It is time to do a cover CD. Here are my reasons:

- People that like the covered songs may stumble across them and thus discover Live for the first time. This could go a long way in rebuilding a fan base by bringing in new fans for a "new" Live. A guy I work with stumbled onto Cornell because of his Thank You Zeppelin cover. He has gone to two Cornell concerts since discovering that and has bought A-Sides (Soundgarden) and all of his solo albums.

- A good cover song has the potential to thrust anybody into the spotlight. Think Alien Ant Farm - I never heard of them prior to that cover.

- Also, don't just cover old classics. The band Halestorm had fans vote online on what songs to cover. The top vote getters won and they ended up doing a Lady GaGa song but turned it into a rock version. It isn't too bad and may have snagged some younger fans that were Lady GaGa fans. Halestorm also did the cover album more or less in the middle of a new album and released it prior to the new album. Since the songs are already written and just need some "adjusting" the process isn't quite what it would be to do a brand new album from start to finish. Who wouldn't like to hear CCPA (A for anonymous) put a twist on some of our favorite non-Live songs?

- Doing a cover album would take some of the focus/comparison off of Ed. It would put some distance between new Live and Ed prior to a full Live album release. Instead of comparing the lead singer to Ed some may be inclined to compare the cover to the original.

The cover album doesn't need to be a complete album. Maybe like 5 or 6 songs. Something to give people a taste but not reveal any of the new Live material. It would also buy some time for them as far as working on a new album.

Anyhow, that is my reasoning. Anyone have any negatives that would come from it?

This post has been edited by World Dreamer: Dec 14 2011, 3:32 pm

Are you saying they should play their old tunes again?


On a serious note, I've always thought it would be a good idea to do a cover album, or at least put a really good cover song on an original album.

I'd prefer they covered TGF.

bad idea

If the songs on a cover album would be as good as the covers they did so afr, I say: yes! God, yesss!

But I think the energy, money and work that they have to put in working out the rights etc. will be too much for them to even try. The only studio cover they did is because they were asked to (right?). Remember how difficult it is... or still was ... to cover or even release their own f*cking damn songs!!! post-2009 (shame shame).

But I sure would like the idea and creative aspect of a cover album!

Is there no one else that thinks this would be awesome?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VCcvdrhn3M

Just release good versions of covers already done that we know of.

Supernatural
Love My Way
I Walk the Line
Imagine

I'm sure there are a few others that I'm missing.

Other songs that we're covered includes Pretty in Pink by the Psychedelic Furs and U2's Running to Stand Still.

I really like the idea. I'd love if Ed did a nice recording of Man in The Box. It'd be interesting to see what CCPA would ome up with. I'd buy it.

World Dreamer offers compelling reasons that Live (where it stands) should do a cover album. All the diehards who reject the idea and insist that live return to some 1994-5 era that probably wasn't as good as you remember it are being selfish and looking to the past rather than the future. Live will NEVER return to that and is a moving train. Who is to say that their best days aren't ahead of them and that may mean reaching out to new audiences so they can leave behind the whole Ed/CCP rivalries?

Gracey has popped in on this site (or was it Taylor?) and if he reads this please take it into consideration. I know I'd buy it regardless of what they cover AND it would give us twice as much material. To add to World dreamer's already fantastic list of reasons, 2 albums in quick succession would give legitimacy to the new singer for both old and new fans which is something Live is going to have to deal with for the next couple of years.

Ed from maybe 1995 would be average, but current and future Ed would butcher that song. Layne Staley would turn over in his grave, that's how bad it would be.

You haven't heard the version Ed did at the Layne Staley Tribute show in 2009?
Ed posted a video of it on his YouTube but it's been since removed.

MP3 is here: Man in the Box
Details about the show: Seattle, Wa/Portland, OR (Ed solo), August 22, 2009

Just now listening to it for the first time. Don't enjoy it at all. What made that song so great was just how dirty Layne's voice was, naturally that is. Ed's trying to make his voice get that dirty growl, and is falling short.

I loved his rendition.

a cover album??? bad idea, if ED was still in the band MAYBE, but why a cover album when we dont even know who is singing

This post has been edited by zmanpga: Dec 21 2011, 8:26 am