Tune du Jour: “You Really Got Me” – The Kinks
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Los Apson vs. Mott the Hoople vs. Toots & The Maytalls
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The Original
The Kinks:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Los Apson vs. Mott the Hoople vs. Toots & The Maytalls
Los Apson:
Mott the Hoople:
Toots & The Maytals:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On?!!?
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 
I remember the first time I heard Van Halen cover this song. Nothing else on the radio in 1978 sounded anything like it. The previous 3 years had been an unending sequence of disco, urban contemporary, and folk rock. As a white teen I was supposed to be enamored with Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles and Peter Frampton. Most rock icons seemed to be down for the count or on extended hiatus. CBGBs in New York was already happening. But none of that was filtering down to the radio. Same with all the great music coming out of Kings Road in England. So when I heard Eddie Van Halen’s guitar screaming from my radio, I went almost immediately and bought the album even though I knew absolutely nothing about the band or any of its members. That album launched an entire generation of rock guitar shredders. And the passage of 38 years has not dulled the sound or the impact it one bit. By 1979-1980 I was already shifting my heart and mind, musically-speaking, towards England and what was coming out of there. But I always maintained an admiration for that first VH album. Dave Davies and Eddie Van Halen play the exact same opening riff. But it amazes me to hear how much the sound of this song changed in a just 14 short years. IMO, more ground was covered in the development of rock guitar in those 14 years than in the 38 years that have since followed. I suppose David Lee Roth’s face and voice was the biggest component of the marketing of VH. But for many, including me, Roth was just a distraction. Eddie Van Halen never sang a note on the record. But his playing was doing ALL the talking as far as I was concerned.
Oh, yeah. Given the three choices I guess I’ll go with Toots & the Maytals.
By the way, I absolutely love Mott the Hoople. But their cover of this tune is the most boring and out-of-place song they ever released on a record.
I gotta give this one to Toots. I’m impressed with how he covers a song that is famous for its guitar riff, one of the most iconic riffs in rock, and that riff is nowhere in his version. I love a million bands, but The Kinks are my favorite of all, and this song is in my top ten. That riff. The snotty “oh yeahhh” vocal chorus, Dave’s sloppy solo (he was all of 17 when he banged it out). This is what rock is supposed to be.
It’s late so I’ll keep it concise. As much as I love Ian Hunter that rendition of You Really Got Me was just plain boring (who the hell picked that one out?). Toots is always a delight and enjoyed his take. But Las Apson blasted the tune out as it should be.