Dusted || The 10 Best Cover Songs Of September 2023

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.

Shiny Happy People || Cover: Micky Dolenz || Original: R.E.M.
Micky Dolenz, drummer and vocalists of legendary American pop/rock band The Monkees, will release the 4-track EP Dolenz Sings R.E.M. next month on 7A Records, produced by Christian Nesmith (son of Michael Nesmith). As R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe says: “Micky Dolenz covering R.E.M. Monkees style, I have died and gone to heaven. This is really something. Shiny Happy People sounds incredible (never thought you or I would hear me say that).”

Here || Cover: Soccer Mommy || Original: Pavement
On her new EP Karaoke Night, Sophia Regina Allison aka Soccer Mommy also does a R.E.M. cover (Losing My Religion), but Pavement’s Here seems to suit her even better, as she puts her heart and soul into it. Out via Loma Vista Recordings.

Here Comes A Regular || Cover: Low Coast || Original: The Replacements
With the just released Let It Bleed Edition – Pitchfork: 10/10 – of The Replacements’ Tim on heavy rotation at Add To Wantlist HQ, we’re in the middle of all those great songs, but if that’s not enough, Creep Records will release Let The Bad Times Roll: A Tribute To The Replacements at the end of this month. First taster is album closer Here Comes A Regular by Jeff Caudill’s new band Low Coast, who released their debut LP Existing The Dream last May.

So Long, Marianne || Cover: Naima Bock || Original: Leonard Cohen
British singer-songwriter Naima Bock, formerly of Goat Girl, found out about this song as a young teenager, when she saw “To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again” inscribed on a bench plate in Fordham Park in London. These words, in memory of a woman called Marianne, touched her deeply. With her band she covered Leonard Cohen’s song during their Giant Palm tours in 2022, which led to its official release on Sub Pop Records. In the new version, Violet Park has been changed to the park that introduced her to Marianne and its creator.

Crystal Closet Queen || Cover: Pixies || Original: Leon Russell
American songwriter/musician Leon Russell left behind an impressive discography after a 60-year career. You’ll hear covers of ten of his best works on Primary Wave Records’ collection A Song For Leon: A Tribute To Leon Russell, including big names like Margo Price, Durand Jones & The Indications, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Orville Peck , U.S. Girls & Bootsy Collins, Hiss Golden Messenger, and… the Pixies.

Rip This Joint || Cover: Guerrilla Teens || Original: Rolling Stones
To pay homage to the Stones’ Exile On Main St (“one of the greatest r’n’r albums of all time”), Warsaw, Poland-based indie label Heavy Medication Records put out the split 7″ Exiled in Warsaw. On the A side Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders nail All Down The Line, for the B side Portland’s Guerrilla Teens provide Rip This Joint with some extra dirt and sweat.

Ramblin’ Rose || Cover: Joecephus and The George Jonestown Massacre featuring Cherie Currie, Mike Watt & J Mascis || Original: MC5
On November 1, Saustex Records will release the star-studded compilation Call Me Animal: A Tribute to the MC5, featuring 22 covers backed by Memphis-based rock ‘n roll band Joecephus and The George Jonestown Massacre. The opening track, which features Cherie Currie (The Runaways), Mike Watt (The Minutemen, The Stooges), and J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), is very promising.

Big Twang Theory || Cover: The Rhino Chasers || Original: Duane Eddy
This isn’t a cover of a single song, but a mash-up of favorite tunes from American rock ‘n’ roll guitarist Duane Eddy, to whom we owe the ‘twang’ sound. You’ll recognize Rebel Rouser, Peter Gunn etc. as soon as you hear the first notes – too much fun not to share, great title too. It’s one of the songs from the entertaining debut EP Here Come The Rhino Chasers by the Rochester-based surf quartet, formed from a merger of Duke Galaxy and the Pipeliners and EyeSpy.

Yummy Yummy Yummy || Cover: All Girls Arson Club || Cover: Ohio Express
UK garage pop duo All Girls Arson Club have made their entertaining 6-track EP Demos, Rareties & B​-​sides available for free on Bandcamp, including this fun ramshackle cover. You could easily label the 1968 hit Yummy Yummy Yummy (written by Arthur Resnick and Joey Levine) – initially intended as a jingle for a grape drink but rejected – as cheesy and silly, but it really had too much influence for that. Not only the song has been featured in several films and series, but the opening guitar chords have also been borrowed by The Beatles for Back in the U.S.S.R., The Cars for Just What I Needed, and indirectly by Fountains of Wayne for Stacy’s Mom.

Stacy’s Mom || Cover: Pacing || Original: Fountains Of Wayne
And look what we have here. 😉 Californian singer-songwriter Pacing aka Katie McTigue has stripped Stacy’s Mom of all the power-poppy Yummy Yummy Yummy elements, but her subdued version is just as intense. It’s one of the highlights of Outcast Tape Infirmary’s surprising 2003 Cover Compilation, featuring 18 diverse covers of songs of 2003 by a variety of talented contemporary bands and musicians.

As a bonus track, we close with one that I mistakenly overlooked in August…

Batman Theme || Cover: The 5.6.7.8’s || Original: Neal Hefti
On one of my first mobile phones I used Woo Hoo from Japanese garage rock band The 5.6.7.8’s as a ringtone for years. Their take on the Batman Theme, composed by Neal Hefti for the 1966 TV series, would be a good alternative – excitement all over. Out on the always reliable Hi-Tide Recordings.

Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more cool cover songs.