The Molly Hatchet version of Dreams... well... sucks.

[Stratoben127]

I try to keep an open mind with covers, but the Allmans are my favorite band. Dreams is my favorite song. I feel like everything the Allmans (and Duane) were was displayed in that song. It's just one of those songs that changed the way I look at music and life. I found out that Molly Hatchet covers it (and calls it "Dreams I'll Never See") so I looked it up and... wow. NO disrespect to Hatchet at all- they're good musicians, but IMO their version of the song sounds like crap compared to the Allman's. It just doesn't have that open but powerful feel that the original has at all. I'm really disappointed by it. This is my personal opinion, of course. The Allmans (especially when Duane was around) are just one of those bands that will never be covered in a way that equals or surpasses them, and in this case I think Hatchet borderline butchered them...

 

[HoboMan]

I've always loved MH's version.
I believe Duane Roland played the the first half of the lead & Steve Holland played the second half.

I wore out that first MH album learning all of the songs.

 

[Stratoben127]

I've always loved MH's version.
I believe Duane Roland played the the first half of the lead & Steve Holland played the second half.

I wore out that first MH album learning all of the songs.

Yeah... I mean I could get why people like it. I like some of their other songs but this one just ruins it to me.

 

[msteeln]

If you have a deep personal investment in any particular band/song, it'll probably take an earth shift for you to like a cover, even then it can happen like it kinda did with me and ABB/Dreams/Molly Hatchet. While I'll always care more for Gregg's, it was one of two songs I gave a hoot about when it came to MH, but I appreciate them a lot more now.

 

[kinggabbo]

I like MH's version...alot. I will say it is quite different than the Allmans' version though.

But I dig it.

 

[Stratoben127]

If you have a deep personal investment in any particular band/song, it'll probably take an earth shift for you to like a cover, even then it can happen like it kinda did with me and ABB/Dreams/Molly Hatchet. While I'll always care more for Gregg's, it was one of two songs I gave a hoot about when it came to MH, but I appreciate them a lot more now.

Very true. I do like a lot of covers of songs I really like (especially if done by Warren Haynes) but this song is just of of those ones that if it was any different, it wouldn't even be Dreams. I also expected something much different before listening to the MH version.

 

[Tiny Montgomery]

It's great, if you like hamfisted garbage with no dynamics that COMPLETELY misses the point and themes (musical and lyrical) of the song.

Ed King hit the nail on the head when he said "southern rock died the day Molly Hatchett's first album came out."

 

[PSaulino]

The A Bros version waltzes along in 6/8. (1-2-3) (4-5-6)

The MH version is 4/4. (1-2-3-4)

HUGE Difference in feel, sound, etc ....

Paul

 

[billm408]

Tough crowd. I always liked the MH version of this song. They didn't try to copy ABB, they took it and made it their own. Two completely different songs IMO. Comparing them does justice to neither. YMMV.

 

[Tiny Montgomery]

Tough crowd. I always liked the MH version of this song. They didn't try to copy ABB, they took it and made it their own. Two completely different songs IMO. Comparing them does justice to neither. YMMV.

Comparing a cover to the original "does justice to neither?" They're really not "two completely different songs," according to the songwriting credit on both.

It's not binary; there are plenty of options other than copying or butchering.

 

[PAF]

blown away that's it's 2012 & you just now realized that Molly Hatchet covered Dreams =)

 

[Peteyvee]

blown away that's it's 2012 & you just now realized that Molly Hatchet covered Dreams =)

Give the kid a break. He was born way after Hatchet covered it...and he does have a valid point.

I'm all for interpreting cover songs and putting one's own spin on them, but changing the time signature from 6/8 to 4/4 is really dumb. The feel is totally different. That's like doing the intro to "Whipping Post" in 4/4...it just sounds wrong.

 

[PAF]

Give the kid a break. He was born way after Hatchet covered it...and he does have a valid point.

I'm all for interpreting cover songs and putting one's own spin on them, but changing the time signature from 6/8 to 4/4 is really dumb. The feel is totally different. That's like doing the intro to "Whipping Post" in 4/4...it just sounds wrong.

I didn't check his ID


fwiw I don't like the Hatchet version much either

 

[fjblair]

Comparing a cover to the original "does justice to neither?" They're really not "two completely different songs," according to the songwriting credit on both.

It's not binary; there are plenty of options other than copying or butchering.

Lighten up man it's just a song.

 

[billm408]

Comparing a cover to the original "does justice to neither?" They're really not "two completely different songs," according to the songwriting credit on both.

It's not binary; there are plenty of options other than copying or butchering.

Listen to them instrumentally side by side and it's 2 very different songs. Songwriting credits aside. You obviously feel very passionately about this. I, on the other hand, don't. You win. The MH version is ham fisted, killed southern rock and sucks. Feel better?

 

[distorted noise]

I love the MH version the best.

 

[b3john]

I like MH's version...alot. I will say it is quite different than the Allmans' version though.

But I dig it.

I don't have to dislike the MH version (and I don't) just because I dig the original ABB track.

 

[louderock]

That's like doing the intro to "Whipping Post" in 4/4...it just sounds wrong.

I don't know, this is kinda cool:

 

[Stratoben127]

I don't have to dislike the MH version (and I don't) just because I dig the original ABB track.

For the record, I don't dislike it because I like the original. I just expected a version that would capture what I feel the original's intent is a bit more. I was expecting to like it. I even listened to it a few times to see if it had that effect but it just didn't do anything for me. Different strokes...

 

[DV52]

Nothing against MH,but i felt they butchered the song.