Not all new music is really new, as many artists cover songs. Sometimes these are songs by their favorite artists, e.g. 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 a kind of random order—a bunch of successful covers from last month—links to pages where you can add them to your wantlist included.
California Sun (originally recorded by Joe Jones, popularized by the Ramones) by The Linda Lindas — digital track (Epitaph)
Vitamin C (Can) by Calibro 35 — from Mister Magic 7″ (Record Kicks)
Jump (Van Halen) by Sammy Kay — from Born To Run EP
I Want To Break Free (Queen) by Liquids — from January 2026 LP
I Touch Myself (Divinyls) by The Jagaloons — available on heart-shaped flexi 7″ single
Bad Reputation (Freedy Johnston) by Space Jaguar — from Every Room is an Escape Room EP (Subjangle)
You’re Gonna Get What’s Coming (Robert Palmer) by Queen Esther — from Blackbirding LP (EL Recordings)
The Day Before You Came (ABBA) by Pulp featuring BBC Concert Orchestra — in BBC Radio 2 Piano Room
Don’t Know Why (Norah Jones) by Smush — from Standards EP
Big River (Johnny Cash) by Old 97’s — from One More Ride: Old 97’s Perform the Songs of Johnny Cash EP (ATO)
Blackout Of Gretely (Gonn) by The Thingz — from Still Primitive compilation (Chaputa! Records)
Young Folks (Peter Bjorn and John) by Vlimmer — from Aufbeißer CDr (Blackjack Illuminist Records)
Instant Karma (John Lennon) by Donnie Vie — from Plain Jane 7″ (Wicked Cool Records)
Hardcore Ufo’s (Guided By Voices) by The Cadets — from Job Ant Weasel compilation (Almost Halloween Time Records)
Get Ready (Smokey Robinson) by Bettie and the Bandits — from Bettie and the Bandits EP
Nothing Can Change You (Tommy Keene) by High on Stress — from Over/Thru EP (Rum Bar Records)
Look At Miss Ohio (Gillian Welch) by Abes Bones — from Oh Teresa! single (Coyote Oak)
You Don’t Love Me Yet (The Vulgar Boatmen) by Local Drags — digital track
Don’t Waste Your Time (The Cats) by Tim Knol — from upcoming Sure He’s A Cat – Tribute to The Cats LP (Excelsior Recordings)
In Dreams (Roy Orbison) by Gogol Bordello — for A.V. Undercover
Fade Into You (Mazzy Star) by Middle-Aged Queers — digital track
Passionate Kisses (Lucinda Williams) by The Paranoid Style — digital track
House Of The Rising Sun (traditional) by The Guy Hamper Trio featuring James Taylor — from 5 Miles To Jerome LP (Spinout Nuggets)
Polk Salad Annie (Tony Joe White) by Handsome Jack — from Barnburners! LP (Alive Naturalsound Records)
Last Night on Earth (Green Day) by Wisp — for triple j’s Like A Version
The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Bob Dylan) by Tori Amos featuring BBC Concert Orchestra — for BBC Radio 2 Piano Room
Le Temps De L’Amour (Françoise Hardy) by Suzan Köcher’s Suprafon — from upcoming Le Temps De L’amour EP (Unique Records/Schubert Musique)
I’m Talkin’ About You (Chuck Berry) by The Masonics — from You Can Tell, It’s… LP (Spinout Nuggets)
Why Bother? (Weezer) by Jessica Lea Mayfield x Dolour — from upcoming Pinkerton LP (Inverness Recordings)
Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more worthy cover songs.