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Track Listings
| 1. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before |
| 2. You Keep Me Hangin' On |
| 3. God Put A Smile On Your Face |
| 4. Oh My God |
| 5. Stop Me |
| 6. Toxic |
| 7. Valerie |
| 8. Apply Some Pressure |
| 9. Inversion |
| 10. Pretty Green |
| 11. Just |
| 12. Amy |
| 13. The Only One I Know |
| 14. Diversion |
| 15. L.S.F. |
| 16. Outversion |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
On Version, British-born, New York-bred DJ Mark Ronson cocks a sideways glance at some of the bigger UK chart hits of the last few years, plus a couple of old favourites. Formerly producer for an all-star cast that includes Lily Allen, Christina Aguilera, Robbie Williams, and Amy Winehouse, here Ronson has cajoled some of his famous mates into repaying the favour. The result? An album of A-list karaoke that at times, struggles to transcend its novelty, but nonetheless throws up some fun reversions. The uniting factor is Ronson's band - a live-sounding band augmented with trumpets, saxophones, piano and strings which, to its credit, puts enough of a stamp on the material that no single artist steals the show. And that's quite a feat, as there's some big names here. Lily Allen tackles the Kaiser Chiefs' "Oh My God" with her token gum-chewing insouciance. Amy Winehouse proves The Zutons' "Valerie" was always meant to be a strings-swept Motown stomp. And Tiggers and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard tackle Britney's "Toxic" (although few Wu-Tang fans will be surprised just how far ODB wanders off script). But the most significant misstep? Robbie's take on The Charlatans' "The Only One I Know", an unexpectedly drab remake that serves best to remind you how good the original is. --Louis Pattison
Review
OK, let's get the obvious stuff out of the way. Mark Ronson, for all his geezerish charm, is the child of a privileged background, this much we know. Let's start off by stating categorically that this should not in any way affect our opinion of him. He's a talented DJ. He knows how to produce. These are also facts and they are the pertinent ones when trying to get to grips with his latest offering. Unfortunately they're not quite enough to stop Version being a disappointment.
There's something faintly depressing about someone who has this much talent producing an album of cover versions. Such things always come with a degree of novelty that means that they don't wear well over time. After the initial thrill of hearing your favourite/least favourite song transformed from a chart-friendly sing-along to a brooding dancefloor killer, or an indie stomp made over as a disco romp where else can you go? With Morrissey's ''Stop Me'' already riding high in the charts it seems there is a market for this kind of thing. But then again maybe that's because the original song was a killer in the first place.
Ronson does do inventive stuff to these songs. Big bold brass stabs perk up songs like the Ol' Dirty Bastard-starring ''Toxic'' which turns Britney into a ska-ed up hip hop extravaganza, or Radiohead's ''Just'' into a sweaty, funky Maceo Parker-style workout. But for every hit there's a miss here. No amount of groovy names can turn coal into diamonds. And sometimes the originals were great not because of the songs themselves, but the performances. Not even Amy Winehouse can save the sacrilege of murdering the Zutons' ''Valerie'', and Paul Weller's ''Pretty Green'' was a stonker by the Jam because of its spitting sarcasm, not for its woefully dirge-like tune that gets horribly over-exposed in Santo Gold's attempt.
If anything this record strives too hard with its credentials. All the right names are in all the right places. But essentially, at the heart is another big beat superstar DJ, showing us he knows all the moves but forgetting to pack much originality. Having said that, it'll sound great blasting out of cars in the summer heat. However by autumn you'll have returned to the originals and be wondering what happened to Ronson's glittering career. Let's hope he doesn't give up, just give us something more substantial next time. --Jerome Blakeney
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's great to see such progression; Mark Ronson's last album was a reasonable DJ's effort to corral in some Hip-Hop egos and cliches, but Version shows a musical and artistic maturity and growth that is heartening to hear.
Although best known as a DJ, Ronson pulls in some big band sounds with real horns, strings and percussion creating an expansive soundstage for the singers to really play on. Don't worry, though - there is still a fair amount of turntablism and rhythm-nous to keep these tracks rocking.
All of the songs lend themselves very well to this treatment, coming largely from the 60s-inspired BritPop era. The only bum note in the album is Lily Allen, but that may just be my personal prejudice against her. Amy Winehouse, Robbie Williams and Kasabian all pull off some very engaging tracks. I think my favourite track has to be the cover of "Just" (originally by Radiohead from the amazing "The Bends" album) - it's incredibly ambitious to take on such an iconic song, but to actually make something vastly different and equally good deserves huge praise. "Toxic" (yes, the Britney Spears track) also gets a superb makeover, despite ODB's somewhat jarring cameo.
All in all, a very worthy album and a fine purchase.
Although best known as a DJ, Ronson pulls in some big band sounds with real horns, strings and percussion creating an expansive soundstage for the singers to really play on. Don't worry, though - there is still a fair amount of turntablism and rhythm-nous to keep these tracks rocking.
All of the songs lend themselves very well to this treatment, coming largely from the 60s-inspired BritPop era. The only bum note in the album is Lily Allen, but that may just be my personal prejudice against her. Amy Winehouse, Robbie Williams and Kasabian all pull off some very engaging tracks. I think my favourite track has to be the cover of "Just" (originally by Radiohead from the amazing "The Bends" album) - it's incredibly ambitious to take on such an iconic song, but to actually make something vastly different and equally good deserves huge praise. "Toxic" (yes, the Britney Spears track) also gets a superb makeover, despite ODB's somewhat jarring cameo.
All in all, a very worthy album and a fine purchase.
33 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well, I might as well chime in with the same start to my reviews as others have:
I bought this album based on the opening Coldplay remix, God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (feat. The Daptone Horns). This is without a doubt the best opening track to any album I own, and I have quite a few. I flicked through the others but none of them seemed to have the immediate upbeat, get up, energetic tempo that the first track provides.
So, a few listens of the first track on the way to France was all I gave it. On the way back however I got stuck in a three hour traffic jam on the M25 and out of sheer boredom I let the album run. How glad am I that I did?
The Lilly Allen remix was cheerful and pleasant then I got to the ODB version of Toxic. I was sat in the traffic jam in hysterics. I had no idea what was coming and could barely believe it. I listened to it again four times and was so amused and impressed. From that point on I was hooked. The album played out and with the exception of Pretty Green (I just find the singing so annoying) I could listen to, and have listened to the tracks a hundred times over and more.
Absolute favourite is Diversion leading into Kasabians L.S.F. This to me is audio perfection. I can listen to it when I'm happy, annoyed, at the gym, at home relaxing. It's really that good. At least to me.
Yes there are a lot of horns on the album (no doubt from the other reviews you'll have gathered this!) however if you think that's all he's done then you're not listening closely enough. There is a lot of detail gone in and indeed as one other reviewer said - he's taken some great, great songs (like Radiohead's' Just) and made them even better.... Read more ›
I bought this album based on the opening Coldplay remix, God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (feat. The Daptone Horns). This is without a doubt the best opening track to any album I own, and I have quite a few. I flicked through the others but none of them seemed to have the immediate upbeat, get up, energetic tempo that the first track provides.
So, a few listens of the first track on the way to France was all I gave it. On the way back however I got stuck in a three hour traffic jam on the M25 and out of sheer boredom I let the album run. How glad am I that I did?
The Lilly Allen remix was cheerful and pleasant then I got to the ODB version of Toxic. I was sat in the traffic jam in hysterics. I had no idea what was coming and could barely believe it. I listened to it again four times and was so amused and impressed. From that point on I was hooked. The album played out and with the exception of Pretty Green (I just find the singing so annoying) I could listen to, and have listened to the tracks a hundred times over and more.
Absolute favourite is Diversion leading into Kasabians L.S.F. This to me is audio perfection. I can listen to it when I'm happy, annoyed, at the gym, at home relaxing. It's really that good. At least to me.
Yes there are a lot of horns on the album (no doubt from the other reviews you'll have gathered this!) however if you think that's all he's done then you're not listening closely enough. There is a lot of detail gone in and indeed as one other reviewer said - he's taken some great, great songs (like Radiohead's' Just) and made them even better.... Read more ›
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Ray Blake
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
It's a diverse range of material that Ronson has collected together to give the 'wall of horns' treatment to. And for the most part, the conversions work very well.
The only tracks which stop this being a 5 star review are 'The Only One I Know' and 'Stop Me'. I've no objection to people singing a song differently from the original artist; indeed, a cover version which is just the same as the original is pointless. But with these two covers, the vocalist just doesn't seem to 'get' the song. When it was all over the radio, 'Stop Me' really frustrated me because it only really works as a wryly humorous song and it is sung here without any humour. Paradoxically, Robbie Williams (who murders 'The Only One I Know') might have pulled it off.
The only tracks which stop this being a 5 star review are 'The Only One I Know' and 'Stop Me'. I've no objection to people singing a song differently from the original artist; indeed, a cover version which is just the same as the original is pointless. But with these two covers, the vocalist just doesn't seem to 'get' the song. When it was all over the radio, 'Stop Me' really frustrated me because it only really works as a wryly humorous song and it is sung here without any humour. Paradoxically, Robbie Williams (who murders 'The Only One I Know') might have pulled it off.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By D. T. GREEN
Format:Audio CD
I too bought this on the back of "Stop Me". I had been so out of touch with the charts, the track really caught my attention in the garden one (remarkably sunny) afternoon so I had a quick look at the track list and went ahead about purchased.
For me, there are probably 5 tracks that carry the album and the rest are...well frankly they are a bit obscure and "so so". The first three are brilliant, and Winehouse does a good job on Valerie. Contrary to a lot of public opinion I think the Robbie cover is actually decent, this album is purposefully produced as a novelty therefore 'Only One I Know' shouldn't be taken too seriously; I hear the Robbie FanGrrls love it.
It gets a 4/5 for tracks 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10...but I'm often only loading them into my Winamp playlist and ignoring the rest unfortunately.
If Ronson had waited a while and produced something with say, 12 out of the 14 tracks featuring a big name with a familiar tune then it would of been candidate for "Covers Album of the Year".
For me, there are probably 5 tracks that carry the album and the rest are...well frankly they are a bit obscure and "so so". The first three are brilliant, and Winehouse does a good job on Valerie. Contrary to a lot of public opinion I think the Robbie cover is actually decent, this album is purposefully produced as a novelty therefore 'Only One I Know' shouldn't be taken too seriously; I hear the Robbie FanGrrls love it.
It gets a 4/5 for tracks 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10...but I'm often only loading them into my Winamp playlist and ignoring the rest unfortunately.
If Ronson had waited a while and produced something with say, 12 out of the 14 tracks featuring a big name with a familiar tune then it would of been candidate for "Covers Album of the Year".
22 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Black Box
Format:Audio CD
I admit it, I bought this after reading the hype in the highbrow press. It was a mistake. This album does not in any way add to the original songs - it actually subtracts something - joyful creativity mostly. And believe the other reviewers too - all the tracks do sound the same - artificial, over-busy and over-compressed. It might sound OK as a 15 second TV advert soundtrack, but it's just plain painful on any half-decent sound system.
If you can get over the production values, you'll reveal this album for what it is - a sterile, lifeless, vacuous sham. Buy it only if you feel it lends your collection artistic credibility, just don't bother playing it. Better still, if you're a lover of the horn (and who isn't), buy Dexys' Searching For The Young Soul Rebels or Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue instead, and be blown away.
Version gets my 'Worst Purchase of 2007 Award' for sure.
If you can get over the production values, you'll reveal this album for what it is - a sterile, lifeless, vacuous sham. Buy it only if you feel it lends your collection artistic credibility, just don't bother playing it. Better still, if you're a lover of the horn (and who isn't), buy Dexys' Searching For The Young Soul Rebels or Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue instead, and be blown away.
Version gets my 'Worst Purchase of 2007 Award' for sure.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing album
This album should just not work..... but it does. I had the same feeling when the Scissor Sisters covered one of my all time favourites... Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2008 by chuckles
4.0 out of 5 stars
great CD .. similar shape to Karl Pilkingtons head i notice
This is a great CD, nice mix of music from the new 'it guy' in the music industry. but has anyone else noticed the similarity between the CD itself .. Read more
Published on 13 April 2008 by Mr. C. P. Gracey
5.0 out of 5 stars
wow!!!!
wow!!!! this album is full of surprises.its just so different,if you like 'live lounge' style, you'll love this. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2008 by Mrs. J. Howe
1.0 out of 5 stars
How do you get on in music when you have no musical talent?
Answer: Use people who've got some! If there's a better example of how to achieve fame and fortune on the backs of other peoples efforts then I'd be very surprised! Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2008 by The BigE
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dazzling reinventions of modern classics.
Achingly cool collection of inspired, witty re-interpretations of some old favourites...
I am pretty certain that the inspiration for this album came from one of two... Read more
I am pretty certain that the inspiration for this album came from one of two... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2008 by Ian Turnedge
5.0 out of 5 stars
The man's done good
With his smug smirk, his quirky accent (not quite British, not quite east coast American) and his irritating habit of dropping celebrity names into every interview I've certainly... Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2008 by Olukayode Balogun
3.0 out of 5 stars
3 or 4 stars
This is one album where the promise of it is a lot more satisfying then the actual content.
From what made onto our radios and into our charts it led one to believe that... Read more
From what made onto our radios and into our charts it led one to believe that... Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2008 by Nik C
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
amazing, dont listern to the pathetic amazon.co.uk review, which is frankly miss-guided, the tracks are all performed to very high standards.... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2008 by O. Francis
1.0 out of 5 stars
Rip Off
If you want to hear the real source for this rip off, Buy and listen to Ike Turner's 1969 album 'A Black mans soul',Track 1 Thinking Black (especially), Ike's album is a classic... Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2007 by Jifrance
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant surprise
I bought this album on a recommendation from a friend, and how glad I am that I did. I get sick of hearing the same old stuff all the time, and how once you find someone you like... Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2007 by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
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