Covers that are better than the originals
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Topic: Covers that are better than the originals
Posted By: The Hemulen
Subject: Covers that are better than the originals
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 10:48
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The Glee thread got me thinking about examples of bands taking a song which may or may not have been good to begin with, and by putting their own spin on it really transform it into something better, or at least just as good as the original. My personal favourite example of this is (predictably enough) Cardiacs' exuberant take on Dave Davis' 1967 single "Susannah's Still Alive". Whilst the original's none too shabby (as you'd expect from the Kinks), I think Tim Smith and co. really kick it up a notch or two with their arrangement. Here's the original: And here's the Cardiacs version: Can you think of any other examples? All genres permitted.  |
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Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 10:56
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Many Carpenters hits were covers of originals by Paul Williams or other artists. In most cases, I prefer the Carpenters versions. Not so much the arrangements but definitely the singing. Here's Paul Williams's Won't Last A Day Without You And Carpenters' version |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 10:58
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Dream Theater's cover of Lark's Tongues In Aspic pt 2 is better than the original ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 11:01
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KD Lang also trumps Leonard Cohen's rendering of Hallelujah with some truly awesome singing. Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah KD Lang's version |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 11:01
| I prefer the version of the Beatle's song You Won't See Me done by Helmut Koellen |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 11:04
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There is a odd phenomenon with covers in that you generally prefer the version of any song that you heard (and liked) first, regardless of whether that was the orginal or a cover. Of course there are exceptions to that, but not many.
(which did you hear first David - Kinks or Cardiacs?)
So, it is quite possible that my pick is of that ilk, since I'd not heard the original when I heard this cover: This Mortal Coil's cover of Tim Buckley's Song To The Siren. Most TMC covers were adequate and some were not quite right, but Liz Frazier and Robin Guthrie connected on this one and made something that was a bit special. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Canterzeuhl
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 11:52
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The Allman Brothers 'Whippin' Post' And the Frank Zappa version. That's the only Zappa version I could find, but the version on the 'Does Humor Belong in Music?' album is a lot better and has Dweezil doing the guitar solo.
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 12:48
There's probably a great deal of truth to that, but I'm sure if I give it enough thought I might come up with a couple of exceptions. I did indeed hear the Cardiacs version first, but having gotten massively into The Kinks in recent months I think I'm well-equipped enough to appreciate the original for what it is as well. I just think the Cardiacs' version is so much more lively - slightly quicker tempo, twiddly piano/sax bits bubbling under that catchy tune, and then that glorious distorted guitar solo... it's got everything the original song has in terms of melody, but builds on those foundations to create something even better. Of course, terms like "better" are always going to be very subjective and as a card-carrying Cardiacs fanboy I'm hardly going to be objective about this one, but I honestly can't imagine anyone hearing the both of those and not thinking that, at the very least, Cardiacs took that song to some new and interesting places compared to the comparatively straight-forward Kinks version. This one's not so much a case of doing it better as doing it differently and to very great effect. Wyatt: Unthanks: (They originally did a studio version of this on the album "The Bairns", but I could only find this live one for embedding purposes). |
Dean wrote:Posted By: Kotro
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 13:12
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------------- Bigger on the inside. |
Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 13:27
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"My favorite things" The John Coltrane version is just !!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 14:47
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Anything on RATM's Renegades.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ocellatedgod" rel="nofollow - last.fm |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 15:11
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Toto have a nice version of Bodishatva by Steely Dan who is very close to match the original, but Manfreds Mann (and Earth Bands) version of many of Dylan and Bruce Springsteens springs to my minds as better then the original IMO and even more famous. it is hard to think this is a Dylan song but it is -------------  
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 15:24
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Damn am I the first to mention Dylan's All along the watchtower? Jimi did that track a thousand times better, if you ask me - and I am a big Dylan fan. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: zappaholic
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 17:46
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The one that comes to mind for me is Type O Negative's dirge-like cover of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze". Also Devo's deconstruction of the Stones' "Satisfaction". ------------- "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken |
Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: January 19 2012 at 23:05
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This version has everything the original does not: better singing, better drumming, Hammond organ, better guitar solo and let's face it, that riff should be played on a piano
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Posted By: 2dogs
Date Posted: January 20 2012 at 01:05
| "Apache Dropout" by the Edgar Broughton Band for being a cover of two songs at once. And I heard the originals first. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: January 20 2012 at 07:47
I couldn't possibly disagree more. They turn a great song into rather a dull one. Saaad ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: January 20 2012 at 09:14
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In the early 70's Peruvian bands made great covers in their albums. For example The Peruvian band PAX added somne choirs, a mean Hammond and heavier guitars to the already excellent Golden Earring track "Radar Love", the LP and single were best sellers in Peru..Pax version is pretty harder with a funky taste.. The Christian Rock band made a sleepy somng called Carry on Till Tomorrow, that sent me to bed. The Peruvian Proto band "We All Together" made a better cover Pretty similar but less sleepy and more up tempo wiuth better vocal interpretations and orchestration.. Iván
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Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: January 20 2012 at 10:15
Agree with Snow Dog. But "rather dull"? To me it's totally lame
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Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: January 20 2012 at 10:25
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Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You" is better than the Badfinger original. ------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Posted By: Starhammer
Date Posted: January 20 2012 at 10:34
Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: January 20 2012 at 14:05
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Posted By: zappaholic
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 12:11
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------------- "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 12:18
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I don't know if many will agree.  Weird I just found this one: ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 13:11
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Lots of Dylan covers are better than the originals IMHO. Same goes for some older Americana standards (Hank Williams, Robert Johnson) and even some Stones and Kinks remakes. Here's a few favorites (you might need some Visine for Spirit's Dylan redeux): The original is legendary but Randy California recorded the best cover I've ever heard. Manfed Mann's Earth Band doing Mike Heron's 'Don't Kill it Carol': The Greek band WIll-o-the Wisp doing Eden Ahbez's often-covered "Nature Boy" (they covered this twice, once with male vocals and once with female): David Eugene Edwards of Wovenhand doing Bill Withers' "Ain't no Sunshine": And my favorite cover ever - Jason & the Scorchers doing Hank Williams' "Lost Highway" (yee haw!): ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 13:51
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------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 13:57
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------------- What? |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 14:07
------------- What? |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 17:16
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------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 17:32
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------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 17:49
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don't know about better, but there have been some very cool covers; the Pretenders did a sweet version of Hendrix's 'Room Full of Mirrors' in the 80s, and I always liked what Eddie did with 'You Really Got Me', and of course Yes' Every Little Thing-- there've also been some cringers like Sting's 'Little Wing' or Sinatra's 'Something' |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 17:51
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and that Tori Amos/Neil Young is crippling |
Posted By: daslaf
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 18:38
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I find way better Lazuli's version of Capitaine Coeur de Miel than the original... and on the metal side of the force, Therion is a band that really stands out for the quality of their covers ------------- But now my branches suffer And my leaves don't bear the glow They did so long ago |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 18:47
Whether that is better or worse than the original is open to debate - there's no denying that it's different though.  ------------- What? |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 18:51
------------- What? |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 18:54
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yeah I'm a Tori fan from way back too, though I admit to not having kept up with her astounding and somewhat baffling catalog real good cover BTW, and I do believe I hear the influence of Rachel Grimes in the piano and structure (why Rachel's is not on PA I'll never know, Post Team? Anyone?  ) |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 18:55
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My favorite country song: I like Glass Hammer's version of "South Side of the Sky" better than the original. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 18:57
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...let's be honest here, any cover of Europe's original would have been an improvement, which brings me to...
------------- What? |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 20:42
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I always like Chrissie Hynde's cover of "I Got You Babe" with UB40. Way better than the original - Cher couldn't lick Chrissie Hynde's boots (although she'd probably like to): Speaking of UB40, they did a lot of great covers too. "Red Red Wine" (Neil Diamond), "Many Rivers to Cross" (Jimmy Cliff), "Breakfast in Bed" (Dusty Springfield), "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" (Elvis)... ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 20:44
Yeah Mann seemed to do other people's stuff better than he did his own. I never understood what "Singing the Dolphin Through" was all about, but it definitely rocked Heron's version. ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: ClemofNazareth
Date Posted: January 21 2012 at 20:52
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Speaking Springsteen covers, this one totally smokes his original: and Trent Reznor's famous quote - "it's not my song anymore": ------------- "Peace is the only battle worth waging." Albert Camus |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 04:56
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Nice thread. Liked the Sepultura covers unlike the Sisters cover they added something different. THe Sisters did a lot of great covers of songs you might not expect so they couldn't help but bring something different to the party.
------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 05:34
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the original should be well known. both versions are good, but I like the corer version better -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 05:40
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^Not bad...but for me The Beatles wins this one easily. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 06:17
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Ok More Beatles.
------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 06:19
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^Again...The Beatles do it better, for me at least. I do like a bit of Si Oxy now and then though. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 06:27
Ok Try this for size? 
------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 06:28
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Who's Simon Oxy? ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 06:30
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Siuoxsie...someone's mum pronounced it Si oxy and the banshees ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 06:39
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I see Another This Mortal Coil Cover
Not perhaps as good
------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 06:42
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Maybe you prefer this version?
------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: ole-the-first
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 07:11
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I always prefered Black Sabbath version of Warning to Aynsley Dunbar's original. |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 07:17
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And surprisingly, the version of Sepultura's "Kaiowas" by heavenly folk ambient italian supergroup Corde Oblique is more dynamic than the original !
------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 08:03
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------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 08:06
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------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 08:07
This one is superb ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: ole-the-first
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 08:35
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Nice try, indeed. Reminds me of King Crimson's Islands a bit |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 09:04
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?
Some crazies say THe Stranglers should be on this site.
------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 09:07
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^I had that as a free single with Black and White...in white vinyl. My brother in law knicked it. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 09:18
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Talking of Strangler's covers...
...better than the original in my estimation if only because the NY idea of Psyche-pop was a little too orchestrated for my liking...
------------- What? |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 09:18
Ahh White Vinyl!! You should borrow it back again! I love coloured vinyl ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: NYSPORTSFAN
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 09:47
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Listen to the Beatles "Live At The Star Club" In Hamburg and tracks like "Red Hot" or "I'm Going to Sit Right Down and Cry Over You". They took these rockabilly songs and turned it into more high speed hard rocking pounding songs. It's a stark contrast to what they were doing with Please Please Me. |
Posted By: 2dogs
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 10:52
I used to go to quite a few Sisters concerts and those were the two I thought of straight away. I also remember them doing Gimme Shelter, Knocking On Heaven's Door and of course 1969 by the Stooges.  |
Posted By: 2dogs
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 10:58
I was figuring Laibach would feature here while reading this post on my Kindle in bed with none of the YouTube clips showing - but had never heard the Toy Dolls version Still, as you say, an improvement on the original  |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 11:39
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Never seen these before couldn't decide which I prefer so I posted both! Fantastic!
------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 11:41
And Emma of course.  ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: January 22 2012 at 12:24
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I believe that Fleetwood Mac does a nice job with Black Magic Woman But Santana really makes magic with his cover version Gregg Rolie's voice and Carlos guitar, made it perfect, but even with other vocalists is perfect Iván -------------
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Posted By: MortalScum
Date Posted: January 27 2012 at 11:58
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The original, its a pretty decent song. and here's the cover which completely blows it out of the water |
Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: January 28 2012 at 23:02
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Jimi Hendrix with the Beatles' "Day Tripper".
------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: March 29 2012 at 00:20
Not saying that these are better than the Cardiacs' originals, but I sure do like them: The cover: The original: The cover: The original: |
Posted By: oscarderekpatterson
Date Posted: March 30 2012 at 09:26
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they rock
------------- Oscar Derek patterson |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: March 30 2012 at 09:34
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I usually can rattle off a bunch, but I'm stumped right now for some reason. ------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |