If Brian released a non-rockabilly covers album...

I was thinking about the albums most acts seem to release at some point (possibly 'cos they've dried up creatively!) where they cover the songs that inspired them etc. Was thinking what stuff we might get to hear Brian do - I know he did BeBop Deluxe's Rocket Cathedrals on 13 which was fairly eclectic. Would be interesting to hear his take on a few others. Anyone any ideas - or know what he was into as a teenager besides rock'nroll??

I've certainly heard him talk about The Beatles in interviews, but it might be the early stuff which is still pretty rock'n'roll.

Didn't The Tomcats play 'Please Please Me' in their set?

And a couple of them more too (or at least that the Beatles did....)
http://straycatscollectors.net84.net/Tomcats.html

I'd love to hear Brian covering or playing some of the songs he's played as a guest artist,
like the one with Mike Ness, Mystery Train or with Paul Rodgers.

I ran into someone at the 2007 Kansas City Stray Cats show who said he was from Long Island back in the day and saw Brian play before Stray Cats, before Tomcats, and before Bloodless Pharoahs, at a mid-1970s school dance/assembly. Among the songs he claims were in the setlist were Deep Purple's Highway Star, some CCR, and Allman Brothers.

I know I've heard The Supremes "Where Did Our Love Go?" and CCR's "Hey Tonight" on some live recordings. And of course the Tomcats discs were peppered with several Beatles covers.

Don't forget he did study jazz guitar all through his high school years, so there might be a jazz guitar album that would grow from an early influence/covers project.

I don't know that I could predict the music of such a project. When Lee Rocker released his "Cover Sessions EP" I was completely surprised at some of the choices. I imagine Brian would keep me guessing if he chose a covers collection free from rockabilly or big band influences.

With albums like "Instrumental" and "13" Brian has proven he will go against the grain of what people expect him to do. My guess is this kind of covers album would not be something he would attempt.

Coverbilly

I forgot about the two Motown covers. I'm basically same age as Brian - but obviously growing up in UK music scene in 72-74 was very different from America. My album -were I ever to do such a thing(!) - would be stuff like T-Rex, Slade, Mott The Hoople, The Sweet, The Arrows and then a little later Dr Feelgood - most of those bands didn't have a big impact in America though. When Instrumental was listed before it was released and I saw the title 'Hot Love' on their I was really hoping it was the T Rex song - no such luck though. I'd like to hear him do a bit of Hendrix and Led Zep - maybe some Ziggy era Bowie or Mott The Hoople. Would be disappointed if he hit the Beatles stuff hard though - never having been a fan of them - could go for some Setzer-fied Stones instead!

scatcatcnut wrote:

T-Rex, Slade, The Sweet,

Yeah! Great Bands. Slade were one of my alltime favorites Band.
Sweet were even cool. Have a live record back of the 90ies, but the Singer changed.

I can see Brian doing a version of David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel", that guitar riff is a killer, and it would be cool
a kind of rockabilly twang into it, perfect to start either as the opening show for the trio/quartet line up or
to start the trio set with the BSO.

Also, one of my favourite albums is "Run Devil Run" by Paul McCartney (in fact, the only album I like from his solo career)
and I can also imagine Brian doing "Run Devil Run" or "No Other Baby".

Although it's been overdone a bit as a cover 20th Century Boy by T Rex or Ride A White Swan (which is a rockabilly riff actually). Also how about...pun time...'The Cat Crept In' by Mud?

Why not a dirty country album? Go Brian!

Oh, Tigerfeet would be amazing!!!

Ahahaha, I can figure out the whole BSO swinging their horns while pretending to be dacing
as in the original song, hahaha, it would be good to see and hilarious (in a positive way)

'The Golden Age Of Rock and Roll' by Mott The Hoople is tailor made for him! Also 'Touch Too Much' by The Arrows with its twangy Cochran vibe - I'd also like to hear him do 'Gudbuy To Jane' or 'Lets Call It Quits' by Slade.

I am sure Brian wouldnt jump ship on genres so I'm hoping for either a vintage western swing album or
a mancini jet set album

A Jazz guitar album with covers from Django Reinhardt to Wes Montgomery (and René Thomas, and Joe Pass, and Kenny Burrell, and Grant Green...)
No trio, no big band but a quintet made of old Jazzmen...
I dream about this since a long time.

I did ask Brian, to do Jazz album, told that the track "jump'in at the capital' was pure jazz, and sounded awesome.
So one day I live in hope. But For me, It dont really matter, as a fan, i'd buy what ever de decides to do.
Rebal Rebal, was done on Rickie lee jones LP, traffic from paradise.

Brian Setzer and Merle haggard, now that be cool.

Mark.

As long as he sings or plays guitar on the track, even if it's Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I'd buy it.

There's the rare BSO version of "Bodhisattva" - maybe more Steely Dan?

Tele295 wrote:

There's the rare BSO version of "Bodhisattva" - maybe more Steely Dan?

That`s a killer Version. It´s from a movie, isn`t it.