LOVE, HATE, REVENGE!
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I suppose in the music business, the same holds true for cover versions.
Long long ago, in the late 1980's, I fell in love with the New Zealand outfit The Terminals. They performed a unique and alluring mix of pop, pop psych, and rather dark pop rock (they grew progressively darker as they matured). One of the many highlights on their debut LP Uncoffined (Flying Nun Records), was a wonderful track titled "Love, Hate, Revenge". The song was penned by Irwin Levine (composer of "Tie A Yellow Ribbon") and Ritchie Adams and deals with a jilted lover's revenge scenario by way of voodoo.
So we are talking ancient times (post-wheel, but pre-internet), and I just assumed this was some contemporary composition. Wasn't till years later, when information concerning even the most obscure music was readily available online, that I discovered the song dated back to the mid-sixties. Additionally, the catchy ballad had been covered multiple times with some intriguing variations.
First up was in January 1967 with a highly unlikely outing by The Del Satins. The Del Satins had blossomed from the remains of The Dells and the Five Satins way back in 1962. Both groups were practitioners of white doo wop and the new combo was no different. In fact, The Del Satins are considered by some to be the preeminent white doo wop outfit. I suppose that's considered a compliment. Regardless, the sound proved perfect for Dion, who brought them on after The Belmonts exited the vocalist's orbit.
So what possessed the band to throw this raga-rich, pop psych, curve ball at their fans? And can you imagine the response rock radio DJs had when this disc arrived on their desk..."The Del Satins? It's 1967 for God sakes!" Too bad... cause this is a blistering hot performance that conjures visions of hand clapping harem girls and hookahs filled with majikal herbs. It's a boisterous slab of Middle Eastern inspired pop psych to say the least.
One month later, England's Episode Six would release their version of "Love, Hate, Revenge". The London-based group ultimately issued no less than a dozen pop and pop psych singles on Pye throughout the mid and late 1960's. Everything was ably performed and pleasant enough, but nothing seemed to stick to the charts, this cover included. To this day they are best known, not for their records, but for having their bassist Roger Glover and singer Ian Gillan split to form a new group called Deep Purple.
Their version of "Love, Hate, Revenge" is probably a good example of why The Episode Six never really garnered much attention – they seem to have played it "safe" an awful lot. Their single maintains the same basic raga approach, but tones it down a bit... making the song less distinctive. They also drop the mind bending guitar solo that punctuates the Del Satin's version, replacing it with a rat-a-tat march. Imagine how the marching solo played on the dance floor!
In 1968, New Zealand's pop rock heroes The Avengers took a wack at the track and did a pretty nifty job, landing the song in the #2 position on the domestic charts. If you are not familiar with NZ's Avengers, you are really missing out on a grand pop and pop psych experience. (Look for RPM's Everyone's Gonna Wonder compilation before it's out of print and priced beyond reach.)
The Avengers take adds some brass (by 1968, orchestration had become very common in pop music) and puts the guitar solo missing from the Episode Six cover back into the song. Even with the discordant guitar solo (think of the ear-chattering plucking in "Picture's Of Matchstick Men", but less harsh), the Avengers cover is probably the most poppy of all the versions, certainly much smoother. They also appear to replace the phrase "All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery" with "All I gotta do is play guitar and you'll feel misery."
Finally, we have The Terminals cover. First thing you notice is the pace of the performance seems to pick up a bit, and the raga takes a back seat. The discordant guitar in the Avengers version is revved up and prominent not just during the guitar solo, but throughout the track. It's a wonderful cover with great vocals and a nice breezy feel to it. Like their fellow countrymen The Avengers, The Terminals replace the phrase "All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery" with "All I gotta do is play guitar and you'll feel misery."
The Lyrics:
I bought a doll from a old bearded lady
I named it Tanya and it looks just like you
And though I know that it sounds a little crazy
I can make you feel anything I want you to
If I want you to cry bet your life you're gonna cry
When I put two drops of water in this little doll's eye
So if I want to get even for what you did to me
All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery
Yes now the shoe is upon the other foot
I'm in control of your subconscious mind
You're at my mercy the way I was at yours girl
But my compassion is twice yours you'll find
If I want you to cry bet your life you're gonna cry
When I put two drops of water in this little doll's eye
So if I want to get even for what you did to me
All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery
If I want you to cry bet your life you're gonna cry
When I put two drops of water in this little doll's eye
So if I want to get even for what you did to me
All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery
If I want you to cry bet your life you're gonna cry
When I put two drops of water in this little doll's eye
So if I want to get even for what you did to me
All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery
The Videos:
View The Avengers 1968 promotional video here
The Versions:
Compare and contrast yourself!
Long long ago, in the late 1980's, I fell in love with the New Zealand outfit The Terminals. They performed a unique and alluring mix of pop, pop psych, and rather dark pop rock (they grew progressively darker as they matured). One of the many highlights on their debut LP Uncoffined (Flying Nun Records), was a wonderful track titled "Love, Hate, Revenge". The song was penned by Irwin Levine (composer of "Tie A Yellow Ribbon") and Ritchie Adams and deals with a jilted lover's revenge scenario by way of voodoo.
So we are talking ancient times (post-wheel, but pre-internet), and I just assumed this was some contemporary composition. Wasn't till years later, when information concerning even the most obscure music was readily available online, that I discovered the song dated back to the mid-sixties. Additionally, the catchy ballad had been covered multiple times with some intriguing variations.
First up was in January 1967 with a highly unlikely outing by The Del Satins. The Del Satins had blossomed from the remains of The Dells and the Five Satins way back in 1962. Both groups were practitioners of white doo wop and the new combo was no different. In fact, The Del Satins are considered by some to be the preeminent white doo wop outfit. I suppose that's considered a compliment. Regardless, the sound proved perfect for Dion, who brought them on after The Belmonts exited the vocalist's orbit.
So what possessed the band to throw this raga-rich, pop psych, curve ball at their fans? And can you imagine the response rock radio DJs had when this disc arrived on their desk..."The Del Satins? It's 1967 for God sakes!" Too bad... cause this is a blistering hot performance that conjures visions of hand clapping harem girls and hookahs filled with majikal herbs. It's a boisterous slab of Middle Eastern inspired pop psych to say the least.
Love, Hate, Revenge - Del Satins
One month later, England's Episode Six would release their version of "Love, Hate, Revenge". The London-based group ultimately issued no less than a dozen pop and pop psych singles on Pye throughout the mid and late 1960's. Everything was ably performed and pleasant enough, but nothing seemed to stick to the charts, this cover included. To this day they are best known, not for their records, but for having their bassist Roger Glover and singer Ian Gillan split to form a new group called Deep Purple.
Their version of "Love, Hate, Revenge" is probably a good example of why The Episode Six never really garnered much attention – they seem to have played it "safe" an awful lot. Their single maintains the same basic raga approach, but tones it down a bit... making the song less distinctive. They also drop the mind bending guitar solo that punctuates the Del Satin's version, replacing it with a rat-a-tat march. Imagine how the marching solo played on the dance floor!
Love, Hate, Revenge - Episode Six
In 1968, New Zealand's pop rock heroes The Avengers took a wack at the track and did a pretty nifty job, landing the song in the #2 position on the domestic charts. If you are not familiar with NZ's Avengers, you are really missing out on a grand pop and pop psych experience. (Look for RPM's Everyone's Gonna Wonder compilation before it's out of print and priced beyond reach.)
The Avengers take adds some brass (by 1968, orchestration had become very common in pop music) and puts the guitar solo missing from the Episode Six cover back into the song. Even with the discordant guitar solo (think of the ear-chattering plucking in "Picture's Of Matchstick Men", but less harsh), the Avengers cover is probably the most poppy of all the versions, certainly much smoother. They also appear to replace the phrase "All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery" with "All I gotta do is play guitar and you'll feel misery."
Love, Hate, Revenge - Avengers
Finally, we have The Terminals cover. First thing you notice is the pace of the performance seems to pick up a bit, and the raga takes a back seat. The discordant guitar in the Avengers version is revved up and prominent not just during the guitar solo, but throughout the track. It's a wonderful cover with great vocals and a nice breezy feel to it. Like their fellow countrymen The Avengers, The Terminals replace the phrase "All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery" with "All I gotta do is play guitar and you'll feel misery."
Love, Hate, Revenge - Terminals
The Lyrics:
I bought a doll from a old bearded lady
I named it Tanya and it looks just like you
And though I know that it sounds a little crazy
I can make you feel anything I want you to
If I want you to cry bet your life you're gonna cry
When I put two drops of water in this little doll's eye
So if I want to get even for what you did to me
All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery
Yes now the shoe is upon the other foot
I'm in control of your subconscious mind
You're at my mercy the way I was at yours girl
But my compassion is twice yours you'll find
If I want you to cry bet your life you're gonna cry
When I put two drops of water in this little doll's eye
So if I want to get even for what you did to me
All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery
If I want you to cry bet your life you're gonna cry
When I put two drops of water in this little doll's eye
So if I want to get even for what you did to me
All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery
If I want you to cry bet your life you're gonna cry
When I put two drops of water in this little doll's eye
So if I want to get even for what you did to me
All I gotta do is break and swab and you'll feel misery
The Videos:
View The Avengers 1968 promotional video here
The Versions:
Compare and contrast yourself!
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