MFD Not-So-Random Five #13

In which I select five songs from 1976-1985 based on an arbitrary theme. (Not to be confused with this blog's Random Five feature, a different exercise in arbitrariness). Today's theme: cover songs

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1. "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" by Naked Eyes (1983, Virgin)
   Originally by Lou Johnson (1964). Synth-pop Bacharach? Count me in! This song ranks somewhere in my Top 10 list of favorite pop songs of the '80s.  I never tire of hearing it.  Back in '83, I bought a copy of the group's self-titled debut LP on the strength of this one song. Just listened to this cover version twice this morning.


2. "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow (1982, RCA)
   Originally by The Strangeloves (1965). You'd never know it, but this song only reached #62 on the singles charts. You can't get away from it now. I'll sometimes try to imagine what this tune would have sounded like if Boy George (Lieutenant Lush) had stayed in the group and done the vocals. I once ranked this cover as the 24th best single of 1982, so yeah, I like it. And I like candy when it's wrapped in a sweater.


3. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by Devo (1977, Warner Bros.)
   Originally by The Rolling Stones (1965).  I love when cover versions are complete deconstructions of the original (see Isaac Hayes' "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," for example). This fits the bill perfectly. The anxiety and neuroses of the lyrics are finally given the proper, manic musical context. It's all tension, no release, then it's over. For more on how the cover came about, click here.


4. "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (1981, Sire)
   Originally by Gloria Jones (1964). I can't hear this song without thinking of my dear friend Scott. It was his absolute favorite tune of all-time, no question. He never cared much for the original nor did he want to hear this cover segue into "Where Did Our Love Go" so I adopted the same biases. For more on how the cover came about, click here.


5. "Dear Prudence" by Siouxsie And The Banshees (1983, Polydor)
   Originally by The Beatles (1968). I wasn't much of a Siouxsie fan until I heard this cover around the time it was released. That led to an enjoyable deep dive into her catalog. This cover is even dreamier and more psychedelic than the original and seems like it was written specifically for Siouxsie's voice. For very little on how the cover came about, click here.