From some time in the mid=90s, please enjoy The Spongetones and their sheer genius remake of Paul McCartney's "On the Wings of a Nightingale."
Paul originally wrote that in 1984 for The Everly Brothers comeback album (produced by Dave Edmunds); the EBs version was glorious, and deservedly a hit, but the Spongetones take on it --which is pure early Beatles with a dollop of lead guitar in emulation of George Harrison's solo stuff is, as I said, sheer genius. I could listen to this till the cows come home.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Friday, June 28, 2019
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Closed for Monkey Business
Hey, I need a day off -- so sue me.
Son of Covers Week resumes on the morrow, however. Fer sher.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Son of Covers Week (Part Le Troisième): Special "Mary -- You've Got Spunk. I Hate Spunk." Edition
From Late Night With David Letterman in (approximately) 1996, please enjoy the irrepressible Joan Jett and her beyond endearing cover of "Love is All Around" (a/k/a the theme song from The Mary Tyler Moore Show).
I should add that the author of said song, Sonny Curtis, is not only still with us but should definitely be a household word; his other credits include being a member of Buddy Holly's Crickets as well as writing The Everly Brothers' classic "Walk Right Back" and Bobby Fuller's "I Fought the Law." Cooler than that it does not get.
I should add that the author of said song, Sonny Curtis, is not only still with us but should definitely be a household word; his other credits include being a member of Buddy Holly's Crickets as well as writing The Everly Brothers' classic "Walk Right Back" and Bobby Fuller's "I Fought the Law." Cooler than that it does not get.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Son of Covers Week (Part 2): Special "Who's That Annoying Kid Upstairs?" Edition
From 1989, please enjoy The Lemonheads (featuring Evan Dando) and an utterly fabulous guitar-driven punk remake of Suzanne Vega's breakthrough hit "Luka."
I want to make it clear here that I think the Suzanne Vega original of this is as perfect a pop record as has ever been made. An absolute classic that's moving on every level.
That said, from the minute I first heard it, I always wanted somebody to do a loud snot-nosed version that sounded like the above.
And I can't believe I didn't know about this one till last week.
[h/t Tom Perkins]
I want to make it clear here that I think the Suzanne Vega original of this is as perfect a pop record as has ever been made. An absolute classic that's moving on every level.
That said, from the minute I first heard it, I always wanted somebody to do a loud snot-nosed version that sounded like the above.
And I can't believe I didn't know about this one till last week.
[h/t Tom Perkins]
Monday, June 24, 2019
Son of Covers Week (Part 1): Special "If Only I Could Remember My Name" Edition
From 2019, and the soundtrack to the just-released documentary film Echo in the Canyon, please enjoy Jakob Dylan and a stunning rendition of one of my favorite songs from The Byrds' Fifth Dimension album -- David Crosby's "What's Happening."
Saw the film last night, and with one or two cavils thought it was surprisingly terrific. I should add, however, that it struck me as amusing that although Jakob Dylan is the guy interviewing the various 60s figures reminiscing in the film the subject of his father comes up exactly once.
I should also add that when the above song first appeared on the aforementioned Byrds album its title was rendered far more interestingly as "What's Happening?!?!"
Saw the film last night, and with one or two cavils thought it was surprisingly terrific. I should add, however, that it struck me as amusing that although Jakob Dylan is the guy interviewing the various 60s figures reminiscing in the film the subject of his father comes up exactly once.
I should also add that when the above song first appeared on the aforementioned Byrds album its title was rendered far more interestingly as "What's Happening?!?!"
Friday, June 21, 2019
Weekend Listomania: Special "And In Conclusion, National Rifle Association -- Bite Me!" Edition
[I originally posted a version of this about ten years ago, but obviously it's even more relevant now, alas. In any case, I've rewritten it and swapped out a couple of the original entries to avoid accusations of being a total slacker. Please enjoy. -- S.S]
Okay kids, here we go. What are...
... THE BEST OR WORST POST-BEATLES POP/ROCK/SOUL/COUNTRY SONGS OR RECORDS THAT REFERENCE FIREARMS IN EITHER THE TITLE OR THE LYRIC!!!
Self-explanatory, so no arbitrary rules, but by firearms I mean the obvious, i.e. handguns, rifles, etc. In other words, if you try to sneak in something like Bruce Cockburns' otherwise quite splendid "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" I'll make merciless fun of you.
And my totally top of my head Top Nine are:
9. Terry Reid -- Bang Bang
Written by Sonny fricking Bono, and covered here to within an inch of its "my baby shot me down" life. Reid, of course, is the man who passed on Robert Plant's gig in Led Zeppelin, thus altering history in unfathomable ways. A certain Shady Dame and I were privileged to see Reid in a tiny club a few years ago, BTW, and it was in a word transplendent.
8. The Connells -- Get a Gun
From 1990 and a long-time fave of mine. Utterly gorgeous on every level, I think, but to this day I haven't the slightest idea what it's about. These guys are apparently still a going concern, however, and if I ever run into them maybe I'll ask.
7. Warren Zevon -- Jeannie Needs a Shooter
I know, I know -- you thought I was gonna say "Lawyers Guns and Money."
6. Mission of Burmaa -- That's When I Reach for My Revolver
Yeah, it's a great song. Still, and I forgot who said it, but there comes a time in everybody's life when they look at their CD collection and realize that those three Mission of Burma albums are basically just taking up space.
5. Hackamore Brick -- Zip Gun Woman
From the 1971 cult album. These guys are supposed to be some kind of proto-something -- punk, powerpop, I don't know what -- and people I know whose opinions I respect actually like the record. All I know is, I pull it out once every year or two to see if it makes sense to me yet, and it never does.
4. Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul -- Under the Gun
That's Dino Danelli, of Young Rascals fame, on drums, BTW. In any case, the best nasal homage to the ouevre of Keith Richards ever waxed.
3. The Clash -- Tommy Gun
I know, I know -- you thought I was gonna say "The Guns of Brixton."
2. The Sevens -- Seven
Apocalyptic garage rock from the Rolling Stones of Switzerland. Actual gun shots -- a starter pistol, actually -- fired in real time in the studio, courtesy of producer Giorgio Moroder (in his pre-disco days, obviously).
And the Numero Uno ode to the joys of blowing stuff up real good simply has to be...
1. The Guess Who -- Guns, Guns, Guns
This is one of the Guess Who tracks I usually pull out when people make fun of my obsession with the band. I'd actually forgotten it was a single; I mostly think of it as one of the best cuts from Rockin', the 1972 LP that's not only their masterpiece but one of the most unjustly overlooked albums of its decade. The song itself is sui generis; slash-and-burn guitars, a chorus for the ages, and a lyric -- at a historical moment when corporate greedheads are trying to convince us that fracking is good for you and the NRA and their Supreme Court enablers won't rest until every American can walk into a bar carrying a Stinger missile -- that's obviously depressingly prescient.
Alrighty, then -- what would your choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!!
Okay kids, here we go. What are...
... THE BEST OR WORST POST-BEATLES POP/ROCK/SOUL/COUNTRY SONGS OR RECORDS THAT REFERENCE FIREARMS IN EITHER THE TITLE OR THE LYRIC!!!
Self-explanatory, so no arbitrary rules, but by firearms I mean the obvious, i.e. handguns, rifles, etc. In other words, if you try to sneak in something like Bruce Cockburns' otherwise quite splendid "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" I'll make merciless fun of you.
And my totally top of my head Top Nine are:
9. Terry Reid -- Bang Bang
Written by Sonny fricking Bono, and covered here to within an inch of its "my baby shot me down" life. Reid, of course, is the man who passed on Robert Plant's gig in Led Zeppelin, thus altering history in unfathomable ways. A certain Shady Dame and I were privileged to see Reid in a tiny club a few years ago, BTW, and it was in a word transplendent.
8. The Connells -- Get a Gun
From 1990 and a long-time fave of mine. Utterly gorgeous on every level, I think, but to this day I haven't the slightest idea what it's about. These guys are apparently still a going concern, however, and if I ever run into them maybe I'll ask.
7. Warren Zevon -- Jeannie Needs a Shooter
I know, I know -- you thought I was gonna say "Lawyers Guns and Money."
6. Mission of Burmaa -- That's When I Reach for My Revolver
Yeah, it's a great song. Still, and I forgot who said it, but there comes a time in everybody's life when they look at their CD collection and realize that those three Mission of Burma albums are basically just taking up space.
5. Hackamore Brick -- Zip Gun Woman
From the 1971 cult album. These guys are supposed to be some kind of proto-something -- punk, powerpop, I don't know what -- and people I know whose opinions I respect actually like the record. All I know is, I pull it out once every year or two to see if it makes sense to me yet, and it never does.
4. Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul -- Under the Gun
That's Dino Danelli, of Young Rascals fame, on drums, BTW. In any case, the best nasal homage to the ouevre of Keith Richards ever waxed.
3. The Clash -- Tommy Gun
I know, I know -- you thought I was gonna say "The Guns of Brixton."
2. The Sevens -- Seven
Apocalyptic garage rock from the Rolling Stones of Switzerland. Actual gun shots -- a starter pistol, actually -- fired in real time in the studio, courtesy of producer Giorgio Moroder (in his pre-disco days, obviously).
And the Numero Uno ode to the joys of blowing stuff up real good simply has to be...
1. The Guess Who -- Guns, Guns, Guns
This is one of the Guess Who tracks I usually pull out when people make fun of my obsession with the band. I'd actually forgotten it was a single; I mostly think of it as one of the best cuts from Rockin', the 1972 LP that's not only their masterpiece but one of the most unjustly overlooked albums of its decade. The song itself is sui generis; slash-and-burn guitars, a chorus for the ages, and a lyric -- at a historical moment when corporate greedheads are trying to convince us that fracking is good for you and the NRA and their Supreme Court enablers won't rest until every American can walk into a bar carrying a Stinger missile -- that's obviously depressingly prescient.
Alrighty, then -- what would your choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!!
Thursday, June 20, 2019
It's Covers Week Part IV: An Early Clue to the New Direction
From 1986, please enjoy the great Webb Wilder and his blistering live version of Steve Earle's more relevant than ever "The Devil's Right Hand."
A coveted PowerPop No-Prize© will be awarded to the first reader who gleans the clip's relevance to the theme of tomorrow's Weekend Listomania.
A coveted PowerPop No-Prize© will be awarded to the first reader who gleans the clip's relevance to the theme of tomorrow's Weekend Listomania.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
It's Covers Week III: Special Something Fierce Meets Spinal Tap and Then They All Go to Bobby Flay's House For Dinner Edition
From (approximately) 1989 please enjoy the pride of Wayzata, Minnesota -- Something Fierce...
...and their appropriately droll live cover of the faux Merseybeat classic "Gimme Some Money."
The echo on the guitar solo is a particularly nice touch, I think.
BTW, I know I promised a definitively revisionist take on a Carole King song for today, but I'm holding that off for next week and a differently themed series of posts. I thank you for your patience.
...and their appropriately droll live cover of the faux Merseybeat classic "Gimme Some Money."
The echo on the guitar solo is a particularly nice touch, I think.
BTW, I know I promised a definitively revisionist take on a Carole King song for today, but I'm holding that off for next week and a differently themed series of posts. I thank you for your patience.
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
It's Covers Week (Part Deux): Al Green Explains It All to You
From 1969, please enjoy the Reverend Al Green and his thoroughly kick-ass cover of The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
The first time I heard that was in 1998, upon the release of a great Green box set, while I was toiling at the critically acclaimed but alas hit-deficient music site over at TVGuide.com. It was one of the best jobs I ever had nonetheless, of course; not only was I taking Rupert Murdoch's money, but my colleagues were among the most talented and fun-to-work-with folks ever, plus I was getting exposed to all sorts of pop/rock/country stuff that was at the time unknown to me. Ah, those were the days.
Tomorrow: Perhaps the, shall we say, most revisionist version of a Goffin-King song ever heard by sentient mammalian ears.
The first time I heard that was in 1998, upon the release of a great Green box set, while I was toiling at the critically acclaimed but alas hit-deficient music site over at TVGuide.com. It was one of the best jobs I ever had nonetheless, of course; not only was I taking Rupert Murdoch's money, but my colleagues were among the most talented and fun-to-work-with folks ever, plus I was getting exposed to all sorts of pop/rock/country stuff that was at the time unknown to me. Ah, those were the days.
Tomorrow: Perhaps the, shall we say, most revisionist version of a Goffin-King song ever heard by sentient mammalian ears.
Monday, June 17, 2019
It's Covers Week (Part I): Special Will the Wolf Survive? Edition
From 2010, please enjoy the pride of Brooklyn, King Hell...
...doing to Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" what always should have been done to Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf."
BTW, those guys were an absolute panic; you can read more about them (from my first encounter) over HERE, and you can -- and should -- order the album that it's from...
...over at Amazon HERE.
...doing to Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" what always should have been done to Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf."
BTW, those guys were an absolute panic; you can read more about them (from my first encounter) over HERE, and you can -- and should -- order the album that it's from...
...over at Amazon HERE.
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