Is Crazy Mary a cover?

Is this a trick? I feel like this is a trick.

Technically, no. Pearl Jam released it first.

They still didn't write it, which is what makes it a cover.

Noun 1. cover version - a recording of a song that was first recorded or made popular by somebody else; "they made a cover of a Beatles' song" http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cover+song

In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song. It can sometimes have a pejorative meaning implying that the original recording should be regarded as the definitive or "authentic" version, and all others merely lesser competitors, alternatives or tributes (no matter how popular). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_version

cover
noun ( SONG ) /ˈkʌv.ər //-ɚ/ n Definition
[C] (also cover version) a performance or recording of a song or tune which has already been recorded by someone else. http://dictionary.cambridge.org/diction ... h/cover_14

So, technically speaking, if PJ recorded and/or released it first, it's not a cover by definition. They just recorded a song written by another artist. If PJ really was the first to release it, then their version is the original version. It's a Pearl Jam song, just not a song written by any of the Pearl jam band memebers. But, I honestly can't confirm or deny if the PJ release was the first released version of the song or not. I've never looked it up. Just taking Wease's word for it.

By this logic most Elvis Presley songs are covers then?

For the record (for anyone who doesn't know and doesn't want to look it up):

Pearl Jam released "Crazy Mary" by Victoria Williams July 6th 1993.
Victoria Williams released her own version of "Crazy Mary" on October 18th 1994.

Team Joey.

So how about this then: If a song's author releases her own version of a song that she herself wrote, and if that same song had been previously recorded and released by another artist, is the artist in turn covering her own song?

RE: Crazy Mary
The track was part of a benefit album consisting entirely of covers of Williams songs, the song in no way belongs to Pearl Jam regardless of release date.

By definition, your statement is partially incorrect. Which is not to say that I wholely disagree with you. Maybe there's another term, or should be. But by strict definition Pearl Jam's version of Crazy Mary is not a cover.


By strict definition... I guess, yeah. But I don't know that I'm comfortable with that. Again, maybe there's another term we could use, one I'm not familiar with. If there isn't, there maybe should be.

I love when this debate happens.

This is my first time actually being a part of it! Like, as a contributor, not a lurker.

I bet it would be a complete original if jack irons drummed on it.

He totes would have brought the most organic groove to it....

Man this thread is annoying.

posting about posting.