Rock Swings - Paul Anka & Paul Young

[Ethan Bentley]

I recently purchased Paul Anka's Rock Swing and listened to Paul Young's album of the same name on Spotify.
They are two albums where the artists have rearranged or "swung" pop or rock songs to give them a jazz feel.

Track listing of Paul Anka's "Rock Swings"

"It's My Life" (original version by Bon Jovi)
"True" (original version by Spandau Ballet)
"Eye of the Tiger" (original version by Survivor)
"Everybody Hurts" (original version by R.E.M.)
"Wonderwall" (original version by Oasis)
"Black Hole Sun" (original version by Soundgarden)
"It's a Sin" (original version by Pet Shop Boys)
"Jump" (original version by Van Halen)
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" (original version by Nirvana)
"Hello" (original version by Lionel Richie)
"Eyes Without a Face" (original version by Billy Idol)
"The Lovecats" (original version by The Cure)
"The Way You Make Me Feel" (original version by Michael Jackson)
"Tears in Heaven" (original version by Eric Clapton)

Some of Young's covers include "Hungry Heart" and "Walk on the Wild Side".

Has anyone else listend to either of these?
Does anyone have any favourite songs that have been "swung"?

 

[Brian Sheridan]

I have the Anka CD. Much better than Pat Boone's attempt at heav metal a few years back.

The CD is good but it does seem to be a bit "Richard Cheese" like at times. I do have "It's My Life" on my Ipod.

 

[Ethan Bentley]

Yes there are some similarities.
"It's My Life" is one of the best tracks on there, I like the fact that it's Anka that sing "Like Frank said I did it My Way", a nice little joke.

I also quite like "Jump" and "True".

On the Paul Young one I like "Walk on The Wild Side" and "Hungry Heart" the latter I thought was an inspired, if not unexpected, choice.

 

[The Reno Kid]

I happened across Paul Anka doing Smells Like Teen Spirit on Youtube and it was one of those moments of unreality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsS811o21-k

To me, this is just really bizarre...