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.
To be honest, I wanted to kick this off with Swedish rock band The Hives’ take on Blue Swede’s Hooked On A Feeling. You probably know the “Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga” chant from Guardians Of The Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 1, but the tune is actually 50 years old. The new version is recorded for Spotify Singles, which means we cannot easily embed it here (you’ll find a link in the honorable mentions later in this post). Fortunately, there’s plenty more to choose from.
Star Star || Cover: The Cynz || Original: The Rolling Stones
On their latest release, JEM Records celebrates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, after previously honoring John Lennon (2020), Brian Wilson (2021), Pete Townshend (2022) and Ray Davies (2023) with a strong compilation in this series. This new one is also fun, with energetic contributions from favorite bands and artists such as The Midnight Callers, Paul Collins, TheAirport77s, Nick Piunti and The Weeklings. No fillers here, but I like the ragged edge of The Cynz the best.
Count The Days || Swamp Dogg feat. Jenny Lewis || Original: Inez & Charlie Foxx
American R&B musician Jerry Williams Jr., better known as Swamp Dogg, is way over 50 years into his career, but with Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St (Oh Boy Records) he has released an amazing new album. Original track Songs To Sing may be the most beautiful thing I’ve heard so far this year, but his cover of the 1967 single (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count The Days, written by Charlie Foxx, Brooks O’Dell and Yvonne Williams (and arranged at the time by the master himself!), is also worth your attention.
No Fun || Cover: Asian Dub Foundation with Iggy Pop || Original: The Stooges
The versatile British formation Asian Dub Foundation is celebrating their 30th anniversary with a tour and an album, and in that context an ‘ADF30 Rework’ has been released of the cover we previously heard on their 2008 LP Punkara. Alienating but oh so cool.
I Wanna Be Adored || Cover: Swerve || Original: The Stone Roses
Los Angeles-based indie rock band Swerve follows up their acclaimed Ruin Your Day LP with The Darkroom EP (out June 21), on which they look back on their wilder years, delve into the darkness of failing relationships and endless nights, and the need to be adored. This reimagined version fits in perfectly. Singer/guitarist Greg Mahdesian explains: “The Stone Roses made one of my favorite records and I Wanna Be Adored is their most iconic track. It’s also a genuinely weird song that has minimalist lyrics and psychedelic/rave/rock production, and I’ve never heard a cover of it before. We’ve done plenty of covers live, from the Replacements to Black Sabbath, but really wanted to record one and take it in a new direction.” Mission accomplished.
Teenage Nervous Breakdown || Cover: The Bird and the Bee || Original: Little Feat
American singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Lowell George (1945-1979), best known for his work in Little Feat, receives a successful homage with 2-LP Long Distance Love – A Sweet Relief Tribute to Lowell George (Flatiron Recordings). It concerns no fewer than 25 songs, by artists such as Elvis Costello, Ben Harper, Chris Stills, Dave Alvin, Sugaray Rayford and Jonathan Wilson. Plenty of beautiful things to choose from, but this cover by Californian indie pop duo The Bird And The Bee stood out for me, even before I realized that ‘The Bird’ we hear is none other than George’s daughter Inara George.
Found a Job || Cover: The Linda Lindas || Original: Talking Heads
This is the third time that Lucia & Mila de la Garza, Bela Salazar and Eloise Wong from The Linda Lindas have appeared in our monthly Dusted post, so apparently they know how to hit the right note every time. This time we heard them on the 2-LP Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute To Talking Heads’ ‘Stop Making Sense (A24 Music), and here too they don’t go wrong.
See Emily Play || Cover: The Queers || Original: Pink Floyd
The compilation Punk Floyd: A Tribute To Pink Floyd (Cleopatra Records) brings together seventeen good old punk rock bands that reworked some of PF’s well-known progressive psychedelic rock songs, their covers are exclusive to this CD/LP. These are big name contributors such as The Vibrators, UK Subs, Dead Boys, Skids, Anti-Nowhere League, The Members, and The Queers.
Calaveras y Diablitos || Cover: Las Yakets feat. Buena Suerte || Original: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Costa Rica punk rock trio Las Yakets, with Ale from ska punk outfit Buena Suerte on sax, once again show what they are good at. Moreover, this leads to the discovery of Argentinian Latin rock outfit Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, whose 1997 LP Fabulosos Calavera turns out to be an exciting gem.
Pink Pantheratu || Cover: Messer Chups || Original: Henry Mancini
Everyone knows it, The Pink Panther Theme, written by Henry Mancini for the 1963 film of that name, is one of the most iconic compositions ever. Zombierella (bass), Guitaracula (guitar) and Signor Mattia (drums) from Messer Chups dare to give it a spooky surf rock twist on their new album Dark Side of Paradise (Hi-Tide Recordings), and that fits fine.
Fallen Angel || Cover: Classic Pat and Metal Murph || Original: Poison
Poison’s 1988 hair metal LP Open Up And Say…Ahh! is childhood sentiment, a guilty pleasure. The pop punk version of Classic Pat (bass, drums, vocals) and Metal Murph (guitars) transfers one of its tracks to 2024.
Seven || Cover: Saosin || Original: Sunny Day Real Estate
Californian post-hardcore band Saosin will release the album Live From The Garden Amphitheater (Born Losers Records) on July 19, a recording of last year’s 20th anniversary show. They also played a handful of covers, including this one from the opening track of Sunny Day Real Estate’s 1994 Diary LP
Also worth mentioning:
Back Home (Golden Earring) by The Blessings
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (Green Day) by Dana Gillespie
Cuban Getaway (Ike Turner) by K.V. Raucous & The Cave Dwellers
Don’t Talk To Me (GG Allin & The Jabbers) by Gus Baldwin & The Sketch
Hey Sah-Lo-Ney (Mickey Lee Lane) by The Nucleons Project
Hooked On A Feeling (Blue Swede) by The Hives
I Couldn’t Say It to Your Face (Arthur Russell) by Carson McHone
I Think I’m Falling In Luv Again (DEVO) by Snooper
In And Out (Larry & the Blue Notes) by The In-Fuzzed
Learning To Fly (Tom Petty) by Eli Young Band
Let Me Roll It (Paul and Linda McCartney) by Hiss Golden Messenger
Love Shack (B-52’s) by Varonas
Set Phasers To Stun (Taking Back Sunday) by The Color Fred
Silver Machine (Hawkwind) by Silver Biplanes
You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory (Johnny Thunders) by The Courettes feat. Johnny Thunders
Bonus:
Let’s close with an earworm that we overlooked at the end of April.
Bella Ciao || Cover: The Malbehavers || Original: Traditional
Dutch surf rock quartet The Malbehavers released the fun Tout Tilburg Surft EP, featuring six twangy instrumentals for a summer beach party. What catches the ear most is their take on Italian protest folk song Bella Ciao, not only known from the La Casa de Papel series but also from countless other versions. Old but very topical.
Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more cool cover songs.
Some info for those who didn’t already know the female vocalist for “The Bird & The Bee” is Inara George the daughter of Lowell George. So it’s touching that her version was chosen to represent this tribute album.