by S. Victor Aaron
I always thought that the best covers are ones that takes a mediocre original and turns it into a genuinely good song. Such was the case when Atlanta roots rockers The Georgia Satellites took Ringo Starr’s hokey “Don’t Pass Me By” and gave it a swift, hard kick in the ass.
For those of you who never delved into the really, really deep cuts of the Beatles’ White Album, “Don’t Pass Me By” was Ringo’s first songwriting credit on a Beatles record (although rumor has it that he got a lot of help from his friend Paul). It had these goofy lyrics and played in a hillbilly style, but with some cheesy game show organ. As you probably figured out by now, I’m not really fond of this version of “Don’t Pass Me By” but I’m sure it’s got its share of admirers. Heck, even George’s clunker from the same album, “Long, Long, Long,” has it’s own fan club.
Ah, but twenty years later the Satellites rescued Starkey’s folly with a double shot of testosterone and just like that, it becomes a tough, barroom brawlin’ rocker. It starts with the same kind of rockabilly picking that kicks off their lone hit “Keep Your Hands To Yourself,” but the drums boom away at a faster tempo, the bass is pulsing insistently, the piano bangs hard like Jerry Lee Lewis and the guitars are righteously rockin’.
Everyone’s playing so loud that Dan Baird’s vocals are nearly drowned out in the mix. Not that I mind, though; this song is getting by on energy alone and there’s no reason to water that down. Still, those lyrics somehow don’t sound so bad in this context. Simple, unsophisticated verses about heartbreak fits right in with Southern rock.
I just can’t believe no one’s made a YouTube video out of it yet. All I have to offer here is a little sample, but if you liked the Georgia Satellites’ self-titled breakout album of ’86, you probably need to procure their strong followup Open All Night, anyway:
Sample: The Georgia Satellites “Don’t Pass Me By”
“One Track Mind” is a more-or-less weekly drool over a single song selected on a whim and a short thesis on why you should be drooling over it, too.
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I’m glad you like this version of the song. When I first heard it I thought it was one of the most original interpretations of a Beatles song. The Georgia Satellites took a piece of music who most people consider to be a throwaway novelty and turned into a danceable party rocker. Good analysis!
Good call my friend,as this cover is at once both a heartfelt tribute and a unique and original rendition of how these barrelhouse rockers took it in and spit it out.True consideration must go to the runaway train guitar of Mr.Rick Richards,as it seems to go in one ear and come out as a “punch in yer face”blazing,roaring rock n’ roll baby guitar manic meltdown.Don’t believe me?Find the Satellites’ version of the classic Faces “Every Picture tells a Story”,Ron Wood/Rod the Bod and pals certainly got through to these impressionable young boys.Too hot to touch,yoowza!
Glad you brought this up, Todd. I recently caught another cover of this song, by Field Music, and it doesn’t come anywhere close to being as good as the Satellites. In fact, I’d probably wouldn’t like “Don’t Pass Be By At All” if it wasn’t for this cover. I also love Rod’s “Every Picture Tells a Story” ( http://somethingelsereviews.com/2007/11/23/deep-cuts-rod-stewart-every-picture-tells-a-story-1971/ ) but I’ll have to go check out GS’s cover of it. It’s gotta be good.