I think I can be fairly confident in calling this playlist Covers 1, in that there will almost certainly be at least a part 2. If nothing else, I know a few people who might read this who will have some suggestions of their own to add.
The rule for this one? The cover version, in my humble opinion, has to be at least as good as the original - but also add some different (i.e. not like Emma Bunton's not perfect rendition of What I Am). So, as ever, hopefully there will be something for everyone in here.
1. Word Up: Gun
This may be about the best one up first, if only because the bar that was set by the original is so high! Scottish rockers Gun, took the funky magnificence of Cameo and attacked it, all guitars blazing - yet retaining the groove and the slight sleaziness of it all.
2. Boys Of Summer: The Ataris
I don't claim to know much about the Ataris, besides that they hailed from Indiana - and I would struggle to name another of their tunes beyond this one. And again, like the first one, the bar is pretty high. Don Henley's cool rock tune was a classic of the middle eighties and stood somewhat apart from the country rock he plied with the Eagles. The Ataris upped the tempo, lots of chugging guitars and a bit more attitude than cool dude - and sneakily changing the hippy Deadhead reference of the original to a more punkish Black Flag one.
3. Love Goes On: Nada Surf
I found this one when searching for Go-Betweens videos on You Tube. This is a live version I found, rather than the one that went on their 2010 covers album, If I Had A Hi-Fi. It's a great pop tune, that they treat with the necessary reverence. There are several other great crossovers for me here. For one, at this point they had Doug Gillard from Guided By Voices (another of my favourite bands) on second guitar. And of course, the opening lyrics to this song provide the name for the website.
4. Hallelujah: Jeff Buckley
There are several cover versions of this Leonard Cohen classic that claim pre-eminence - but for me, Jeff Buckley's rendition edges the Rufus Wainwright one. It's simply stunning. Buckley's voice quivers and soars across the delicate guitar work, delivering a piece that captivates and draws you in, despite being six and a half minutes long.
5. Strange: R.E.M.
This is perhaps the oddity in this list. It is nowhere near my favourite R.E.M. song and probably comes close to not meeting the requirement I laid out at the beginning. It's almost a bit of a trashy, throwaway tune, that doesn't even sit all that well on the Document album it came from. But it is a brighter (much brighter) version that the original one by artful punks, Wire, and it holds a special place for me, as it was the name we chose for the first band I was in, back when I was about 17!
6. Raspberry Beret: Hindu Love Gods
This segues nicely from the previous track. The Hindu Love Gods, for those who didn't know, was an occasional band consisting of the three instrument players from R.E.M. (Peter Buck, Bill Berry and Mike Mills), coupled with legendary singer-songwriter Warren Zevon (Werewolves of London). Together, they put together of cover versions, most of which were classic blues tunes by the likes of Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. But, it also contains this banging version of the Prince classic. You might not think that anyone would dare to take on one of his Royal Purpleness's most famous songs - but they did and I think they got away with it quite admirably! Lots more crashing cymbals and 12-bar guitar here than the original, but full of joy.
7. Ring Of Fire: Social Distortion
Punk and country go well together. You don't believe me? Well listen to Social Distortion's, turn it up to 11 version of Johnny Cash's most famous song. It probably helps that singer, Mike Ness, has the same curled, snarling lip as Cash and delivers it in much the same tone. We saw them play this live last week and it blew the house down!
8. I Fought The Law: The Clash
This time, punk meets 60s rock and delivers one of the most iconic UK punk songs of all time. From the moment that Topper Headon's drums come rolling into view, like a stampeding herd of cattle - the song takes off and never pauses for breath. No disrespect to the Bobby Fuller Four , but this blows them out of the water! While it is quicker, and louder, than the original, it still retains that rock n roll feel of the 60s.
9. Alone Again, Or: Calexico
Again, there are several more than passable versions of Arthur Lee's Love, 1968 song (The Damned for one, in their 80s gothic phase) - but Calexico play it so well. I am a sucker for some mariachi trumpet and this has plenty! You will hear me say this more than once on here - Calexico are a fantastic band and deserve to be on everyone's playlist - so use this as a starting point to get some Country-Folk-Mexican-Latin-Rock in your life.
10. Mrs Robinson: The Lemonheads
I am wrapping this edition up with the song that used to wrap up Monday nights (student night) at Manhattans in Southport in the early 90s, so making it another tune that holds a special place in my memory. Each week, just before 1a.m., the disco crowd would clear from the dancefloor, to be replaced by all the bouncing lads - Smells Like Teen Spirit followed by this. Despite the labels, The Lemonheads were never grunge, and this is pure classic indie - propelled by the drums and overlaid with that classic bass riff, this more than matches the original.
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