Cover to Cover - Stevie Wonder v Coolio

Henry Irving

Two versions of the same song

Listen to both without prejudice and say which you prefer, the 1976 Stevie Wonder original or the 1995 Coolio cover

No other versions allowed especially Wierd Al's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H3Sv2zad6s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPO76Jlnz6c

North Lower Neil

Coolio.

Friend Or Defoe

Coolio, featuring L.V.

Dazzler21

Coolio

KBslittlesis

Stevie Wonder

stonemuse

Coolio … haunting and wonderful 

LargeAddick

Didn’t even know Coolio’s was a cover until now but prefer Coolio’s.

Chizz

Stevie

charlton4ever

Coolio...... just. I also had no idea it was a SW song. 

twiggyaddick

fun fact, Stevie only allowed the sample to be used on the Coolio version if there was no swearing on it

JamesSeed

Stevie’s a genius, but Coolio’s version is the winner here. 

Henry Irving

When I first thought of this cover to cover, due to the sad news of Coolio's death, I thought Stevie would be my preference but the cover version wins it for me.

Surprised people didn't know it was a cover but I guess it wasn't a big hit in the 70s.

se9addick

Definitely Coolio. I’m sure Stevie won’t mind - he probably earned a fortune from the Coolio version!

Henry Irving

twiggyaddick said:

fun fact, Stevie only allowed the sample to be used on the Coolio version if there was no swearing on it

Not really a sample 

Afternoon Delight

Coolio for me. Stevie Wonder version is great too.

Stig

I suppose Stevie deserves credit for writing it, but that recording sounds awful. Like a chamber orchestra recorded on an old fashioned phonograph and played back below the waterline in a tin bath full of decidedly tepid water. Strange really because in his career he produced some cracking recordings. Coolio wins the big plaudits though for recognising that there was a song in there and recording it with both subtlety and power. As is invariably the case with these little tests though the best recording has to remain nameless.

JaShea99

Henry Irving said:

show previous quotes

twiggyaddick said:

fun fact, Stevie only allowed the sample to be used on the Coolio version if there was no swearing on it

Not really a sample


 How is that not a sample?

golfaddick

Not really a cover. More a sample or a re-working like when Puff Daddy nicked the riff from Every Breath you Take. 

Henry Irving

JaShea99 said:

show previous quotes

Henry Irving said:

twiggyaddick said:

fun fact, Stevie only allowed the sample to be used on the Coolio version if there was no swearing on it

Not really a sample


 How is that not a sample?

He didn't sample one small bit.

It's the same song with some rapping over it and pastime changed to gangster.

It's a cover version.

Friend Or Defoe

Here's a combination of both songs.

https://youtu.be/6C2Np-P3ZrY

SoundAsa£

Stevie…..all day long.

eaststandmike

SW for me

se9addick

Henry Irving said:

show previous quotes

JaShea99 said:

Henry Irving said:

twiggyaddick said:

fun fact, Stevie only allowed the sample to be used on the Coolio version if there was no swearing on it

Not really a sample


 How is that not a sample?

He didn't sample one small bit.

It's the same song with some rapping over it and pastime changed to gangster.

It's a cover version.

I think the correct term is interpolation, when you re-record a part of a song for use in another song. Different from a sample which uses a part of the originally recorded song in a new song.

JaShea99

Henry Irving said:

show previous quotes

JaShea99 said:

Henry Irving said:

twiggyaddick said:

fun fact, Stevie only allowed the sample to be used on the Coolio version if there was no swearing on it

Not really a sample


 How is that not a sample?

He didn't sample one small bit.

It's the same song with some rapping over it and pastime changed to gangster.

It's a cover version.

I’m not sure you understand what sampling means.

McBobbin

Incredible album from Stevie in his prime, but as for a single song that defined an era it's Coolio without a doubt

lolwray

Stevie