David Lee Roth has shared a previously unreleased solo version of the Van Halen classic Panama, recorded “studio live.” The singer, uploaded the track, to his YouTube channel on September 1st.
The singer has shared many songs, as of late, including: Nothing Could Have Stopped Us Back Then Anyway (written about Van Halen), Pointing At The Moon, Giddy-Up!, Lo-Rez Sunset and Somewhere Over The Rainbow Bar And Grill.
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Well, this is a nice little postcard to let us all know (as the cover indicates) that DLR is still alive. From the sound of it, he’s apparently doing well and having fun covering a song he helped make a classic. That makes me happy.
That said, if I want to listen to Panama, I’ll stick to the original version.
I don’t like when an original song is redone, especially a great classic like “Panama!” Even when it’s redone by the original artist! Now there are some exceptions, like Dirty Honey’s version of Aerosmith’s “Last Child,” first thought was NO WAY! – until I heard it…
Doug,
I agree about cover songs, and to me, The Beatles are sacrosanct. The only Beatles cover I ever liked, was Dokken’s acoustic version of Nowhere Man.
As for cover songs, in general, the best I ever heard was Little Caesar’s version of Chain of Fools. Hands down the best rendition, and in my opinion, even better than Frankin.
I think Aerosmith did a great cover of the Beatles’ song “Come Together”.
Hi Rattle,
I happen to disgaree, but that’s okay, we are usually in sync on most things 🙂 .
Speaking of The Beatles, tangentially, another decent cover is, Guns N’ Roses version of McCartney’s Live and Let Die. On the flip side, I could have done without their rendition of Knocking On Heaven’s Door, never liked the original, don’t like their version, either. Guns also did a decent cover of Nazareth’s Hair Of The Dog.
Finally, I always thought that band’s includng cover songs on albums was so they didn’t have write another additional composition. Ditto with covers albums, seems like it is is just to fill an album obligation.
Little Caesar did a great job on “Chain Of Fools,” but speaking of Van Halen, they did a great job on “You Really Got Me!” That is probably the best cover I ever heard!
Better than Aretha, Dana?!?!? How dare you! (laughs)
(I don’t agree, but Little Caesar’s version was quite good.)
Yes, I think it is far superior, and even told Ron Young, via email, that I felt that way.
I know this is probably an unpopular point of view, but I never liked Franklin’s voice. I always found her to be screechy, ditto with Patti LaBelle.
On thr flip side, if someone like Kelly Clarkson, or Christina Aguilera (who can be over the top, but never screechy), did it, then Little Caesar might have some competition.
I agree, Doug R..”You Really Got Me” covered by Van Halen is awesome, and it’s my favorite cover song.
VH took a good song, put their stamp on it and made it great! I also agree with Aerosmith’s version of “Come Together,” sorry Dana! (Ducks) 😉 LOL!!!
I’ll listen to a cover of a song, and say, “Ok that was good,” but always say the original better. Even songs that are redone I can tell the subtle differences. and I don’t like em. Sometimes I’ll like live versions of songs, over the album version, The only cover I liked just a tad over the original, was David Bowie’s Heroes” by the Wallflowers.
Agree with U Dana “Chain of Fools”. My other one would be The Rods ‘You Keep Me Hanging On “
I will have to look that one up now, and get back to you….Okay, so that was too slow for me, and I prefer the original, in that case.
Oooo, I forgot two other GREAT covers, both by W.A.S.P. I love their version of I Don’t Need No Doctor and Easy Living. I know Lawless never liked Inside The Electric Circus (however, he has softened his stance, in recent years), but I love that album, on which, both of those songs appear.
I like Metallica’s cover of Dave Mustaine’s song, “The Mechanix”. :o)
LOL!!! You mean The Four Horsemen? 😉