It’s fun to hear a great song in several different versions. I was actually listening to different versions of Curtis Mayfield’s sublime Move On Up when I stumbled across the subject of this ear post!
The one at the tippity-top of this post is, I think, the first version I heard. A reggae ‘ting, by One Blood. I’m not sure how the very first version of this number sounded. Maybe in the course of doing this post I’ll find out?
A much more recent and fairly faithful rendition can be enjoyed below, courtesy of those Orgōne folk:
And here’s the great Daryl Hall, doing a pop/soul/r’n’b version of it, with a singer called Rumer:
Some folk say there’s no point covering other folks’ songs. I disagree, very strongly; if a song ‘speaks to you’, why not embrace it, like a friend or lover?
Also, the sentiment is one I’m trying to practice, during what’s proving to be a rather difficult spell of my life!
Ok, so a bit of rooting around online yielded the above, William de Vaughan’s 1974 original of this ace tune. He also did a disco version later on…
Also found another reggae version, this time by Winston Curtis:
Though you may not drive
a great big Cadillac
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you've got
Though you may not drive
a great big Cadillac
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin' the scene
With a gangsta lean
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you've got