Showdown: Cover Versions, part 3

Another Showdown post? Alrighty then!
This one was requested via Twitter and the Showdown this time is between WaveGroup Sound cover versions of songs used in Guitar Hero/Rock Band games and the original versions.

For those of you who didn't know, the first five Guitar Hero games (not including handheld ones) and the first Rock Band game had a mix of original master recordings and recorded cover versions by a company called WaveGroup Sound.
I believe the two main reasons for this were either unavailable master recordings from certain bands such as Scorpions or Black Sabbath and cheaper licensing fees due to not using the actual recording of the song (although I'm not certain about that last one). What some of you may not be aware of is that WaveGroup Sound went to painstaking lengths in order to make their cover versions sound as close to the originals as possible.
They made sure they used the correct guitars so each riff would sound correct and even small details such as using the correct type of fan Ozzy speaks into to get the robotic vocal effect at the start of "Iron Man". Needless to say WaveGroup Sound were partly responsible for Guitar Hero taking off in the first place and some people have argued that a handful of WaveGroup Sound covers are actually better than the originals.

In this post, I'll be taking a look at 10 songs from GH and RB (although mostly GH) that were covered by WaveGroup Sound and deciding if they're stronger or weaker than the originals. The covers I'll be picking won't just be random choices though. Sometimes, in order to make an iconic song with a lengthy pause fit into the game and still be fun, WaveGroup added a solo from a live recording or played a few bass riffs on guitar instead.
I'll be choosing songs that I feel are either iconic Rock tracks that you'd never imagine would be covered well OR ones that have been tinkered with that may or may not improve the general quality of the song. If you prefer a WaveGroup Sound cover that I haven't included in this post, let me know on Twitter or in the comments so I can check it out, as it's been several years since I've heard many of these. Who knows, maybe I'll do a Cover Versions Part 3 Part 2 of these songs in the future!
Also, if you want to listen to any of these WaveGroup Sound covers that I mention, a Youtuber by the name of KyleGuichot seems to have uploaded most of them. Right then, let's get ready to rumble!

ROUND ONE: Spanish Castle Magic
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - I wouldn't call this one of Jimi Hendrix's most famous songs but it definitely has some great riffs and psychedelic lyrics. Obviously there's a solo and whilst it's hardly anything spectacular, it suits the song well. Overall, it's a solid pick for the game as it probably introduced people to a Hendrix song that wasn't "All Along The Watchtower" or "Voodoo Chile".
WaveGroup Sound - One of the first on-disc covers on the first Guitar Hero. So why did I pick this song? Two words: no vocals. Due to the Hendrix estate being complete bastards, they objected to anyone in a video game who wasn't Jimi Hendrix singing a Jimi Hendrix song (this was before they realised they were running out of cash and decided to license Jimi Hendrix's image to literally everything including a porno) so WaveGroup had to remove the vocals. On the plus side, the track does actually work well as an instrumental. In fact, many GH fans weren't aware that it had lyrics until the original song was released as Rock Band DLC.
VERDICT - Tricky decision, as both versions have the same strengths. If you like the vocals, you're obviously going to prefer the original but since I much prefer the music and the cover sounds almost identical, I'm giving the win to WaveGroup Sound.

ROUND TWO: Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie - I'm not a huge fan of David Bowie's Glam Rock vocals...or David Bowie in general, for that matter (just because he's dead doesn't mean I'm going to get all gooey over his material now). That being said, I love the main riff for this song. It's a largely uneventful song if you ignore that riff and as soon as you hear that first chord at the very first second, you know exactly which song you're listening to. A decent track!
WaveGroup Sound - Another Guitar Hero track. The vocalist was always going to have a hard time matching David Bowie on this track and sadly, they managed to sound even worse than him. However, one of the interesting points about this cover is that WaveGroup added a solo before the end. Not an amazing solo, as it starts off copying the vocal melody, but soon bursts into some mild shredding before adding some accompaniment to fake Bowie's vocals.
VERDICT - Both versions nail the riff and both versions have crummy vocals. Since the solo doesn't really enhance the track, I'm giving the win to David Bowie since his vocals aren't as bad as the WaveGroup Sound vocalist's. That's probably as close to a tribute as he's going to get on this blog.

ROUND THREE: Carry On Wayward Son
Kansas - Was this song famous before it was included in Guitar Hero 2? I knew about Classic Rock anthems like "More Than A Feeling" way before these games but it's only since GH2 that I started to hear this song being used everywhere. Anyway, it took me a few listens to get into the main riff (I still don't like how it ends) but let's be honest, that's not the best thing about the track. It's the vocal harmonies during the intro/chorus that make it special and nobody can ever recreate them...right?
WaveGroup Sound - ...yup, I was right! Not only do the vocal harmonies in the intro sound tame but the main riff is WAAAAY too heavy. One subtle difference in this cover is that the guitar melody in the first verse comes in a bit earlier, presumably to stop players from feeling bored during all of 15 seconds. There's also a different guitar melody during the third chorus. But yeah, poor palm muting and vocal work aside, it's nothing spectacular.
VERDICT - Well it's clearly Kansas, isn't it? Anyone who prefers the WaveGroup Sound cover has either never heard/has bad memories of the original or they're just being fucking awkward.

ROUND FOUR: Free Bird
Lynyrd Skynyrd - I could sit here and tell you all about this song but the truth is you already know it. If you don't, piss off and listen to it before coming back. It's the one with 4:39 of slide guitar and soft organ before bursting into 4:40 of epic guitar duelling. A perfect choice for the final encore of Guitar Hero 2, provided they don't mess up the cover.
WaveGroup Sound - Good news! They didn't mess up the cover! I mean, it's not as close to the original as the GH1 covers were (WaveGroup must've been going through some stuff during the GH2 sessions) but it's still damn good! The solos are all there and the guitarists didn't get cute with the sections of the solo either but the best thing BY A MILE is that they left the outro in. See, Lynyrd Skynyrd may be awesome but they have this incredibly annoying habit of fading out during solos. Luckily, WaveGroup Sound recorded a blitzkrieg of a Big Rock Ending (coming in at roughly 8:55) that ends with the false finish, just like Lynyrd Skynyrd played live. Probably one of GH2's strongest covers.
VERDICT - Very tricky to decide. The original obviously has the superior music quality but that outro in the cover is fantastic. I'm going to award the win to Lynyrd Skynyrd as I prefer their original overall and would rather listen to that than the cover, although I do recommend listening to the WaveGroup Sound cover's outro if you've not heard it!

ROUND FIVE: What I Like About You
The Romantics - I remember first hearing this song in an advert for Family Guy: The Video Game, which was probably the best thing about that pile of shit. The song itself is pretty cool, sounding a lot like "Cherry Cherry" - Neil Diamond but with a pointless harmonica solo in the middle. Overall, it's a decent song with catchy guitar but that's about it.
WaveGroup Sound - So here's a fun little factoid; The Romantics actually tried to sue Activision over this cover in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80's on the grounds that it sounded nothing like their song! The main difference comes from the inclusion of a sweet guitar solo that actually improves the song more than a pathetic lawsuit but it's an easy mistake to make by a band with many songs but only one that's considered memorable, I guess.
VERDICT - Giving this to WaveGroup Sound for adding a solo that fit in perfectly and sounds awesome, even if the music in the original recording does sound a little better than the cover.

ROUND SIX: Rock And Roll All Nite
KISS - Possibly the band's most famous song due to the chorus but I guess the main guitar riff is pretty cool too. I wouldn't really call it an iconic guitar song but it's definitely a well known Hard Rock hit, hence its inclusion in GH3. It's just a shame they didn't include the guitar solo that they often play at live gigs in the studio recording, as it fits like a glove.
WaveGroup Sound - Fortunately, someone at WaveGroup Sound has a brain in their head and realised "Hold on, why don't we just include it?". It's a faithful cover that includes the best elements from the studio original and live recordings by the band, although a friend of mine pointed out that it's a bit weird when the vocalist shouts "Come on!" and "I can't hear you!" like he's actually playing it live, since we know he would've been sat in a recording studio somewhere singing that to nobody.
VERDICT - I like some of KISS' material but I have to award this win to WaveGroup Sound for making what I would call a better Hard Rock song than one of the biggest Hard Rock bands/marketing franchises on the planet.

ROUND SEVEN: Train Kept A-Rollin'
Aerosmith - Originally a song by The Yardbirds but covered by Aerosmith on their 2nd album. Unlike the original, this song starts off quite slow but speeds up after a couple of solos. Overall, it's a great cover that the band have taken and made their own. It might not be my favourite Aerosmith song but it's always pretty cool to play on Rock Band.
WaveGroup Sound - I'm assuming WaveGroup recorded the cover of this song for RB1 but if they didn't, let's assume I'm talking about the correct artist. I've got to say, this could be one of the best covers on the list. The vocals are as good as (if not better) than Steven Tyler's and I like the fact that the cover sounds more like a studio version than the original, since Aerosmith included cheering before the tempo increases for some fucking reason.
VERDICT - Another tricky call to make. I prefer Joe Perry's guitar work but honestly, I think I'd rather listen to the cover more than the original. WaveGroup Sound net a well earned win!

ROUND EIGHT: My Sharona
The Knack - This song is a little similar to "Pump It Up" - Elvis Costello but it has a pretty special place in my heart, mostly due to the guitar solo being one of my all-time favourites. It has a decent structure, some cool bass and catchy lyrics too. It might be a one-hit wonder but I would argue that it has everything a top notch Rock song needs.
WaveGroup Sound - One of the earliest songs released as DLC for Rock Band and, in my opinion, one of the best. It's a shame they couldn't get the master recording but at least WaveGroup recorded the extended solo instead of the single edit version. Musically speaking, the solo is almost identical but there are a few differences here and there that I'm not overly fond of compared to the original though. However, it's still a decent cover.
VERDICT - Whilst I do love playing this song on Rock Band and enjoy listening to it as well, I have to give the win to The Knack. The cover doesn't really add or improve on anything but I thought it was worth mentioning for including the extended solo that not many people would know about if they were introduced to the song via radio or compilation album.

ROUND NINE: All The Young Dudes
Mott The Hoople - I was pretty surprised when this song was included on Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, as I honestly doubt anyone who worked on the ATVI GH games knows anything about this band. However, I love this song. It's an excellent track from start to finish and yes, I'm aware David Bowie wrote it.
WaveGroup Sound - First up, what a fantastic cover! Everyone involved deserves a fucking medal for sounding pitch perfect for the majority of the song but that's not where my adoration comes from. If you've listened to the original, you'll know that it repeats the second chorus until it fades out...but not here! After the second chorus, the band bursts into a bitching solo that carries through the final chorus until the song actually ends. As an additional extra, some fancy guitar licks are placed throughout the song (presumably to improve the guitar chart). In short, I fucking love this cover.
VERDICT - WaveGroup Sound, WaveGroup Sound, WaveGroup Sound, WaveGroup Fucking Sound! This is the only WaveGroup Sound cover I have on my phone and I honestly listen to this more than the original. If you love the original, you'd be a fool not to seek this cover out.

ROUND TEN: Black Betty
Ram Jam - Another one-hit wonder from the 70's that has a surprisingly fun solo, although it's more well known for the call & response in the verses. I'm not a huge fan of this song but I always appreciate hearing it every now and then. I also have no idea if Ram Jam have done any other decent songs but I feel like this song is good enough for me to give them a chance, if anyone has any recommendations.
WaveGroup Sound - This was actually one of the last WaveGroup Sound covers before GH/RB became completely reliant on master recordings. It was released as DLC in 2008 and as far as covers go, it's incredibly strong. However, unlike cover versions in this list that add solos and such, this cover stays faithful to the original. For that reason, there aren't really many advantages over Ram Jam here.
VERDICT - If it wasn't obvious from that last sentence, Ram Jam win the last round although at least WaveGroup Sound ended their tenure on a high note.


So, after ten rounds, the scores are 5 all, thus proving that WaveGroup Sound are just as good as the originals...which I probably could've told you before you started reading but oh well!
Remember, I may do another one of these with more WaveGroup Sound covers although not for a while. If you want to see that happen, tell me which songs to compare as there are plenty to choose from.