Cover Recordings, 1900 - 2016: Twelve Decades Of Significant Song Revivals

This study investigates the use of cover recordings in different contexts and for different purposes. It highlights the on-going influences of regional rhythmic formats such as New Orleans music. It traces loving tributes to African-American bluesmen by white artists like Joe Bonamassa, Eric Clapton, John Hammond, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. It focuses of the educational role of old records in the artistic development of Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. It identifies the career-extending value of previous hits for Johnny Rivers and Linda Ronstadt. It explores the revivals of classic Christmas tunes. It examines the retrospective use of R&B hits by blue-eyed soul artists like Michael Bolton, Joe Cocker, Michael McDonald, and The Righteous Brothers. And it revisits the controversial attempts of major record companies to overwhelm small independent labels and young black performers through immediate covers of new 1950s releases. Artists examined in this latter area include Pat Boone, The Chordettes, The Crew-Cuts, The Diamonds, The Fontane Sisters, The McGuire Sisters, and Gale Storm. Beyond these extensive song listings, this resource guide concludes with several detailed reviews of books and CD releases that address the historic roots and cultural implications of cover recording. A lengthy bibliography is also provided.