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.
July brought us tributes to Pierre Kezdy of Naked Raygun (Godspeed), Bob Dylan (Bob for Bob), Nick Drake (The Endless Colored Ways), The La Bamba soundtrack (by Classic Pat) and Beach Boys (by Pedico), to name a few, but probably most notable in the cover area were the A.I. generated Barbie Girl version by (not) Johnny Cash and FIDLAR’s take on Limp Bizkit’s Nookie. However, we prefer some other releases.
Big Mouth || Cover: Geoff Palmer || Original: The Muffs
How cool is this? An International Tribute to The Muffs, that sounds like a great idea, right? Let’s thank Argentinian community label Grudda Records for making this a reality. You get no less than 26 punk rock acts that play a song by the amazing band of the late Kim Shattuck, including Caroline & The Treats, The Queers, The Hawaiians, Janelles, Fievre, F.A.N.T.A., Beatnik Termites and Geoff Palmer. You’ll understand how difficult it is to choose just one track.
Italian Sun || Cover: Lisa Beat And The Liars || Original: Joe Jones
Stylish Italian rhythm ‘n’ beat band Lisa Beat E I Bugiardi previously had a spot here on our Dusted stage, but on August 21 their first English EP will be released, on Chaputa! records. The A side of the Sheena Is a Beat Rocker EP will be, you guessed it, a rearrangement of the Ramones’ Sheena is a Punk Rocker. We still have to wait a few weeks before we can hear it, but B side Italian Sun is already available – a fun variation of Joe Jones’ 1961 single California Sun, written by Henry Glover.
Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check || Cover: Hyro The Hero || Original: Busta Rhymes
Do you remember the 1993 Judgment Night soundtrack? Every track was a collaboration between a hip-hop artist and a rock band. Houston’s Hyro The Hero’s cover of Busta Rhymes’ platinum 1996 single, blending rap vocals with heavy rock, wouldn’t have been out of place there. It’s taken from his upcoming studio album Bound For Glory due September 15 via Better Noise Music.
When I’m Gone || Cover: J Prozac featuring Classic Pat & Murph || Original: Cletus
Wellsville Records has taken the initiative to put together a compilation in tribute to American punk band Cletus. On Horseplay Leads To Tribute Albums – the title is a nod to Cletus’ 1999 Horseplay Leads To Tragedy LP – you’ll hear contemporary punk rock and power pop artists each doing a cover. The closing track, by household names J Prozac, Classic Pat and Murph, is as exciting as it gets.
Fin de Semana || Cover: Monnets || Original: Oscar Maydon x Junior H
The original version of this year’s summer hit Fin de Semana (translated: weekend) has been listened to more than 300 million times on Spotify, its video has been viewed more than 130 million times on YouTube, numbers that most bands we write about will never reach, but we don’t care about that. Perhaps the jangly guitar cover by Mexican post-punk outfit Monnets appeals to us even more? For more of this, listen to their Post Punk Accionado EP, out via Stone Waves Records.
Fascination Street || Cover: Lunar Bird || Original: The Cure
Welsh label God Is In The TV Zine follows its collections of Kylie Minogue and R.E.M. covers with Pictures of You: A compilation of covers of songs by The Cure. The eclectic selection of no less than 44 covers will be out on August 4, all profits go to the Mind the mental health Charity. One of the tracks already available is this beautiful dreamy and immersive redrawing of Fascination Street (1989) by psych pop band Lunar Bird, who released their sophomore full-length album The Birthday Party a few months ago.
Dreaming || Cover: James Sardone || Original: Blondie
North Carolina singer/songwriter/guitarist James Sardone (ex-Brickbat, Burnley Brothers, The Jimmy Nations Combo, Loose Jets) released his compelling Colors EP this month on Fort Lowell Records. In addition to two original tracks, it also includes this six and a half minute long rendition of Blondie’s 1979 single Dreaming, featuring Tracy Shedd on piano. It’s melancholic, atmospheric and worthy of the title.
Didn’t I || Cover: Night Owls featuring Hollie Cook || Original: Darondo
Los Angeles rhythm section/production team Night Owls never disappoints. Their latest double A-sider on F-Spot Records features two more Jamaican-inspired re-imagined classic soul hits: Wendy Rene’s After Laughter (featuring Destani Wolf) and Darondo’s Didn’t I (with Hollie Cook on vocals). The latter is a personal favorite; every soul fan should own Darondo’s compilation Listen To My Song: The Music City Sessions.
Still As The Night || Cover: by GA-20 || Original: Sanford Clark
In this column last April we shared the cover that American blues rock band GA-20 had recorded of Dolly Parton’s Jolene. What was only available digitally at the time, is now released on vinyl 7″ by Karma Chief Records. The flipside contains a western-inspired and atmospheric version of Sanford Clark’s 1958 single Still as the Night, written by Lee Hazlewood (“A great storytelling song,” said GA-20 guitarist Matt Stubbs).
Tu Seras Mi Baby || Cover: The McCharmlys || Original: The Ronettes
It’s been said that the Ronettes’ Be My Baby (1963) is the best pop song ever, so you’ll need some guts re-recording it. That’s no problem for Californian “rock ‘n’ roll for the brokenhearted” combo The McCharmlys, because Angie (guitar, vocals), Bobby (drums, vocals), David (lead guitar), Eddie (12 string guitar, vocals) and Carlos (bass, vocals) showed that they master 60s doo-wop / surf pop to perfection with their outstanding self-titled debut LP. One of the tracks from that album, Always Be (My Baby), will also be released on vinyl 7″ by Nu-Tone on October 20, with this beautiful cover in Spanish on the B-side.
Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more cool cover songs.