Great thread - my initial thinking was it would be songs about love/loss/separation. Plenty already mentioned: Shipbuilding; JM’s Spencer; Sandy Denny Who Knows; Love Will Tear Us Apart. I would add Billy Bragg’s tale of domestic abuse and lives falling apart Levi Stubbs Tears.
Having said all that I’d go for the soaring beauty of Elgar’s Cello Concerto but only if played (on the edge) by Jaqueline du Pre.
I don’t think anyone beats Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, but then I bought that LP as we called them then soon after it was released, when I was 19
Bonnie Raitt- I Can’t Make You Love Me.
Dan Fogelberg- Same Old Lang Syne.
Yes, there are often emotional memories produced by the songs in this thread which are powerfully evocative beyond any preferences for later versions regardless of musicality or technical prowess or mere novelty.
Is it possible to create a shareable playlist?
Kate was possibly my hi-fi ‘raison d’être’ in 1985 after the Hounds of Love album was released.
I knew singles very well from earlier albums including Wuthering Heights but the first 3 albums (Kick Inside/Lionheart/Never for Ever especially Lionheart) are just incredibly sumptuous sounding works -first time I got Lionheart on vinyl I thought it was weak but it is possibly my favourite of all.
I have created a shared playlist on Qobuz in the past.
Naim Single Track to acess or demo sys
+1 for Hope Sandoval
Some theme tunes have with it added imagery that makes them a bit more special,
Song to Siren - This Mortal Coil
Always does it for me
I always find this rather beautiful, admittedly very light on for lyrics but extremely emotional.
Henri Gerecki Miserere
Great shout @Marq. I’m a massive Smiths fan and 99% of Smiths covers don’t even get close imho. The Dream Academy’s instrumental cover of this works and it features in the gallery scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It’s perfection.
I walked down the isle to this.
L’hiver - Antonio Vivaldi …
RUNRIG - Hearts Of Olden Glory.
At the risk of stating the obvious, Gary Jules’ cover of Mad World is hard to beat
A couple of classical pieces that send shivers down my spine every time I hear them: Vaughan Williams’ Rhosymedre and Allegri’s Miserere.
The Miserere always brings a tear to my eye.
A few suggestions:
If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot;
Vincent - Don McLean;
Lilac Wine - Jeff Buckley;
Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra.
M
You should start a " Better than the original" thread.
