At least that is how it works for me. Dirty Dancing is one of the greatest summer
movies ever. Especially when it comes to
music and nostalgia. I mean, sure there’s
plenty of other summer movies. But that
one is just the one I like.
But what about summer music?
Do you have different playlists? Or
at least preferences.
I mean, you sort of have to, right?
Well summer 2017 for me has been all about old reggae and
ska. With a few old rock songs, jam
songs what have you. But rather than
just mention it… why not let you hear it.
So here is my summer play list so far. Ask me in a few weeks and it may be 100
percent different.
No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley
Summer to me is about relaxing, having drinks on the beach
while a cover band across the way plays a variety of hits.
So many people have covered this song it is ridiculous.
But it’s just a calm 7 minute jam.
It is a tale of a man telling his woman that, yeah their
life sucks, but it will continue to get better.
That’s it. And it just flows on
from there.
Bob Marley is an iconic reggae musician, and anything that
comes from island life has got to be a great summer jam.
It goes without saying that you have to listen to the Live
1975 version.
54-46 – Toots and the Maytals
So this could be one of two songs, 54-46, That’s my Number or 54-46, Was my Number
Either version is good.
Sublime covered was my number. But they both are good stuff.
It’s Toots story about his time prison. Apparently 54-46 was his number.
So the first was That’s my Number, and Was followed up a
year later
They are considered ska recordings. Ok.
That’s
What’s
Yeah!!!
Hey Girl – O.A.R. from Rain or Shine
Live in Chicago 2009
If you look around you will find many versions of this
song. And this is one of the newest
versions.
This is from night two.
The fucking Wailers opened for them that night.
I think I just like the solos from this version
Or maybe it is from the much slowed down opening, which
always sounds as if it shouldn’t be there, but this separates it so much
more.
That was a long confusing sentence.
O.A.R. is such a great
jam band. That’s what makes their live
recordings so much more awesome. They are all just a bit different.
Man Smart (Woman Smarter) Harry
Belafonte
So, we get a bit of calypso, who doesn’t like calypso?
Plus, it also will remind you of Beetlejuice. Harry Belafonte always does.
Plus hey, this could be a great feminist movement song.
I love the way this opens with Belafonte just shouting
random shit.
It’s good stuff.
And it goes on forever.
Again, the island songs really just make you want a Bahama mama
and a beach.
Sublime – Jailhouse
This is actually, a Wailers song that Sublime covered and
added some elements of Tenor Saw’s Roll Call
But Bradley Nowell’s voice is suited for this song. I don’t
know why, Maybe it’s that growl that he is able to add to his words that just
make them feel more ferocious.
The songs just sort of blend back and forth.
Again, Sublime gets heavy on my playlist for summer
music. The Long Beach vibe that is
projected through the lyrics and the laid back feeling really pull me in.
It’s just some great summer Jams.
Wailers
Tenor Saw – Roll Call
Shame and Scandal – Peter Tosh
Lyrically, it’s one of the funnest songs on the list.
Most fun, whatever
This is a cover of a rewrite of a cover.
Yeah, long story. Don’t
get me started.
Just shush and listen to the song. Enjoy it for what it is. A song about a
messed up family sometimes from Jamaica
sometimes from Trinidad
I think that’s it for now.
Am I missing anything?
What do you like?
I mean that is 6
solid songs. Put them all on, grab a
drink and get your toes in the sand.
If you care enough about music, eventually you will make a
mix tape or a compilation cd or something.
Something that you present to someone, or maybe you keep it
for yourself. Think of the options
Break up songs
I love you songs
Songs to fuck to
Songs to listen to while you work out
The list could go on and on…
Maybe you have scoured the internet for guides, or have
watched videos. Maybe you looked for themes; maybe you have a million ideas.
Wanna know what I think?
There are no fucking rules!!!
Sure some of the guides make sense, but at the same time, no
one has ever made the album you are making. You aren’t remastering Rubber
Soul. This is a new thing
Sure maybe someone else made a cd for Pamela Johnson, but
that dude didn’t have your style. He
opened with something from the Lion King; you can open with Frank Zappa
So, I decided to make a mix tape, and just tell you about
it. I will tell you as we go along,
maybe the theme will come to you…
If there even is a theme.
There doesn’t always have to be a theme
In fact, the mix that I am going to give you, has an almost
anti theme, that I will explain at the end….
Maybe…
1.Feels Like Summer – Weezer
So I am just starting out with a song that I am
anticipating. Weezer has an album coming
out at some point, tentatively titled “The Black Album” which means it will
just be another self-titled album.
I love it. It is
supposed to be darker, edgier and sadder.
Pinkerton 2.0?
Let’s not get our hopes up.
But still
I think it’s a great way to start off
2.The Beatles - Being for the Benefit
of Mr. Kite!/I Want You (She's So Heavy)/Helter Skelter
I have been fixated on The Beatles Love experience from
Cirque du Soleil. So much so that I want
to go to Vegas badly. Just to see this
and go home. Of course, that’s not much
of a trip. But I’ve had shorter trips to
Vegas in the past.
So the whole album is just one flowy mind fuck from
beginning to end. It’s wild man.
There are other songs that you can trip out to, but I just
like the way this one ends, especially when added to a comp cd
3.The Beach Boys – Caroline, No
Just a continuation of the mind fuckery. I think if you read these long enough, you
know how I feel about The Beach Boys.
So the main reason I picked this was due to the comma in the
title, which was the result of misheard lyrics.
Look it up for yourself
4.Frank Ocean – Crack Rock
When your lead in is the closing song of Pet Sounds, where
do you go from there?
Something that touches you deep from a different point of
view.
The extension to me is the depth that a break up can spiral
to.
That is, if you see Caroline, No as a break up song. 2 months later you are alone high and
quivering. And that’s where it goes
Plus then, near the end, there is that discussion on the
value of a cop versus the value of a drugged out, depressed black dude.
But let’s not get into that political discussion
5.Bob Dylan – Forever young
I can’t find a video containing a full version of this song
But it is real and legit
It is almost 3 minutes long.
Somehow I wish I could get it to you, but I don’t know where I got it
Let’s move on. I just added this track to pick the mood back
up
6.Jimi Hendrix – Foxy Lady
The first 7 seconds of this song are so quiet, they are
there and they are good, but...
That’s the way they suck you in, You turn it up to hear the twang and just as
you do, the control volume goes up, and now you are rocking and screaming and
near deaf.
Then you rock for 3 minutes,
Then silence again
Fuck yeah
7.Jack Johnson - Banana Pancakes
It’s just a simple happy tune about what to do on a rainy
day.
This is a fun song.
How many happy songs are there about rainy days, (besides Bus Stop by
The Hollies)?
I like the random lyrics and the simplistic nature of the
recording
8.Simon and Garfunkel - The 59th Street
Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
This is nothing more than an older version of Banana
Pancakes
It’s just a happy little ditty about having a lazy day
The title of the song for the sake of the lord says “Feeling
Groovy”
It is less than 2 minutes long.
If I write anything more it will surpass the length of the
song.
9.Cat Stevens – The First Cut is the
Deepest
Yes I am well aware that this is probably not the version of
the song that you know
But this is the fucking original.
Rod Stewart’s was just an interpretation. And Sheryl Crow’s
version was an interpretation of that.
The real reasoning for me picking this song is that it is
not Father and Son. I put that on so
many mix tapes that well, it’s played out
This whole album is beginning to sound like a break up album
It is not
I am happily married
10. Ben Kweller – On My Way
So, first off, it is not Ben Folds. I usually put a folds song on for
filler.
Of all the Kweller songs that I could have used this is the
most delicate, and it’s a fresh start
The lyrics continue down the path of mistakes, but in the
end, it’s a happy song.
At least to me it is
And here is the bonus of the day
11.Bob Marley & The Wailers – No Woman
No Cry (Live)
My wife hates live recordings, I don’t get it.
There is a trueness to live music. It is as it is
intended. Do I love what studio bands
can do? Sure, but they each have their
own place, and for me someone who can perform a song live and still sound
original. That’s talent
So I just wanted to take a step back and clear the mind of
the listener.
Just something to take the edge off.
Reggae has a way of relaxing you. Whether you are into the extra-curricular
activities or not.
I love Bob Marley, not because I am a stoner, but because of
the message. It is a shame he was taken
from us too soon.
Almost sooner too.
Just think about that.
12. Hanson – MmmBop (Acoustic)
In 1997 people thought it was junk.
Maybe it was, but they are still selling out shows. They must be doing something right.
I like this acoustic, live setting, because it is intimate
enough to feel what is happening, without overpowering you with too much
Ok, so it’s a guilty pleasure, but it’s mine. And this song has helped me progress any live
sets I have needed a cool filler for.
Girls my age are nostalgic for this shit.
13. Sublime - Badfish
Originally this was going to come on earlier, but it needed
to be after the Bob Marley break.
I think this is just the heart almost of the CD
Remember I don’t follow rules
So I can build you as slow as I want
14. The Dirty Mac – Yer Blues
In 1968 The Rolling Stones put together their Rock N Roll
Circus.
They invited some great musicians. The Dirty mac was:
John Lennon (as "Winston Leg-Thigh") – vocals,
rhythm guitar (from The Beatles)
Eric Clapton – lead guitar (from Cream)
Mitch Mitchell – drums (from The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
Keith Richards – bass (from The Rolling Stones)
How the hell could they go wrong plus they do just such a
romping number.
Yer Blues was from the Beatles White Album, but this has
Clapton and Richards
Some would say that it is a faux pas to put 2 Beatles songs
on 1 album.
I disagree
It’s fucking sonic craftsmanship
15.The Monkees – Zilch
And the mind fuck comes to an end
The Finished product
So as a whole, there is no theme.
It’s sort of an anti-thematic mix.
It is as much noise
as I could put on in 15 songs.
I tried to find songs with as much extra noise as possible, songs that start soft and finish strong, that was my only real guiding force, extra noise and louder at the end
And that is my 1 rule; don’t fill the disc just because you
can. And now, now that we can make
digital playlists there is no track limit.
But that doesn’t mean you should just keep adding
All I wanted was an album that I could watch the stars
with. Get high and sit on a roof. Each song brings you something new to think
about or talk about.
So my final thought is, Fuck it, and make your mix. Have fun,
get loud. Just do it.
I encourage you to just sit for a few hours and make 1
playlist 1 great mixtape, 1 cool comp cd. Hell, I put my life story on 2 discs
once. All the way to my funeral
A few months back I produced a list of what I felt were some
great opening lyrics.
Well, after a weekend of blasting numerous genres every
which way but loose, I have another list.
This list is very non emo; the last list was full of
it. Look
Here!
So here is list number two, a better looked over list and
one that doesn’t include as many personal moments. Yet still producing those, “What the fuck did
they just say?” moments.
This is a list of 9, because the other is a list of 11. So
now you can make a kickass 20 song Music Notes From The Past compilation CD or
playlist or however you listen to music.
Also, I want to note right now, that talking doesn’t count.
On a few of these, the first thing that you hear is some sort of talking
intro. I am only counting where I think
the lyrics start. Ok, so anyways. Here goes.
There must be some kind of way outta
here
Said the joker to the thief
There's too much confusion
I can't get no relief
Jimi Hendrix- All Along the
Watchtower
First off, Yeah, I know it’s a Bob Dylan song. But Bob Dylan’s version never went anywhere on
the charts. And if you really want to know, I find the Bob Dylan version to be
almost unlistenable.
It may be because I know the Hendrix version exists, but
generally, I usually prefer Dylan to those covering him.
Dylan himself prefers the Hendrix version too, stating:
"It overwhelmed
me, really. He had such talent; he could find things inside a song and
vigorously develop them. He found things that other people wouldn't think of
finding in there. He probably improved upon it by the spaces he was using. I
took license with the song from his version, actually, and continue to do it to
this day… I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've
been doing it that way... Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a
tribute to him in some kind of way."
So lyrically, the song doesn’t really go anywhere. But at
the same time it makes sense and invokes its own odd reaction.
There’s no damn chorus
And if you read the lyrics, it seems that the 3rd
verse should be the first, it uses the song’s title and introduces the joker
and thief. (I think)
Well, have at her. And see what you think for yourself.
Here I stand head in hand
Turn my face to the wall
If she's gone I can't go on
Feeling two foot small
You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away –
The Beatles
So we go from a Bob Dylan song, to a song John Lennon wrote
during his “Dylan period.”
And now you kind of get why Dylan won a fucking Nobel Prize;
his way of writing inspired other people
The lyrics to the song have always been under scrutiny.
Was it about Lennon being married, but that marriage being
kept a secret from the fans?
Was it a reference to Brian Epstein’s homosexuality?
Was it about an affair, or some other secret love?
Some people even think it was a reflective piece about the
image that he kept as the “cool” Beatle, even though he was just a very loving
guy.
Personally, I always thought that it was just a break up
song. At least the first line sort of
reflects that.
The song is featured in the movie Help! And somehow still looks cool and holds up 52
years later.
I’ve spoken about this song before, so I will quickly rehash
that.
This was off their second studio album, however the album
version did not feature the verses, and it was instrumental other than the choruses.
The song itself is a joke about Hollywood’s glorification of
violence, and drugs and other such chaos.
Supposedly the lyrics were left off because it reminded
people of the Columbine High School massacre, but the song was written years
before that happened.
If you think about the joking content, it makes sense. The label wouldn’t allow these lyrics on an
album in 1999. But the same company released Eyes Wide Shut, South Park: Bigger, Longer,
Uncut, House on Haunted Hill , Any Given Sunday , True Crime, A perfect Murder,
all in 1998 and 1999.
So really the band had a point.
So here it is, in an entirely different fashion than I gave
you last time.
You were workin' as a waitress in a
cocktail bar
When I met you
I picked you out, I shook you up and
turned you around
Turned you into someone new
Don’t You Want Me – The Human League
If you follow me regularly, you are probably aware that 80s
synthpop, or synthpop at all isn’t something that I normally talk about.
Ironically it was this song that made me want to do another
list of opening lyrics.
This is one of the top songs in British chart history, so it
definitely is worth talking about.
The song is a back and forth sort of break up song. In fact the second verse which is sung by the
lady character revises the opening lyric to reach her point of view. which reads as :I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, That much is
true, But even then I knew I'd find a much better place, Either with or without
you
Some people also see this song as like a sexual/friendzoned
angry male depiction of life, followed by the real story provided by the
woman.
But I’m not here today to talk current events of feminism.
Maybe next time.
I don’t know why this song is so great. It just is.
Just check it out, reminisce, do whatever, just enjoy.
Fuck the police coming straight from
the underground
A young nigga got it bad cause I'm
brown
And not the other color so police
think
They have the authority to kill a
minority
Fuck Tha Police – N.W.A
Ok, so this is one of those moments where I don’t count the
spoken intro.
This song is from 1988!
Not 2016!! And, here
I said I wasn’t going to talk about current events.
So, I mean, by reading the title, I don’t really have to tell
you what the song is about.
As you can imagine, there was a lot of outcry to this song
from police and other government authorities.
The FBI even wrote a letter to the group’s label.
To me, this song and its lyrics were a crucial step in civil
rights. Nowadays, people say anything about anyone. But to have a song coming out against the
police in 1988 was a big deal. It was an idea that was thought about, but never
said commercially.
Ok. Go
Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long
year
Stole many a man's soul and faith
Sympathy for the Devil – The Rolling
Stones
What can I say about this that hasn’t already been said?
This is one of my favorite Stones song, and contrary to the
backlash that they got at the time, The Stones aren’t glorifying the Devil.
But can you blame the public, when their previous album was
titled “Their Satanic Majesties Request”?
The rest of the lyrics tell the tales of history, from the
view of the Devil.
The word Devil doesn’t appear in the lyrics though. And honestly
had they not titled it as such, there’d probably still be people trying to
translate the lyrics.
There are a number of videos featuring this song; here is
the one I chose.
Down in Louisiana
Where the alligators grow so mean
Lived a girl that I swear to the
world
Made the alligators look tame
Polk Salad Annie – Elvis Presley
So this was written and originally performed by Tony Joe
White.
It’s about a poor family that seems to only eat Poke Salad
or Polk Sallet.
It’s actually a weed, that is poisonous, so that lets you
know what kind of life you are living when a toxic weed is your supper.
Or dinner, whatever the fuck you call it.
So basically you are hearing about a weed that poor people
eat after picking it from swamps and other areas where alligators lurk about.
So you get this opening line, after the spoken intro, where
you hear about Annie, this chick who was poor and tougher than an alligator.
Well, Elvis just performs the shit out of it.
Elvis could perform the shit out of anything he wanted
to. This was recorded before he really
started to pack on the pounds, and he looks great.
Better than anyone else wearing a jumpsuit has ever looked.
Oddly, I want to try it, I mean, I get that it’s just
greens, and I have had plenty of greens in my life. I like the idea of playing Greens roulette
with Polk Salad
Levon wears his war wound like a
crown
He calls his child Jesus
'cause he likes the name
And he sends him to the finest school
in town
Levon – Elton John
So the title was inspired by Levon Helm.
From The Band. Seriously?
Levon fucking Helm!
You know what, I don’t have time for this, look him up on
your own time Mary!!
Now that that is out of the way. So this song, like most others of Elton was
written by himself and Bernie Taupin.
It tells the story of a man named Levon, the son of Alvin
Tostig.
Levon has a son named Jesus; I mean obviously you read the
opening lyric.
Jesus wants nothing to do with his father’s balloon business.
In fact, he wants to take a balloon to Venus while his father dies.
And you thought your family was messed up!
Alright, here it is.
Off comes the make up
Off comes the clown's disguise
The curtain's fallin'
The music softly dies.
The Curtain Falls – Bobby Darin
A fitting end for a post about music.
It’s literally a song about show business, and giving the
audience the highest regards.
And, God Bobby had a voice.
The song has a very good ending where you think you are
about to hear a huge climax, but it ends after only 3 lines, with no
conclusion. And it works,
I can only imagine being at a show wanting more. And Bobby didn’t do the shows where you stood
there and nodded your head. No, you sat
down, you ate, you drank, and you experienced an event.
So as far as the song is concerned, I can tell you it was
written by Sol Weinstein. There’s a story that it was written for Bob
Hope. I can’t verify that, but I also
can’t find proof that it’s not true.
I just like the song. Having been someone who has performed
in many different ways, I feel like it’s a peeling back of stage persona, and
just being out there to your audience.
After all, if not for them, there’d be no show.
Goodnight ladies and gentlemen and God love you, thank you.
So I did this a few years ago, but I always seem to come up
with Ideas that could have worked on old posts.
So I am just going to round up a bunch of cool commercials
that are cool due to their choice of music.
Samsung Galaxy – Where is my Mind.
Who doesn’t love a good Pixies song? As Samsung continues to take over the mobile
world, their products and commercials keep getting better.
This one is aimed at teens in a way that will make them say “you
gotta get me this mom!” The same way that
I got hooked on new GI Joes. (Do they
even make commercials for toys anymore?)
If you don’t know the pixies, then get to know them. Please.
Volkswagen Golf – Da Da Da
This one is from 1997. Do you remember it?
It’s just a couple of guys driving around, apparently
listening to some 1982 German synth pop.
The song is by a Ger man band named Trio, and it was their
biggest hit. If I recall correctly it had a bit of a resurgence due to this
commercial as well.
So check out the commercial then go buy the song on
iTunes. You can get it in English and
German
Uncle Ben’s Rice – Show Me the Way
This one is short and sweet, and a great use of lyrics reflecting
the meaning behind the commercial.
It’s a cover of a Peter Frampton song. It sounds like a kid,
but could be an adult. I tried to dig up info on it and got nowhere.
So here it is.
Cadbury – In the Air Tonight
You may say this is cheating, but I disagree.
If you only get your viewing pleasure from TV in America, then
you have not seen this.
That’s not me being snobby. This commercial never aired in
America.
So Cadbury as a company makes more than just the eggs at
Easter time.
But they’ve only started to bring their other products to
mainstream US markets recently. So back
in 2007 they put out this commercial to try and regain popularity after a
Salmonella scare. Boy did it work,
because you can buy this shit everywhere now.
Do I really need to tell you about the song?
WWE 2K17 – Downtown
So, I have been sucked back into the wrestling world by my
kids, and I love it. Watching wrestling is fun, and if you don’t like it, well,
then something might be wrong with you.
So, when you think of pro wrestling, you probably don’t
immediately think of Petula Clark.
After this you will.
The WWE used this 53 year old song (yes the 60’s were that long ago) and
made it work. It provides a sweet
soundtrack to something that can be very brutal.
You are basically taken through Suplex City. A very rough
looking place. The imagery and the music
really do create such a great juxtaposition.
Crystal Pepsi – Right Now
So here is a double blast to the past
Remember Crystal Pepsi?
Remember the weird Van Halen video?
Crystal Pepsi was Pepsi, but it had no color, it was back
this past summer, and honestly tasted better than I remembered it tasting.
The Van Halen original video won tons of awards, or maybe 3
or something. I didn’t care for it, But
I am a David Lee Roth Guy. (Hot for Teacher is one of the greatest songs ever!)
So check out this relic
Mitsubishi Eclipse – Days Go By
The commercial was alright
But this was better!
Gears of War – Mad World
So right off the bat, you have my favorite Video Game
series, Gears of War, and if you don’t
know anything about the game, it’s a futuristic Alien fighting game with lots
of twists and turns and great cut scenes.
Meanwhile, you have Gary Jules singing his cover of Tears
for Fears 1982 song. The song was previously used in Donnie Darko. But for me,
I think it is a great song for a video game.
Again, the juxtaposition is great.
Vonage – Woo Hoo
Remember Vonage?
Remember this song?
Now that’s stuck in your head
And that is it for the list.
Here is a longer
version. Also, look at the band. Is that
what you pictured?
Ok, so those are all the commercials that I have for you
today.
I hope you enjoy them, Now go shopping!!
I was not paid by any of these advertisers.
But if they want to pay me, I would oblige.
Also Check out the original list of commercials here.
So, we hear cover songs all the time, on the radio, the
internet, or on some weird Jimmy Fallon TV special.
Depending on when you were born, or how much music you dig
into, you may or may not know a cover when you hear one.
Then again sometimes the covers are better than the
original. Think Twist and Shout, or Nothing Compares 2 U, or The Soft Cell
version of Tainted Love. All great cover
songs that blew the originals into obscurity.
Of course none of this is what I came to you for today.
No, today, I want to discuss cover songs, that we knew were
cover songs, and they held their own and had their own recognition almost equal
to the original.
So, let’s do this.
Smooth Criminal – Alien Ant Farm
So the original video was one of the best parts of
Moonwalker. If you don’t know about
Moonwalker, then….
I don’t really know.
Seriously though, check it out.
So, with that in mind, I don’t need to tell you how big of a
star Michael Jackson was. And obviously
his song about CPR classes was just as great as any of his other songs.
Now fast forward to 2001, a time when the diehards still
loved Michael, but most of the world only cared about his bizarreness.
So Alien Ant Farm comes around and records their version of
the song, and uses it as their major label debut single, and the world went
nuts for it. They made a video that
encompassed many of Jackson’s videos into 1.
It’s probably the only AAF song that you know. That’s ok. That’s the point really. But they did have other songs and other cool
videos.
But this is what they are most remembered for.
The Sound of Silence - Disturbed
So, Simon and Garfunkel did it first in 1964. And it was huge for 4 years; it is in the National
Recording Registry in the Library of Congress.
Hell, 45 years later Simon and Garfunkel could still perform
the heck out of it.
Then in late 2015, Disturbed released it and it slowly
caught fire, becoming Disturbed’s highest charting Hot 100 song ever. It was a worldwide hit and a platinum record.
(Which are a bit harder to come by these days)
Paul Simon and David Draiman of Disturbed shared this
exchange:
Simon sent lead
vocalist David Draiman an email praising Disturbed's performance of the
rendition on late-night talk show Conan. Simon wrote: “Really powerful
performance on Conan the other day. First time I’d seen you do it live. Nice.
Thanks.” Draiman responded, “Mr. Simon, I am honored beyond words. We only
hoped to pay homage and honor to the brilliance of one of the greatest
songwriters of all time. Your compliment means the world to me/ us and we are
eternally grateful.”
So without further ado, here is that aforementioned Conan
appearance.
Wild Thing – Sam Kinison
Ok, so I am bending the rules a bit on this one.
Many people have covered this; in fact, The Troggs version
is not even the original one.
But it is the most famous version. So it wins that round
Sam Kinison recorded the song in 1988 and made a video for
it. The video itself was an MTV
hit. That is why I am including it.
The video features Rodney Dangerfield and the writhing of
Jessica Hahn, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Billy Idol, Tommy Lee, Jon
Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, Slash and several members of Ratt.
Also, he covered Elvis:
I Fought the Law – The Clash
Another story where the famous version by The Bobby Fuller
Four was a cover of an earlier recorded version by Sonny Curtis.
The 1965 Bobby Fuller version is revered as one of the
greatest songs of its era.
Six months later Bobby Fuller died. Some say suicide others
say murder. Maybe that’s what happens when you fight the law.
Too Soon?
Thirteen years later (1978) The Clash put their own New Wave
Punk spin on the song and had their own hit, and to my knowledge, that is the
version most people know. However the song has been covered like a hundred more
times.
Johnny Cash- Hurt
The original Nine Inch Nails song was nominated for a Grammy
But fuck that version
Johnny Cash’s version actually won a Grammy
What more do I need to say?
1989 – Ryan Adams
Ok, how do I pull this off?
Do you know how incredible this is?
Taylor Swift released her album 1989 in 2014, confusing, I
know.
But then in late 2015 Ryan Adams released a full cover album
of Taylor Swift’s 1989.
Further weirdness is that Ryan cites the Swift version as
being his coping mechanism that got him through the end of his marriage with
Mandy Moore.
Wait, What?
Yes, it’s true.
Adams version debuted at number 7 while at the exact same
time, Swift’s was at number 8 granted Swift’s was a year old but still…
So as much as I would love to give you the whole thing,
there isn’t really time for that. The album is like an hour.
So here are 2 versions of Blank Space.
Live and Let Die – Guns N Roses
Originally the song was done by Paul McCartney’s group
Wings. It was the theme song for the
James Bond film of the same name.
It was a worldwide success, I mean, there haven’t been too
many Bond themes that weren’t hits
Plus this was only 3 years after The Beatles. So Macca was
still fresh.
So in 1991 GNR decided to take a chance on the song and it
did just as well, and some might say it is the more popular version, but those
people also think The Stones were better than The Beatles, and those people are
wrong.
