Quote Originally Posted by Worf101
When you use a crackerjack backing band, (they both use the same band if I'm NOT mistaken) but rip off half the melodies from OTHER older songs, no wonder you've a more popular album. I own albums from both artists and enjoy both. Amy's easier to listen to because of the hooks and alike, but If I had to choose one to go see, and spend money on? Sharon Jones in a heartbeat.

After watching Ms. Winehouse stumble drunkenly around the stage at Glastonbury I think I'll give her a pass. I watched my father do the same routine for free as a kid. I'll not pay to see someone do it.

Da Worfster
I wouldn't pay to see her either, Worf, and I'm not quoting this to pick on you, just trying to generally address the thread.

I listened to the first SJ & the D-K's rec last night, the one from 2002. It's at least as derivative as the Amy Winehouse rec. Sounds like a bunch of recycled riffs & ideas mostly from James Brown, with a couple of others thrown into the mix as well (Wilson Pickett here & there, one or two that recall some of the less poppy moments on non-Motown soul), but the best thing I think can be said about it is that if you didn't know it wasn't recorded in the late 60s or early 70s, most people would be easily fooled. I would. I hadn't heard this since I got it but I don't feel any differently that I'd rather listen to the originals. They're just more interesting.

And the Winehouse rec is more interesting to my ears. Sure, Sharon Jones would by far be a more fun gig, it would seem, no contest. But I admitted not having heard the new Sharon Jones rec, so it could well be much better than this, and could be much better, who knows? I trust the opinions of folks here. But how many people have heard the debut, which is all I have to go on at present? I took a look on AMG & they assign four stars to each of the three albums, for what it's worth.

All of the recs I listed are derivative, though I think the Winehouse does actually offer a songwriting credit for one of the more obvious lifts. I don't mind derivative if I like it; but outside of a cover on Dap-Dappin', it sounds like something James Brown deserved to have his name on at least half, or more, of. And, again, the songs just weren't there, at least compared to the Amy Winehouse rec. I'll keep my ears open, but while I would've been happy to look at things a bit differently, I still don't hear it & I stand by what I felt about the rec I do have from when I first heard it about 3 years ago.

Sorry.