28 June 2012 - Joan Jett (& The Blackhearts) - I Love Rock 'n' Roll

I bet you all thought this was an original.  Well, it was.  When The Arrows performed it in 1975.

This song helped Joan Jett launch a post-Runaways career, but she would never have a bigger hit than this cover, a faithful one at that, with a twist. The original was sung by a man, and so the person standing by the record machine.... was a she, not a he.  For some reason, that original version was a little creepier.

As an added bonus, this video is the original color version - Joan Jett was not a fan of the red leather.

 

This was the second time Joan Jett recorded the song.  The first time was in 1979, while still a Runaway, with Paul Cook and Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols.  Here is a pretty poor video with this version.   It's a little more glam-rock and less rockabilly.  

27 June 2012 - The Killers - Shadowplay

When I saw The Killers in 2009 they busted out this Joy Division cover which appeared in the 2007 film Control. I had no idea they covered it, which is sad because I had the DVD for the movie at the time (which to this day still hasn't been opened).

26 June 2012 - Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman

This.  This is my favorite song of all time.  Bar none.

Glen Campbell captures perfectly the heartbreak of... well, a Wichita lineman.  The ache of the loneliness of the work comes through in the guitar/violin combination as well as Glen's gentle vocals.  He wants to hear his love through the wires, and yearns for it.  

It's a song I wish I could sing.

It's also a song Glen didn't write.  In a Totally Covered twist, the recording of Jimmy Webb's song - which was written for piano - was released before Jimmy Webb ever was, and in fact was written FOR Glen Campbell.  Jimmy Webb wrote a lot of Glen Campbell's hits.

But it is his song.  And it is the most perfect song ever written and performed.



As an added bonus, here is a video of Glan Campbell performing the song in Toronto last year, on his Goodbye tour, as he is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's. I haven't seen him live yet, and I really hope I get the chance to.

25 June 2012 - Berlin - The Dope Show

I got to see Berlin play a few years ago, which I have to say was pretty cool. While they played a ton of their old hits (The Metro was always a favorite of mine), they were touring for a new album of covers, which of course brings us to today's live video of the band covering Marilyn Manson (the only video I could find wasn't exactly the best quality, but you'll get the idea of how cool it was...and yes, they brought up the crowd at my show too...and no, I didn't go up and shake it with Teri and the band).

21 June 2012 - Kris Delmhorst - You Might Think / Drive

Anyone who reads my other blogs knows what my Album of the Year pick was for 2011.  Far and away, it was Cars by Kris Delmhorst.  This is a bit of an understatement; I would call it the best album I've heard in the last five years, at least. She was able to retain the dark optimism of Rik Ocasek's original lyrics and vocals (and yes, in some cases, Ben Orr's), while bringing her own folky soulfulness to the music.  This was the best of the best.  Expertly done, this version gives me chills.



The album was so good, I wanted to also share Kris's take on Ben Orr's lyrics.  Equally chilling, this is a song I don't like in its original form, but love in hers.

20 June 2012 - Paul Weller and Amy Winehouse - I Heard it through the Grapevine

Do I really need to say anything here? It's Amy Winehouse AND Paul Weller covering a Motown classic from the Later...with Jools Holland show. Just sit back, push play and bask in the awesome goodness that is this video.

19 June 2012 - The Carpenters - Superstar / Sonic Youth - Superstar

I always found The Carpenters to be dull.  I mean, Richard was an excellent songwriter, and Karen a talented drummer and vocalist, but the combination of the two of them was just so boring.  However, there are exceptions, such as this Delaney and Bonnie song.  Karen really captures the heartbreak of the unrequited love of an adoring fan, and made it huge.



Of course, the song was so popularized by The Carpenters that it really became their song, so when Sonic Youth covered it, it was featured on the Carpenters tribute album.  It's clearly a darker version than the one sung by Karen Carpenter, but still captures the heartbreak.