We are on the third studio album for the band Down ‘N’ Outz. A band that was created by Joe Elliott to cover Mott the Hoople and Ian Hunter songs and they did that job gloriously. For this third time, they decided to do something different. They created an album that was almost all original material penned by Joe Elliott himself. There is one cover on it and that is perfectly fine. The band line-up is slightly different. We do still have Paul Guerin, Guy Griffin, Keith Weir and Paul Martini, but they have a new bass player with the wonderful Share Ross from the band Vixen. She is a great addition to this ragged bunch of guys.
The album came out on October 11, 2019 and was produced by Ronan McHugh and the engineer on the album is an old Def Leppard friend by the name of Phil Collen. Cool he lended a hand to the production. We get 12 tracks on a single LP which is a very nice gatefold with the lyrics inside. The album sleeve has some great pictures of each of the band members and the vinyl itself is simply black. I don’t know if this thing charted or any sales figures, but a project like this is done for the love of music, no expectations to be a massive chart success. Joe’s had that, this is a passion project. And let’s see how that passion plays out.
SIDE 1:
The album opens with the first song Joe wrote for the album, “Another Man’s War”. Joe was going for something that was not Def Leppard but more Mott, Bowie and that 70’s glam. and I would say he did a bang up job with that goal. The piano is the driving force on this one while the guitars give it just enough bite to rock the song out. A pure 70’s style gem and Joe’s vocals honor that era greatly. A stellar opening track that sets the mood.
This version of The Original vs. The Cover is going to be 3 songs. The song is the classic “Without You” and we will kick it off with the original by the band Badfinger. Now, I have to admit, I thought the original was by Harry Nilsson and didn’t realize his was a cover. So, Harry is up next. Lastly, we will throw in one of the most successful covers by the great Mariah Carey. The song was written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans from the band Badfinger.
Pete Ham was originally writing a song called “If It’s Love”, but the song didn’t have a good chorus. When he was getting ready to leave the studio one day, Tom Evans stopped him and said he had an idea for a song. Peter was supposed to go out with his girlfriend, well his girlfriend knew him well and knew he would not be able to focus so she made him stay behind. Tom was working on a song with the chorus “Can’t live if living is without you”. The two parts were like chocolate and peanut butter. Apart they are good, but together they are perfect. The two didn’t think much of the song but apparently it has now been covered by over 180 artist.
On a side note and after effect of the song, Both Ham and Evans later committed suicide due to legal and financial reasons. Evans reason for the suicide seemed to be related to the royalties on this song which makes it a pretty sad tale.
BADFINGER
The Badfinger song came out on November 9, 1970 and was on their album ‘No Dice’. It is was a guitar ballad and had some heavy bass and both electric and acoustical accompaniment. Ham and Evans both take on lead vocal duties. It has that classic 60’s/70’s rock vibe to it and there is a punch to as the song progresses. There is a yearning to the vocals and you can feel the pain of that broken heart. It is a rather effective song and why I wasn’t overly familiar with it before I have no idea.
HARRY NILSSON
Harry Nilsson covered the song a year later on his 1971 album ‘Nilsson Schmilsson’. The song was released on October 11, 1971 and the song went all the way to #1 on Billboard Charts. Harry’s version turns the song in to a piano ballad giving it it an airy atmostpheric feel. The bass groove that lies just behind the lyrics is impactful and soulful. And when the chorus explodes it is so much more dramatic and he owns the pain and sorrow in those vocals. It is almost cathartic and you know he feels better after singing it. The song might be even more effective than the original and he even shaved a minute off the song. Harry truly owns this one and has probably the most recognizable version…at least for 20+ years.
MARIAH CAREY
Then on January 24, 1994, Mariah Carey releases her version of the song from her 1994 album ‘Music Box’. A whole new generation would now be introduced to the song which only went to #3 on the Billboard Charts. Mariah’s version is based off Harry’s as it is mostly a biting piano song with some heavy, heavy bass added to it. Almost too much bass. Her vocals soar and hit notes that Harry would only dream of, however, her vocals, though beautiful, don’t capture the emotion of the song. I feel she is singing it, but not feeling it.
THE VERDICT
Based on the above, I am torn between Badfinger’s version and Harry Nilsson’s version. As I said Mariah, she sings it beautifully but she doesn’t feel the song. And if I am basing on who “feels” the song and makes it believable, I guess I would go with Harry Nilsson’s version. He truly owned it and made it his own. Changing it to a piano based song really turned up the feels and you believed he felt the pain and sorrow of those lyrics. Badfinger is a very close second as I do love the guitar and bass work on the original. I hate they didn’t get the recognition they truly deserved for creating such a beautiful and powerful 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:
“Without You”
Well, I can’t forget this evening And your face when you were leaving But I guess that’s just the way the story goes You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows Yes, it shows
Well, I can’t forget tomorrow When I think of all my sorrow I had you there, but then I let you go And now it’s only fair that I should let you know What you should know
[CHORUS:] I can’t live, if living is without you I can’t live, I can’t give anymore I can’t live, if living is without you I can’t live, I can’t give anymore
Well, I can’t forget this evening And your face when you were leaving But I guess that’s just the way the story goes You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows Yes, it shows
2 Loud 2 Old Music 