Billy Swan - Don't be cruel 1975

[leathermystband]

This is minimalist drone-pop at its absolute finest!!!

[MrSteamroller76]

Just compare what Elvis did with "I can help". The difference is clear.Billy Swan is a great singer/writer, Elvis is the king

[postie4264]

david essex on drums...this song is kool

[MrBanjo102]

This is just great!

[friendofnexttyres]

one of the best cover versions of all time!! thumbs up, billy!!!

[kylecakes1]

Forget the haters, this version rules.

[shanstringer]

I am a big Elvis fan. I was singing Hound Dog to my first grade class in "56. This is the best cover of "Don't Be Cruel". Hands down...

[MrRocknRoller95]

I'm a HUGE Elvis Presley fan, this isn't THAT good a cover, but it's ok, i'll say.

[territory1100]

What a crock of shit

[marycockburn1]

@territory1100 couldnt  agree more terrible

[MrJommycross]

Masterpiece...thanks, Billy Swan

[mimifanatic74]

@MrJommycross indeed, great cover! but looks like some ppl here think a cover should be copy/paste like the original version. I don't feel like that at all, and from this point of view i'd say this is the best cover of this song by far. Thank you fritz5139 for uploading this!

[mixus1000]

that` real music.... great what a feeling

[jasonungar08]

if you close your eyes u might think this is Jim James of My Morning Jacket.

[JUICES74]

@jasonungar08 i just listened to my orning jacket for the first time ever last night, song called circulation or something, but as soon i heard this right here, i was like you could almost mistake this guy for my morning jacket

[amsfranz1]

WOW! I missed this so long! Thank you!

[JAARNO88]

billy worked at graceland as a guard before writing songs for himself. he still records at sun studios .

[mikecappa]

sounds like a lennon recording

[1939PlymouthRatRod]

Billy Swan, never heard of him.

[Lifepath7]

@1939PlymouthRatRod Well, now you have. He was the best. I used to hang with him and all the gang at the troubadour in the early 70's. A real down-to-earth man. He was Kristofferson's bass player in those days.  I do believe the guy on guitar is Glen Frye. Not sure, but it looks like him. And this is the best version I've heard.

[flashtheoriginal]

Yes, it is David Essex on drums. I remember the video being played on "Supersonic" on ITV when I was a boy. I also asked David Essex - saw him in concert in Great Yarmouth (nice chap) and he confirmed it. He was in the US brokering a new record deal and he became firm friends with Billy Swan. Nice bit of trivia.

[DDSeever]

Forgive me, please, but this is my favorite version of this song.

[allgonealley95]

@DDSeever

Then forgive me, too. I love this version!!!

[luciamonroy]

Gracias, solo asi pude cantarla ,ya me siento mejor jajajaj.besos

[DREAMERSRULE2]

r.i.p dad<3

[DRAGULIO1978]

it's true don't be cruel !!

[chocolatehearthammer]

weird weird fuckin weird

[n00bfuckup]

I first heard this on a jukebox in Brittany, France. We kids loved it then, I still do. C'est choet! Thanks for posting it. But I liked the B side better. Is it available? The first line was, as I remember "Whyyyyyy, why dont' you love me?"

[n00bfuckup]

I first heard this on a jukebox in Brittany, France. We kids loved it then, I still do. C'est choet!

[YRNGHFAN2]

Not crazy about the vidio. I do like that SHE stood up to him, but don't like him hitting her!

[laxeycolin]

I think this version is wonderful.  I love the extra bars of drums after "Walk up to the preacher"

[uomonelnero]

che bella cancione!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!

[ecor1988]

voor mij de beste vertolking, geweldig.

[082852859]

Have posted this previously , think I lost it when my laptop decided to show me a toffee!!!! ^^$%%&())*^%

[stolencar100]

since I bought the album (YEP ON VINYL) ive thought this as being one of the greatest cover versions of all time. Wonder what Elvis thought of it?

[tysb3]

WOW!!!!!!!!!

pearl in the sands of time!!!!!!!!

[Strikesis]

Sloww that must have been some good funk, i can smell it from here.

[Labradorhund]

My Mom has it on vinyl. I love listening to it : )

[digitalbots]

holly crap this a very slow version of the song. Im going to stick with Elvis or Cheap Trick ;)

[usha777]

@digitalbots nothing wrong with the newer ones but dont over look the older ones.

[MUSICTOMUSIC]

Beautiful song! Thanks for sharing!

[FaerieCrone]

David Essex on drums.

[pexton]

I heard this song on the Triptych mixed by Lemon Jelly and I literally stopped in the street it was so good. Amazing track. Amazing version.

[snuffleguff]

Wow what a great version of this song

[Opqosite]

yea yea. this is sick.

[garytelecastor]

Man, this would never fly today.

The NOW gang would be having seizures.

And rightly so.

[brandt1970]

this is not a elvis song....elvis never wrote 1 song in his life ,he just copied off other artists..but he did do better versions but not this one

[Chimbo65]

Elvis wrote "All shook up"

[illusionistdave]

@brandt1970 Um, Elvis made it famous, so yes it is an Elvis song.

[1dora55]

if you like these kind of beat, here's a another on by Shake a Hand / Paul McCartney

[1dora55]

here another version by Cheap Trick - Don't Be Cruel - Hard Rock Acapulco 1988

[elvisworldwide]

How cool is this obscure tune?! Swan's reciprocity for E's version of "I Can Help."

[RealLordUli]

FANTASTIC

[KejJej]

What in hell is this? It 's so slooooooow.. The song Elvis did was way better!!

[SwayingDaisies]

Its just different, man... if all your covers were the same as everyone elses then why would you bother calling yourself a musician?

I quite like this one, often I don't like them slower or faster or whatever but thats subjective. Most of music isn't "better" or "worse" because these are all personal, subjective projections.

[planetswan]

awesome version!

[crackwhore202]

hes got the beat

[39RatRodCoupe]

I've never heard of this fella but I like his versions of the greatest songs ever sung.

[lashesxx]

Still gives me shivers

[mangixXD]

chuck norris singer?

[xorionmoonx]

love it, this one beats elvis.

[DonLuKiii]

boring O_O

[Wolli1960]

Very good version of that old Elvis-song. 5 stars!

[ccrider83]

This is Billy's song that he gave to Elvis.

[SwayingDaisies]

Pretty sure it was Otis Blackwell, but this is a lovely version all the same.

[ccrider83]

Yeh your right ,cool song !

[Schisser3000]

Eines der Besten Lieder die ich Kenne

[rodlucky1]

go check out Rod Lucky

[gilles19522]

tres bon

[Pastoriul]

The best ever version of this song!

[Moviegiant]

Super Video,lange gesucht,nie gefunden,DANKE fritz5139!!!

[OrgasmicCry]

Is that drummer the one and only David Essex ?

[andyb909]

Yep - also the keyboard player is Kenney Jones and the guitarist is Roger McGuinn!  Didn't get a look at the bass player. One of the backing vocalists looks like Bonnie Bramlett.

[Desiderata21]

OMG that drummer is soooooooooooo HOT!!

[brzville]

Is"nt the drummer David Essex?

[fozandflower]

if it isnt david essex its gotta be his twin. im sure its him.

[dazey]

You must've seen "That'll be the Day".

[huskernation9]

its kinda of an interesting arrangement to the song i must say

[Austropop01]

ein top Song

[stevel738]

Phuk yeah! This is incredible! Not your average cover, to be sure, this is an amazing interpretation--might as well be another song it's so different. It reminds me a little of Susan Werner's slow version of "Help" which also takes an otherwise goofy up-tempo song and turns it into something almost heartbreaking. Who would have ever guessed this song had deep lyrics?

[OnlyMusicCovers]

FINALLY!!!

Someone posts this "better than the original by far" song.

Thanks!

5*****

[pnkmpts]

it sounds stupid this slow!

[vikingbeard]

Very cool video. Is it Mc Guinn on lead-guitar?