Not that I'm trying to be controversial, but.. I feel like I'm the only person on the planet willing to admit that the Ca$h cover of "Hurt" was actually bad. Everyone seems to forget that at the time, when the album came out "Personal Jesus" was what people were paying attention to... no one liked the Hurt cover [it was too soon]. Not even Trent liked it at first, but after Cash's death I'm assuming he was under a ton a pressure to pretend it was awesome, and suddenly he changed his tune. Everyone completely forgets this. It's marketing.
Anyway... to stay on-topic, some of my favorite covers...
That Sonic Youth cover of Superstar is definitely a favorite of mine. I had that 1990s Schoolhouse Rock cover album back in the day and loved it! You’ve picked my favorite track with Three Is A Magic Number. I didn’t know about that Beck project, I really look forward to digging into that!
I’m also a huge Cat Power fan and could happily listen to Chan Marshall sing the phone book. What she did with Frank Ocean’s Bad Religion on her 2022 Covers album was nothing short of incredible for me: https://youtu.be/90qsTpEqjHA?si=ARrsYxBdMy-rMx5w
Lastly, I recently touched on anther of my favorite cover songs, Mark Lanegan teaming up with Maggie Bjorklund to cover Nutshell by Alice In Chains, just amazing: https://youtu.be/1m9IG66EUe0?si=L9IBAj_0UGeSfMJK
Ohhhh I LOVE Metalachi! TRES is fantastic but I'm a huge fan of UNO; their takes on "Rainbow in the Dark" and "Livin' On A Prayer" are amazing!
Because I am nothing if not on brand: I've lately been listening a lot to Leoni Jane Kennedy's album of acoustic Rush covers. I highlighted one for today's song of the day, but her "Cold Fire" duet and "Different Zone" are must-listens as well.
Thanks for shining a light on FR&B's "Inside Tracks," Steve! I'm incredibly proud of having whelped that lane out of an increasing amount of articles that organically emerged centered around my love of covers....we all seem to share that, don't we?!
For those who want to dig into more covers, my catalog of "Inside Tracks" can be found right over here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/t/inside-tracks Enjoy, Earworms and Song Loops readers, and thanks again, Steve!
I Love Covers. Hayseed Dixie is quite excellent, and I really enjoyed Mariachi. I'm sure you've heard Me Too and the Gimme Gimmes. Another fun band. Good article, Steve!
I loved that School Houserock CD - still have the case but the CD itself is lost to the ages. The Blind Mellon cover is sublime- last song they ever recorded, I believe. Check out The Bad Plus’s cover of The Flaming Lips’ Feeling Yourself Disintegrate. One of my faves.
Thanks for this great post. Of the ones you mention, I'm a fan of the Carpenters tribute and have also been listening to the Trevor Horn album and enjoying it. I love Cat Power's covers and recently wrote about the Dylan one (https://songstudies.substack.com/p/rearrange-their-faces-give-them-all).
One of my favourite albums from last year was The Endless Coloured Ways, a tribute to Nick Drake. Lots of great covers by John Grant, Fontaines DC, Liz Phair and my favourite Let's Eat Grandma.
A great album from a few years ago was Bill Callahan and Bonnie Prince Billy's Blind Date Party, where they collaborated with lots of great artists on cover versions during lockdown. https://open.spotify.com/album/561g6g50IxDAHeS2LRMsp8
Honestly, this is a topic I could talk about all day. I have two loooong Spotify playlists or weird/wonderful/favourite covers.
I did stumble across a YouTube video of Beck and pals recording a version of Skip Spence’s song “Weighted Down” was unaware that it was pet of a bigger project.
Oh my gosh, the Johnny Cash NIN cover is among my favorite covers of all time. I thought it was on the tribute album Covered in Nails. But I just looked and no. Hmmm.
And yeah, Cat Power has some amazing covers.
I appreciate the brain train I can already see this post taking me on🤣. Thanks, Steve!
When I saw your COW reference in the header I immediately thought thought about Pink Floyd's bovine album sleeve of Atom Heart Mother (1970, I believe). I know you were talking about covers for other musicians tracks. I suppose I have an eyeworm along with an earworm. 🤔
Not that I'm trying to be controversial, but.. I feel like I'm the only person on the planet willing to admit that the Ca$h cover of "Hurt" was actually bad. Everyone seems to forget that at the time, when the album came out "Personal Jesus" was what people were paying attention to... no one liked the Hurt cover [it was too soon]. Not even Trent liked it at first, but after Cash's death I'm assuming he was under a ton a pressure to pretend it was awesome, and suddenly he changed his tune. Everyone completely forgets this. It's marketing.
Anyway... to stay on-topic, some of my favorite covers...
- Meat Beat Manifesto's cover of "Asbestos Lead Asbestos" by World Domination Enterprises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsF5nmwAp3s
- Lemonheads' cover of "Mrs Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvMFm5nKeUc
- Brazzaville's cover of "Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG0zXO_tBFU
I had a post a few months ago with some “lovely covers” for those that might be interested: https://open.substack.com/pub/joyinthejourney/p/jitj-playlist-002-lovely-covers
That Sonic Youth cover of Superstar is definitely a favorite of mine. I had that 1990s Schoolhouse Rock cover album back in the day and loved it! You’ve picked my favorite track with Three Is A Magic Number. I didn’t know about that Beck project, I really look forward to digging into that!
I’m also a huge Cat Power fan and could happily listen to Chan Marshall sing the phone book. What she did with Frank Ocean’s Bad Religion on her 2022 Covers album was nothing short of incredible for me: https://youtu.be/90qsTpEqjHA?si=ARrsYxBdMy-rMx5w
Lastly, I recently touched on anther of my favorite cover songs, Mark Lanegan teaming up with Maggie Bjorklund to cover Nutshell by Alice In Chains, just amazing: https://youtu.be/1m9IG66EUe0?si=L9IBAj_0UGeSfMJK
Ohhhh I LOVE Metalachi! TRES is fantastic but I'm a huge fan of UNO; their takes on "Rainbow in the Dark" and "Livin' On A Prayer" are amazing!
Because I am nothing if not on brand: I've lately been listening a lot to Leoni Jane Kennedy's album of acoustic Rush covers. I highlighted one for today's song of the day, but her "Cold Fire" duet and "Different Zone" are must-listens as well.
ETA: Do you remember this album of Saturday morning cartoon covers? There was a good six months as a teenager when this is all I listened to. Weirdly, my introduction to both Sponge and Liz Phair: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Morning:_Cartoons%27_Greatest_Hits
Thanks for shining a light on FR&B's "Inside Tracks," Steve! I'm incredibly proud of having whelped that lane out of an increasing amount of articles that organically emerged centered around my love of covers....we all seem to share that, don't we?!
For those who want to dig into more covers, my catalog of "Inside Tracks" can be found right over here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/t/inside-tracks Enjoy, Earworms and Song Loops readers, and thanks again, Steve!
Thanks for sharing my Coverville lists, Steve. As is often the case, I left off three must-hear covers. IMHO, these interpretations are bulletproof.
"Woodstock" (Grace of the Sun, 2004) - Richie Havens <https://music.apple.com/us/album/woodstock/216008881?i=216008942>
"Who Knows Where the Time Goes" - Eva Cassidy <https://youtu.be/s_5rjM10Chs?si=pRv6ibaIf5przv1d>
"Tam Lin" - Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer <https://youtu.be/c3yTEUnyYDA?si=kgRSuXEhtaW8FEj6>
Jagged little pill- it’s always Alanis for me
I Love Covers. Hayseed Dixie is quite excellent, and I really enjoyed Mariachi. I'm sure you've heard Me Too and the Gimme Gimmes. Another fun band. Good article, Steve!
Here's a cover playlist I made for Brad once upon a time...https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7z4shhROX5YsZBhfQrtTjI?si=9eceb1dfd4ef4ff0
I loved that School Houserock CD - still have the case but the CD itself is lost to the ages. The Blind Mellon cover is sublime- last song they ever recorded, I believe. Check out The Bad Plus’s cover of The Flaming Lips’ Feeling Yourself Disintegrate. One of my faves.
Just here to say that everyone deserves to hear Shonen Knife’s cover of ‘Top of the World’ at least once.
Thanks for this great post. Of the ones you mention, I'm a fan of the Carpenters tribute and have also been listening to the Trevor Horn album and enjoying it. I love Cat Power's covers and recently wrote about the Dylan one (https://songstudies.substack.com/p/rearrange-their-faces-give-them-all).
One of my favourite albums from last year was The Endless Coloured Ways, a tribute to Nick Drake. Lots of great covers by John Grant, Fontaines DC, Liz Phair and my favourite Let's Eat Grandma.
https://open.spotify.com/album/41NPRAXWRq1a5JKOfxvkfE
A great album from a few years ago was Bill Callahan and Bonnie Prince Billy's Blind Date Party, where they collaborated with lots of great artists on cover versions during lockdown. https://open.spotify.com/album/561g6g50IxDAHeS2LRMsp8
Honestly, this is a topic I could talk about all day. I have two loooong Spotify playlists or weird/wonderful/favourite covers.
I did stumble across a YouTube video of Beck and pals recording a version of Skip Spence’s song “Weighted Down” was unaware that it was pet of a bigger project.
Also, Laibach’s “Let it be”? Weirdness!!
Oh my gosh, the Johnny Cash NIN cover is among my favorite covers of all time. I thought it was on the tribute album Covered in Nails. But I just looked and no. Hmmm.
And yeah, Cat Power has some amazing covers.
I appreciate the brain train I can already see this post taking me on🤣. Thanks, Steve!
When I saw your COW reference in the header I immediately thought thought about Pink Floyd's bovine album sleeve of Atom Heart Mother (1970, I believe). I know you were talking about covers for other musicians tracks. I suppose I have an eyeworm along with an earworm. 🤔
Atom Heart Mother.. clever sleeve, rubbish album.
LOVE Sonic Youth's cover of "Superstar." So so beautiful.
Thanks for the shout-out, Steve. Much appreciated.