba Skinny.
Covers: Dr. John’s Gumbo
Dr. John’s Gumbo is a covers album that was released in 1972. Dr. John and other former NBew Orleans musicians recorded it in Los Angeles. It introduced me to the music of Professor Longhair and Huey “Piano” Smith, among others. We weren’t hearing their stuff on rock stations or seeing it in local record stores.
It’s one of my favorite covers albums. Hard to believe it’s 50 years old today.
Sad! 