Star Time #43: We Can Work It Out

Who knew that an episode with R&B covers of the most popular rock band of all time -- that would be the Beatles -- would be, depending who you inquire, the most unusual-sounding Star Time to date? We Can Work It Out starts out maybe too orthodox with the Supremes going by the book, but stick around 'cause things get bloody barmy. Lowell Fulson doing it in the road, Ella Fitzgerald having a Savoy Truffle, the Moments trailing Rocky Raccoon(!), Junior Parker being a truly snaky Taxman, and Nina Simone doing the most heart-stopping rendition of "Here Comes the Sun" to close out. And much more in between. (Star Time is off next week, so amuse yourself elsewhere 'til Nov. 29.)

Artist	Song	Year	Label
Set 1
The Supremes	Can't Buy Me Love	1964	Motown
Mary Wells	All My Lovin'	1965	20th Century Fox
Otis Redding	Day Tripper	1966	Volt
Roy Redmond	Good Day Sunshine	1967	Loma
The 5th Dimension	Ticket to Ride	1967	Soul City
The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band	Yellow Submarine	1967	Warner Bros.
Ray Charles	Eleanor Rigby	1968	ABC/Tangerine
Bobby Womack	And I Love Her	1972	United Artists
Set 2
Al Green	Get Back	1969	Hi
Lowell Fulson	Why Don't We Do It In the Road	1969	Def Jam
Fats Domino	Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey	1969	Reprise
Linda Jones	Yesterday	1968	Loma
Donald Height	Don't Let Me Down	1969	Jubilee
Ella Fitzgerald	Savoy Truffle	1969	Reprise
The Four Tops	Fool on the Hill	1969	Motown
Wilson Pickett	Hey Jude	1969	Atlantic
Set 3
Little Richard	I Saw Her Standing There	1970	Reprise
Stevie Wonder	We Can Work It Out	1970	Tampa
The Moments	Rocky Raccoon	1970	Stang
Spanky Wilson	Let It Be	1970	Mothers Records & The Snarf Company
Junior Parker	Taxman	1971	Groove Merchant
The Five Stairsteps	Dear Prudence	1970	Buddah
Billy Preston	Blackbird	1972	A&M
Set 4/Outro
David Porter	Help!	1974	Enterprise
Black Heat	Drive My Car	1975	Atlantic
The Brothers Johnson	Come Together	1976	A&M
Maceo & All the King's Men	For No One	1975	Excello
Sarah Vaughan	You Never Give Me Your Money	1981	Atlantic
John Holt	I Will	1976	Trojan
Nina Simone	Here Comes the Sun	1971	RCA Victor