This week was originally supposed to be a Henry Mancini tribute week. I found so many covers of Peter Gunn that I couldn't resist.
What happens when Henri Mancini's class meets prog rock? The answer, of course, is this ELP cover of his classic. It's interesting to hear so much keyboard in a song that is clearly guitar-driven.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
14 April 2020 - The Art of Noise featuring Duane Eddy - Peter Gunn
You think you have this week's theme figured out?
Two days, two Peter Gunn covers, each very different. Duane Eddy is well known for covering this song in the 1960's - in the 1980's, he teamed up with avant-garde group Art of Noise to bring together the worlds of surf guitar and electronic experimentation. Doesn't sound like a good combination, does it? It works.
Tune in tomorrow to see if your guess is right.
Two days, two Peter Gunn covers, each very different. Duane Eddy is well known for covering this song in the 1960's - in the 1980's, he teamed up with avant-garde group Art of Noise to bring together the worlds of surf guitar and electronic experimentation. Doesn't sound like a good combination, does it? It works.
Tune in tomorrow to see if your guess is right.
Monday, April 13, 2020
13 April 2020 - The Jody Grind - Peter Gunn
This cover is a bit of a revelation. Who knew that this song even had lyrics?
In its original version, it didn't. Henry Mancini wrote it without lyrics, in support of the television series of the same name.
In the 1960, Jay Livingston & Ray Evans added lyrics. This version was originally recorded by Sarah Vaughan - in this version, the song is called Bye-Bye. The Jody Grind - an Atlanta band that released two albums in the early 1990's but disbanded when two of their members were killed in a car crash - covered THAT. Kelly Hogan's huge, soulful voice completely dominates the tune, and that's a good thing!
In its original version, it didn't. Henry Mancini wrote it without lyrics, in support of the television series of the same name.
In the 1960, Jay Livingston & Ray Evans added lyrics. This version was originally recorded by Sarah Vaughan - in this version, the song is called Bye-Bye. The Jody Grind - an Atlanta band that released two albums in the early 1990's but disbanded when two of their members were killed in a car crash - covered THAT. Kelly Hogan's huge, soulful voice completely dominates the tune, and that's a good thing!
Friday, April 10, 2020
10 April 2020 - Fine, it's Pink ft. Platonic Scale - Teen Spirit (Dreaming of Nirvana) | Fine, it's Pink - This Feeling
I've been a fan of Fine, It's Pink for years. They've gone back and forth between original music and covers throughout their career. Although they're Romanian, they primarily record in English - and have a unique, ethereal-but-heavy song not unlike the feel of early Cocteau Twins.
Ioana Lefter isn't Kurt Cobain, and that's OK - a Nirvana impersonation doesn't do this song justice. The band teamed with Victor Mihailescu (Platonic Scale) to give the song a darker, modern feel.
Now that we are in the middle of a pandemic, even in Romania, the band is separated. That doesn't mean they aren't making new music..... This is a cover of the Alabama Shakes song "This Feeling" that the band recorded in multiple locations, separated, and released to their Facebook page - please give them a like.
This might be my favorite song of the moment - both in its original version and this cover. I think the lyrics nicely capture what a lot of us are feeling right now.
Ioana Lefter isn't Kurt Cobain, and that's OK - a Nirvana impersonation doesn't do this song justice. The band teamed with Victor Mihailescu (Platonic Scale) to give the song a darker, modern feel.
Now that we are in the middle of a pandemic, even in Romania, the band is separated. That doesn't mean they aren't making new music..... This is a cover of the Alabama Shakes song "This Feeling" that the band recorded in multiple locations, separated, and released to their Facebook page - please give them a like.
This might be my favorite song of the moment - both in its original version and this cover. I think the lyrics nicely capture what a lot of us are feeling right now.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
8 April 2020 - A Cover Me Canada Sundown Special
The video for this was filmed at midnight, in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.... so there was no sundown. But a Canadian band covering a Canadian classic seemed just too perfect today.
The video itself was made by folk group Come Eat A Cat as an audition tape for a Canadian reality competition in which they could cover one of four Canadian songs. Don't worry. I'll be featuring the other three songs soon.... but there were so MANY solid covers of this song that we had to start here.
There were so many good covers that were so different we couldn't help but feature a second. Valley
are decidedly NOT a folk group - representing my favourite province, Alberta (they're from St. Albert, Canadian friends).
So I don't get shit from my Ontario friends, here's a Toronto band covering Sundown....
..although, for my money, the Credit Valley metal take from Ontario was a little better.
In researching this post, I heard a LOT of really bad covers of this song. I won't be sharing them..... Honestly, I didn't expect this post to become a tour of Canada... but sometimes, the posts go where they want to go.
Here's a band from British Columbia - Vancouver, to be precise. - to finish up. High Society goes all Postmodern Jukebox with a horned-up hip-hop take.
The video itself was made by folk group Come Eat A Cat as an audition tape for a Canadian reality competition in which they could cover one of four Canadian songs. Don't worry. I'll be featuring the other three songs soon.... but there were so MANY solid covers of this song that we had to start here.
There were so many good covers that were so different we couldn't help but feature a second. Valley
are decidedly NOT a folk group - representing my favourite province, Alberta (they're from St. Albert, Canadian friends).
So I don't get shit from my Ontario friends, here's a Toronto band covering Sundown....
..although, for my money, the Credit Valley metal take from Ontario was a little better.
In researching this post, I heard a LOT of really bad covers of this song. I won't be sharing them..... Honestly, I didn't expect this post to become a tour of Canada... but sometimes, the posts go where they want to go.
Here's a band from British Columbia - Vancouver, to be precise. - to finish up. High Society goes all Postmodern Jukebox with a horned-up hip-hop take.
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
7 April 2020 - Foo Fighters - Never Talking To You Again
Hüsker Dü originated this very simple song - originally written by the late Grant Hart - and Dave Grohl does an admirable job covering it.
The song itself is very simple - it's performed only on guitar, with no additional accompaniment - and yet still stays pretty faithful to the original (which did feature Hart and Bob Mould together on vocals and guitar).
The song itself is very simple - it's performed only on guitar, with no additional accompaniment - and yet still stays pretty faithful to the original (which did feature Hart and Bob Mould together on vocals and guitar).
Monday, March 30, 2020
30 March 2020 - Joan Osborne - One of Us
"One of Us"
That's the whole title.
What you did NOT know is that this song was originally written and performed by Eric Bazilian, who is best known for his work as a member of The Hooters. However, he recorded it as a demo and hid it as a hidden track on his debut solo album (and The Hooters have performed the song as well since).
Bazilian was part of the songwriting team that worked on Osborne's debut album, Relish, and he ended up playing his demo for this quick little song he wrote to impress a girl - and she asked to record the song.
The song went on to win several Grammys, so right choice, Eric!
The song expounds on the imagery of man being created in God's image - and some found it to be a little sacrilegious - which, of course, missed the point of this beautiful song.
That's the whole title.
What you did NOT know is that this song was originally written and performed by Eric Bazilian, who is best known for his work as a member of The Hooters. However, he recorded it as a demo and hid it as a hidden track on his debut solo album (and The Hooters have performed the song as well since).
Bazilian was part of the songwriting team that worked on Osborne's debut album, Relish, and he ended up playing his demo for this quick little song he wrote to impress a girl - and she asked to record the song.
The song went on to win several Grammys, so right choice, Eric!
The song expounds on the imagery of man being created in God's image - and some found it to be a little sacrilegious - which, of course, missed the point of this beautiful song.
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