Listen To: Reigning Sound’s ‘Stormy Weather’

It’s fair to say in most cases, the original is better than the remake. This can almost always be said for music, anyway. But once in awhile you come across a cover so awesome that it blows any other version out of the water. Sorry to turn my back on a good classic this way, but Reigning Sound’s cover of the song, ‘Stormy Weather’ nails it. 

Originally written for Ethel Waters in 1933 it has been covered by Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday and R&B group The Five Sharps. My guess is that Reigning Sound tried to channel the more upbeat Spaniels in their version, however it’s way more garage rock than doo-wop though I’ll let you decide for yourself. Here’s the original as sung by Ethel Waters (I could hear this in a ‘Fallout’ soundtrack), The Spaniels 1958 version, and of course, Reigning Sound’s take. Which one do you prefer?