For this round of The Original vs. The Cover, we are battling out with “Let the Music Do the Talking” which will pit The Joe Perry Project against Aerosmith. Wait, isn’t Joe Perry in both of those…why yes he is!! The Joe Perry Project released an album in March 1980 with this song as the lead off track and the name of the album. Aerosmith did it 5 years later as the lead off track as well on their 1985 album ‘Done with Mirrors’.

How did this song come about? Well, Joe Perry got in to a major fight with Steven Tyler and the band over their wives, plus drugs and other band issues. He left the band and immediately started work on an album. Columbia Records was real hesitant on giving him a deal with all the struggles he had with Aerosmith. But they did and this song just kind of came in to being. Joe had a lot to prove that he could make it on his own and he felt the music should do the talking for him rather than shooting off his own mouth. And he was right. When he rejoined Aerosmith, the band loved the song and wanted to cover it, so they did.

Which one is better? We will see.

THE JOE PERRY PROJECT:

The Joe Perry Project version starts off with a heavy drum beat and a David Hull bass line then the band explodes with Joe on guitar and Ralph Morman on vocals. Ralph’s vocals are pretty smooth, no real grit to them, just clean vocals. It is a straight-ahead rock song with some pounding drums from Ronnie Stewart and of course Joe’s playing was stellar. The song runs 4:42 as it brings another verse after the solo and then a lot of runs over the chorus. It ends with a little bluesy guitar work by Joe. A solid track.

AEROSMITH:

Aerosmith took the song and reworked it. They changed up the lyrics, the opening was all Joe Guitar work with Joey slamming in some feels. It had a real blues feel to it more so than the original. Steven Tyler’s vocals had grit, character and a contagious energy that just sucks you in. He had a lot of heart in his vocal performance. The band shortened the song a great deal by cutting it down to 3:44 by one, speeding up the tempo and two, cutting out the excess fat. You still get a great Perry solo, but not another verse after the solo. The only fault on it is the song fades out rather than have the blues solo work by Joe on the original.

THE VERDICT:

For me, it is a pretty easy decision but I could see this being split evenly between the two songs. It is a matter of what you prefer more sound wise. I feel The Joe Perry Project is a great solid pure rock song, but Ralph’s vocals aren’t as interesting as Steven Tylers. The guitar work is great on both songs as it is Joe Perry people!! But the Aerosmith version has such a great tone and makes it short and sweet compared to the original. I think Joe’s guitar playing is even better on the Aerosmith version as well. So, I obviously pick the Aerosmith version as there is so much more to it sonically and there is no denying my love for Tyler’s vocals. That grit and power is not matched by many. Overall, a great track with either version. Joe hit a home run with this song!!

I am really interested in hearing what everyone else thinks of these two songs.  Let me know which version you like the best and why.  Feel free to leave a comment and talk about the song and tell me how right or wrong I am on this one.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

LYRICS:

“Let The Music Do The Talking”

Ba ba ba ba ba ba yeah

Want to take a chance and dance before
I got to leave alone.
One short song, and she’ll be gone
I wish her off was on.
Gotta try another way to get her
To come aroung to me.
Wanna take a chance and dance before
I gotta leave alone.

Let the music do the talking
(I can’t wait)
Let the music do the talking
(Save the day)
Let the music do the talking
(Let you know)
Let the music do the talking
(Sell my soul)
Let the music, honey, do the talking.
. . .
One more thing I’ve gotta say
But I’ll explain it a different way.
Gotta know I got an axe to grind
I know, you, won’t mind
In your eyes I see the sky, no question
Hearts belong entwined.
One last thing is clear, the sea of love
Is positively meant to be.

Let the music do the talking
(I can’t wait)
Let the music do the talking
(Save the day)
Let the music do the talking
(Let you know)
Let the music do the talking
(Sell my soul)
Let the music, honey, do the talking.
. . .
2, 2, 3, 4,
Let the music do the talking
(I can’t wait)
Let the music do the talking
(Save the day)
Let the music do the talking
(Let you know)
Let the music do the talking
(Sell my song)
Let the music, son, do the talking.

Want to take a chance and dance before
I got to leave alone.
One short song, and she’ll be gone
I wish her off was on.
Gotta try another way to get her
To come around to me.
Wanna take a chance and dance before
I gotta leave alone.
Let the music do the talking
(I can’t wait)
Let the music do the talking
(Save the day)
Let the music do the talking
(Let you know)
Let the music do the talking
(Sell my song)

Let the music do the talking
(I can’t wait)
Let the music do the talking
Let the music
Let the music do the talking
(I can’t wait)
Let the music do the talking
(Let you know)
Let the music do the talking
(Sell my song)
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking

Written by Joe Perry