Not all new music is really new, as many artists cover songs. Sometimes these are songs by their favorite artists, eg as a tribute to such a musical hero for a special reason, or they simply feel that a song deserves to be dusted and polished to reacquaint fans with great songs from the past. Other times, bands cover songs as a parody. Regardless of intent, some of those cover versions are so good or so much fun, we’d like to put a spotlight on them. Chosen from a wide range, here are – in random order – ten of our favorite covers from last month – links to the pages where you can add them to your wantlist included.
In June we stumbled upon new cover releases from Son Volt (Day Of The Doug: The Songs Of Doug Sahm), Sparkle*Jets U.K. (Best Of Friends), Vista Blue (Runaway), Billy Cobb (I Stole Every Song), Austin Lucas (Reinventing Against Me!), Pantzig (Can I Borrow Some Talent), John Dowler’s Vanity Project (Jukebox Amnesia), Classic Pat (Why Not? Vol. One), The BellRays (Ball Of Confusion), Skeewiff (Exclusive Blend / Spanish Flea), Amanda Shires & Bobbie Nelson (Loving You), contemporary country & folk artists (Prairie Biscuits) and various Milwaukee musicians (Cherryland’s movie soundtrack compilation Covered In Celluloid), and quite a few individual songs, but we would like to push the following tunes to the forefront.
You’re the One That I Want || Cover: Bonzos || Original: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
Spanish punk band Bonzos returned with a 7″ single on Family Spree Recordings, converting the 1978 hit from the Grease soundtrack into a punk rock version for the A side. It doesn’t take much imagination to understand that this works out very well. Party time! The flipside and artwork are pretty cool too.
Time Bomb High School || The Tripwires || Reigning Sound
Seattle, Washington-based supergroup The Tripwires released not one but two new full-length albums this month, both out digitally and on vinyl LP through Folc Records. Besides Do It Some More, with 14 own compositions, they also put out the Knife, Fork, Spoon and Plate, In Good Party Tape, featuring 12 danceable covers of songs by some of their beloved bands, such as The Equals, Huey Piano Smith and Reigning Sound. It doesn’t matter if you call it rock ‘n’ roll, garage punk, pub rock or rhythm ‘n’ blues, it’s all equally amazing what’s happening here.
Telepath || Cover: Jimmy Eat World || Original: Manchester Orchestra
To highlight their joint tour, Jimmy Eat World and Manchester Orchestra covered a song of each other, with audible mutual respect. Manchester Orchestra opted for Clarity‘s Table For Glasses, Jimmy Eat World picked The Million Masks of God‘s Telepath, both successful. Out digitally via Loma Vista Recordings and Exotic Location Recordings respectively.
Gay Bar || Cover: The Crystal Furs || Original: Electric Six
It’s been 20 years since Electric Six rocked discotheques with their unique sound and scored a cult hit with this single. Leave it to Portland, Oregon-based queer indie band The Crystal Furs to give it a contemporary twist. Out digitally (self-released).
¡El Verano Ya Llegó! || Cover: Fundación Francisco Frankenstein || Original: Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg’s A New England came out 40 years ago, so do the math: “I was 21 years when I wrote this song // I’m 22 now, but I won’t be for long.” Spanish punk rock outfit Fundación Francisco Frankenstein now turned it into a totally different song: a different language, a different sentiment, and a different meaning: “Summer is here.” Quite infectious. Out digitally via Lumpen Creativo.
Shout || Cover: HeavyDrunk || Original: The Isley Brothers
Rob Robinson’s Nashville-based blues/soul 9-piece HeavyDrunk really impressed me with their new album You Don’t Know Me, out on CD through 4142 Music. The 12 songs have melodies that are alternately beautiful, rousing or over the top, always with those distinctive heartfelt vocals to evoke goosebumps. Most of the tunes are originals, but they also make the Isley’s 1959 classic their own by turning it into an exciting gospel anthem: “Don’t forget to say amen.”
Ace of Spades || Cover: Eli Paperboy Reed || Original: Motörhead
October 20, Boston based soul/funk/blues singer Eli “Paperboy” Reed will release Hits and Misses on Yep Roc, a remastered collection of rarities, originals, & covers. The LP includes covers of Steely Dan’s Do It Again, Bob Dylan’s To Be Alone with You, Merle Haggard’s I’m Gonna Break Every Heart I Can and Motörhead’s Ace of Spades. It’s far from the first alternative version of this heavy metal icon, but never before has it been this funky.
It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll) || Cover: Anti-Nowhere League || Original: AC/DC
Los Angeles-based independent record label Cleopatra Records has taken on the commendable task of putting together a compilation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Australian hard rock band AC/DC. On High Voltage Punk – A Tribute To AC/DC (out digitally, on CD and vinyl LP) you can hear punk legends such as UK Subs, 999, Skids, The Vibrators, The Queers and Anti-Nowhere League loudly show their respect.
Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight) || Cover: Helen Love || Original: Ramones
Damaged Goods just put out an awesome 2LP/2CD to celebrate 30 years of UK punk-pop band Helen Love. The Yeah Yeah We’re Helen Love compilation features 33 singles, album tracks, rarities and fan favorites. Fun is above all else here. It even doesn’t feel inappropriate at all to highlight this track midway through the year as an example of what to expect.
Runaway || Cover: The Beatersband || Original: Del Shannon
Actually, this cover could already be found on the album Vol. Tre, released digitally and on CD through River Monster Records in November last year. However, the Italian punk rockers of The Beatersband bring their driving version to the attention once again through a nice new video, a good reason to share it here and now.
Honorable mentions:
Blondie’s Heart Of Glass by Ryan Hamilton
Descendents’ Clean Sheets by Divided Heaven & Matze Rossi
Bo Diddley’s She’s Fine, She’s Mine by Spoon
The Doors’ People Are Strange by Abyssal Lurkers
Electric Light Orchestra’s Don’t Bring Me Down by Juliana Hatfield
Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell by Lords of The Highway
Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start The Fire (with updated lyrics) by Fall Out Boy
Daniel Johnston’s Story Of An Artist by M. Ward
Nick Lowe’s (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding by Cheekface
The Osmonds’ Crazy Horses by The Dictators
Jeffrey Lee Pierce’s On the Other Side by Nick Cave & Debbie Harry
Ramones’ She’s The One by Weird Nightmare
The Strokes’ Barely Legal by Sanitizer
Neil Young’s Hitchhiker by The Minus 5
Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more cool cover songs.