Tune du Jour: “We Can Work It Out” – The Beatles
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Jorge Luis Rojas (aka “Rojitas”) vs. John Wicks & The Records
Peruse, Comment and Vote (I Beseech, Implore and Urge Thee, respectively)
CoverMeImpressed.com CoverMeImpressed.com CoverMeImpressed.com
space
Broccoli Fields Forever …
We Can Work It Out was recorded during the Rubber Soul sessions and released in December 1965 on the ground-breaking first ever “double A-sided” single. Apparently Paul wanted We Can Work It Out to be the A-side of a single with Day Tripper as the B-side. Shockingly, John disagreed, preferring the opposite (i.e. Day Tripper on A-side and We Can Work It Out on the B-side). Ah, but necessity is the mother of invention. And just like that the ingenious double A-Sided single was born. The first album We Can Work It Out appeared on was Yesterday And Today, which was released in June 1966 to the American market only.
We Can Work It Out was a collaboration of lyrics and music between McCartney and Lennon, which after their hits of 1963 had become an exceedingly rare occurrence (A Day In The Life was another brilliant example). Generally speaking, the more optimistic parts of We Can Work It Out were McCartney’s creation while the darker, impatient parts were Lennon’s contribution.
We Can Work It Out was wildly successful reaching number one on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and U.K. Singles Chart. We Can Work It Out also holds the distinction of having spawned the most commercially successful cover of a Beatles song when Stevie Wonder’s version reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Mr. Wonder a Grammy Award nomination in 1972, for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
The Original
space (space)
The Beatles:
space (space)
Hey, That’s One Successful Cover!
space (space)
Stevie Wonder:
space (space)
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
space (space)
Jorge Luis Rojas (aka “Rojitas”) vs. John Wicks & The Records
space (space)
Jorge Luis Rojas (aka “Rojitas”):
John Wicks & The Records:
space (space)
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?
space (space)
space (space)
Votes can be cast up to three months from the day and time of the original post.
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 
I expected The Records’ version to be MUCH better. Almost every minute of their wonderful debut album owed a debt of gratitude and an acknowledgement to the Beatles. So I was very surprised to hear how boring and utterly uninspired their version is. On the other hand, I also expected Jorge Luis Rojas to be singing We Can Work It Out, instead of Here Comes The Sun. So I guess we shouldn’t always put too much stock in what we expect.
Now, if I use my imagination as what Rojitas might sound like, I would be very tempted to expect that it would be more interesting than The Records. But only Dubbs knows for sure.
I am highly amused at what has to be Rich Winston’s largest and most complete utter screw up since his disastrous romantic encounter with Gail Lochner, the manager of Gatorwood Apartments. I suppose I’d have to give the bland Records’ version my vote since that is the ONLY version of We Can Work it Out to choose from. Instead, I will do what most Americans do and just abstain from voting, yet retain the right to bitch and complain about things.
UGH!!! Okay, we can work it out…I’ll get it fixed.
Rojitas, get in here please and shut the door…
Despite the ugly incident this morning I still have to ride with Rojitas’ lovely version of We Can Work It Out over John Wicks & The Records.
I reluctantly give it to Rojitas for the Latin beat and horns which remind me of other times and other places and not having to be burdened with such profound decisions as this…
I love Cuba. I love Cuban music. Rojitas, hands down.