Back to basics blues

This time I’m not going to sing you another rendition of “Duplication Blues”. I understood it brought me no fans.

Instead I’m going to sing you “Back to basics blues”. It goes like this:

What is a cover?

I as really convinced that the existence of a cover was a consequence of having existed previously an original.

In musical terms, a performer records and releases a vocal or instrumental an afterwards another performer records and releases the same title, very often with a new musical arrangement, very seldom with different lyrics.

A cover is always a cover wheather the new performer does it the day after the original or 50 years afterwards.

A cover is still a cover if recorded the day after the original, but only released 50 years afterwards.

Many covers are not released when recorded. The vaults have revealed lots of “Lost Tapes” and whatever the reason others were very lately recovered by Jasmine and similar labels.

Many of this covers get to us via compilation records, but I learned recently that compilations are dubious, with the meaning that what’s in them has no recognized value. Only covers released at the time of the recordings count. The other covers don’t exist.

Let’s imagine that Columbia, Capitol or Reprise find in their vaults 20 unissued covers by Sinatra and publish them in a compilation.

I learned that, and I quote, ” Sorry, the only way here is the hard way: digging for all the earlier issues!”

Quote from Tunesmith

Only covers released at the time of the recordings count. The other covers don’t exist.

Not at all Tunesmith . We already have more than 6,500 “out of the vault” recordings that were released at least ten years after they were recorded. The point that walt was making about compilations is that we need to make sure that the cover hasn’t been released commercially anywhere earlier than the compilation. Sometimes compilations do indeed contain previously unreleased tracks; but often they don’t. So we would appreciate it if you could research such cases more carefully to make sure the cover you are submitted hasn’t been released somewhere earlier.

How do you measure how careful a search has been done?

Is there a fixed period of time between submitting a cover and finally discover it had never been issued before?

The only sane thing to do is process the cover and expect (if ever) that someone, in an unforseen future, finds the early release.

In the case that started this - The King Sisters singing "Back in your own backyard" - the track is in Jasmine compilation I possess, together with other 24 songs. For this particulat title it says "recorded in 1947 with the Frank DeVol Orchestra".

Until you have proof of any release in 1947 or after (having been checked the usual places) you'll have to accept it as a bona fide cover. And like the song says "until the real thing comes along".

If, in fact, there was such release and it sees the light of day, then and only then, the finder submits an error report and the only up to then living proof that the cover existed is properly buried.

Until then, long live my submitted cover.

Quote from Tunesmith

The only sane thing to do is process the cover and expect (if ever) that someone, in an unforseen future, finds the early release.

In the case that started this - The King Sisters singing "Back in your own backyard" - the track is in Jasmine compilation I possess, together with other 24 songs. For this particulat title it says "recorded in 1947 with the Frank DeVol Orchestra".

Until you have proof of any release in 1947 or after (having been checked the usual places) you'll have to accept it as a bona fide cover. And like the song says "until the real thing comes along".

Tunesmith I’ve shared details of the May 1941 recording and June 1941 release in your Submission #164025. I’d recommend that you edit your entry with the correct information so that it displays correctly until processed. There is an edit function that you can use for your submissions.

Quote from Tunesmith

Until then, long live my submitted cover.

Au contraire, at risk of being too harsh, I suggest to withdraw all submitted covers from that "dubious" (is "fishy" a better word?) King Sisters compilation.

And of course, nothing wrong with comps that reveal previously unreleased recordings like we have many of.

This performance was recorded in May 1941 and released the following month

sebcat: If so, why don't I see it in King Sisters covers or in the Back in your own backyard page?

I suggest to withdraw all submitted covers from that "dubious" (is "fishy" a better word?) King Sisters compilation

walt: is your grudge against me or the King Sisters?

There was here an unfortune lack of communication. I didn't understand your remarks and put the emphasis on your opinions on how to deal with covers in compilations.

This would be dead for the upstart if you would have just told me to look in Discogs at the singles issued by The King Sisters, which I would swear I'd done, as I always do. But I didn't this time, God know why.

My damned fault!

Covers are in place now.

I apologize.

But what I said about covers and compilations stand.

Last edit: 2022-09-26 09:42:07 UTC by Tunesmith

Quote from walt

Quote from Tunesmith

Until then, long live my submitted cover.

Au contraire, at risk of being too harsh, I suggest to withdraw all submitted covers from that "dubious" (is "fishy" a better word?) King Sisters compilation.

And of course, nothing wrong with comps that reveal previously unreleased recordings like we have many of.

Very much agree with walt here.