One of my all time favorite songs is "God Bless The Child." Why can't I find a good version of it??!

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Been on Soulseek for an hour looking for a version of this song on which the singer plays it straight, and for some reason, every single version (14 at last count) has someone dramatically mucking it up. The Bille Holiday version is OK, but even Lady Day has that 'hesitation' thing I find very annoying. It's such a beautiful song, why can't they let it speak for itself??

The ONLY version of this song I ever thought was great was the one they used for the theme song of that show Roc, before they had En Vogue come in and re-do it after the first few seasons. The version I remember was accapella, maybe with finger-snaps? Does anyone know who did this version?

I'm about ready to cover it myself, just so I can hear it done right!

― roger adultery, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 02:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Eric Dolphy

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, right on, Sonny Rollins did a decent version too - but I shoulda specified VOCAL versions

― roger adultery, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 02:41 (twenty-two years ago)

judy henske

― judyhenskefan, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 03:05 (twenty-two years ago)

a weird old 60's psych band called six foot hose did a pretty nice version of it on their 'cauldron' album.

― Jay Kirsch, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 03:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Try Lisa Simpson's version on "Simpsons sing the Blues," if you object to Billie Holiday's version. You'll find much less of that irritating "artistic interpretation."

― Seth freedman, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 05:00 (twenty-two years ago)

i think blood sweat & tears covered it too

― manuel, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 05:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I was just going to suggest Nina Simone but after looking on AMG to find out which album it was on, I find it's not there.... surely Nina did cover that one didn't she? I can hear her singing it in my head so I couldn't just have imagined it.... could I?!?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 07:00 (twenty-two years ago)

seconded the simpson's version!!

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 08:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Billy Mackenzie did a fantastic version of this song with just voice and piano. It was a radio session (the Muriel Gray show I think) and I've been looking for it for years.

― Kim Tortoise, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 09:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Drop me a line, Kim -- it came out on a BBC Sessions disc which I have. I kept thinking of this version while reading the thread.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

alex gopher "the child" uses a sample of it
*beautifully*.

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 30 July 2003 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

^samples the b. holiday version

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I know what you mean ....but the stevie wonder cover is perfect- can be found on his "Light my Fire" album

― blue, Friday, 1 August 2003 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

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