Beech Tree News Network

My first edition of Under The Covers for 2023 begins with a song called “Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)”.  It is a 1962 song written by Buzz Cason and Tony Moon.  Originally recorded by soul artist Arthur Alexander, appearing as a B-side to his single “Where Have You Been”.  I’m more familiar with the cover, which was recorded by the Beatles a year later.  Alexander’s original reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1962.  The song was covered by the Beatles during a 1963 session at the BBC, released on their 1994 album Live at the BBC.  It was also covered by the Kaisers, Marshall Crenshaw, Pearl Jam, Little Steven, and the Derailers.  The Beatles’ cover was exuberant, and Alexander’s was melancholier.  The Beatles recorded the cover a day after recording the “She Loves You/” I’ll Get You” singles.  It is rated as one of the Beatles’ greatest covers, yet I can’t find where it charted.

“Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)” is a song written by the premier Motown songwriting/production team of the 1960’s Holland-Dozier-Holland.  The first hit recording was sung by Kim Weston in 1965.  It was most popular in 1975 when it was covered by the Doobie Brothers.  Weston’s original peaked at #4 on the U.S. R&B and Hip Hop chart.  The Isley Brothers covered the song before the Doobie’s, taking the track to #22 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart in 1968.  Canadian artist Charity Brown took the song to #5 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles.

Many might think that the late Whitney Houston is the only one who sang the song “I’m Every Woman”.  Not true.  “I’m Every Woman” was released by Chaka Khan from her debut solo album, Chaka, in 1978.  It was her first hit outside her recordings with the funk band Rufus.  I’m Every Woman” was produced by Arif Mardin and written by the successful songwriting team of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.  The singer established Chaka’s career outside the group Rufua, whom she would leave after their eighth studio album, Masterjam, was released in late 1979.  The track was remixed and re-released in 1989 for Khan’s remix album Life Is a Dance: The Remix Project.  This mix reached #8 in the U.K.  The late Whitney Houston covered the song in 1992.  Houston was a former backup vocalist for Khan’s 1980 album Naughty.  She recorded her version of the song for The Bodyguard soundtrack.  Chaka’s version reached #21 in the U.S. Billboard and #1 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs in Billboard.  Whitney’s cover reached #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the UK Dance Chart.  (www.en.wikipedia.org) That’s my final cover for this week.  I’ll be back in the future with more.  Until then, feel free to check out my podcast Blendertainment!

https://open.spotify.com/show/61yTPt9wXdz37DZTbPUs16?si=w5jHghPVRmaTaP5ZEI-wzQ

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blendertainment/id1541097172