Under The Influence

Today, I have decided to delve into the art of the cover version. We've all sung in the shower or warbled a drunken dirge to a friend on a late Saturday night, but these guys actually had the balls to tackle these songs and record them for public consumption. Some of these are well known songs, others obscure, but all of fairly top quality as far as I'm concerned. Seek them out and either you will agree, or you will want to get your hands on whatever it is I'm imbibing. These songs will fit on a standard CD.

Move On Up - The Jam

Originally done by the legendary Curtis Mayfield on his 1970 album Curtis, this call to arms for black youth is transformed into a feel-good kick in the butt for all by Paul Weller and the boys. From the opening double snare hit, a great horn section drives this number, and Weller's fervent lead vocal pushes my feet to the dance floor. Recorded just before the demise of the Jam, it hints at the direction he would take with his next project, The Style Council. "Bite your lip, and take a trip" indeed!

The Passenger - Siouxsie & The Banshees

This is a pretty straightforward take on the Iggy Pop song from his album Lust For Life in 1977. Again, a fantastic horn groove and Siouxsie's almost breathy vocals make it spring to life. This is a much smoother and polished cut than the Iggy version, causing some to say they like the rougher edges of Iggy, but this one works for me. " So let's take a ride and see what's mine." OK, just let me get my coat!

Down In A Hole - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Penned by Jerry Cantrell and originally found on Alice In Chains' second album Dirt from 1992, this cover is faithful enough to the original. The special touch here is the drawing back of the heaviness of the sound and letting the heaviness of the lyric stand out. Plus, you can't go wrong with a little pedal-steel guitar, and there is lots of that awesomeness in this track. "Down in a hole, losing my soul." Hide the razor blades!

Are 'Friends' Electric? - The Dead Weather

The first version of this one was by Gary Numan (yes, of "Cars" fame) and The Tubeway Army from a 1979 album called Replicas. I lived in a crappy apartment in a crappy part of London at the time and Steve would bring that album over and we'd play it a lot. It was almost all synthesizers and sounded quite weird at the time. The cover version is much different. It appeared in 2009 as the b-side to the Hang You From The Heavens single. The synth hook is there, but it's all sloppy drumming by Jack White and much heavier guitars backing Allison Mosshart's too-cool-for-school stoner drawl. Martina digs this cover a ton, but, while I like it, I think I still like the Numan one better. "So now I'm alone, and I can think for myself, about little deals, and issues, and things I just don't understand." The cool kids dig this one!

Wichita Lineman (live) - R.E.M.

This re-working of the 1968 Glen Campbell classic from the album of the same name is just great. Michael Stipe gives it just the right amount of reverence and the band backs him with proper restraint. There's a gorgeous organ underneath there and Peter Buck's stellar guitar work. The original reminds me of driving up North to see my grandparents as a 7 year old and belting out the song until my Dad made me quiet down. "And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time." Beautiful.

Police And Thieves - The Clash

This one was from a Jamaican Reggae singer called Junior Murvin in 1976. He wrote it with the legendary producer and performer Lee "Scratch" Perry and it was a big hit in Jamaica and the U.K. The Clash must have heard it and loved it, because only a year later, it appeared on their debut self-titled album. It was one of the first songs I ever heard with Reggae being incorporated into a rock tune and it stuck in my head from my first listen. It is about police brutality and gang wars, but it also worked well when I was slugging away on the furnace at Wolverine Tube. I would sing it lots on the midnight shift. Great little bubbly Paul Simonon bass line too! "From Genesis to Revelation, the next generation, hear me!" Praise the Lord and pass the blunt!

I Can't Let Go - Linda Ronstadt

By The Hollies from their 1966 album Would You Believe, this is just one of many songs that Ms. Ronstadt covered. The original version is one of The Hollies best, all chiming Rickenbackers and such, but what makes the cover stand out is the backing vocal she does on the chorus. I must confess to a huge teenage crush on the lovely Linda, and when she gets to the part where she screams." I want YOOOO BAY-BEEE!", well, as Garth said in Wayne's World, " It sorta makes me feel funny all over."

Sister Europe - Foo Fighters

Definitely one of the few cover versions that I like better than the original. Not that there is anything wrong with the Psychedelic Furs rendition from their debut in 1980, but this cover is the real deal maaan. It may be one of the biggest musical surprises ever for me. I mean, the Foos covering a tune by an '80s New Wave band that namedrops Charles Aznavour? Incessant drums with an exquisite melody, full of longing and loss. "Sister of mine, home again." Dave Grohl, you old sentimentalist you!

I See The Rain Again - Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs

The original was done by a group of Scots called The Marmalade back in 1967. This cover takes the original's signature guitar hook and amps it up. It slithers through the whole song and the wonderful melody is played off of it. Also, I have always liked Susanna Hoffs' errrr... voice...a lot and Matthew Sweet is obviously no dummy for teaming up with her. This is from the first of 2 all-covers albums they have released, the first one dealing with the 60s and the second with tunes from the 70s. A great sitting-out-on-the-deck tune! " I see the rain again, I'll take the blame again." Matthew gives hope to all us fat guys!

My Back Pages - The Byrds

Maybe the most covered songwriter ever, Mr. Bob Dylan, recorded this in 1964 for his album Another Side of Bob Dylan. This song really appeals to those who dislike his voice, as the dulcet tones of Messrs. McGuinn, Crosby and Clark harmonize their way into your heart. This version is from 1967 and jangles along on Rickenbackers and I love the old style of production on this, where the guitars are in your left ear and the drums in your right. I used lyrics from this in the title of my last post, which inspired me to do this post on covers. "Sisters led by confusion boats, mutiny from stern to bow." Peace, love and protest!

Oliver's Army - Blur

Elvis Costello wrote and recorded this for my favourite album of his, Armed Forces, in 1979. This cover is from a 1993 benefit album for Northern Ireland called Peace Together. Damon Albarn sings it in his own laconic way, sounding very bored and very English. I just love this song a ton and Graham Coxon plays a great scratchy guitar throughout. I believe it deals with the unemployment situation at the time in the U.K. and how they were preying on the poorest areas to get their enlistment numbers up. " With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne." These areas were all quite poor at the time and it is a great lyric.

Sorrow - David Bowie

From Bowie's 1973 covers album called Pin-Ups, this was originally done by a British band called The McCoys in 1966. I love the way the strings weave their way through the whole tune with a brilliant little bass line and a great sax solo to boot. The call and response vocals near the end are super, too! "With your long blond hair and your eyes of blue, the only thing I ever got from you was sorrow." This version is the bomb, as the kids say.

The "In" Crowd - Bryan Ferry

Ultra-cool Mr. Ferry rocks up a jazz tune from the Ramsey Lewis Trio from 1965. Ferry played a bunch of covers on his solo albums over the years. One always knows his sound as he has one of the most distinctive ways of phrasing I've ever heard. The original is quite good, too, but this is just the ultimate in cool-guy chic. Great guitar soloing as well. "I don't care where you been, you ain't been nowhere till you been in." Great music to strut along to!

Let Me Roll It - The Grapes Of Wrath

Having always been accused by reviewers of having a big 70s fetish, the Grapes decide to indulge it by doing a smokin' version of the song by Paul McCartney and Wings from the album Band On The Run in 1974. Superb guitar sound and echoey vocals here. It's not as good as the original, but on its own it stands up well because you can tell just how much they love this song. " Let me roll it to ya." 'Nuff said.

Any Major Dude Will Tell You - Wilco

OK, first I confess to absolutely adoring both bands involved here. This was penned by Becker & Fagan and Steely Dan put it out on their Pretzel Logic album from 1974. Wilco's is from the Me, Myself & Irene soundtrack. They take the sheen off of Steely's version and Alt-Country it all up with twangy guitars, a shimmering organ and a snappy snare drum sound. I just adore the sound of this! "When the demons are at your door, in the morning it won't be there no more." Just what the hell is Pretzel Logic anyway?

Rich Girl - The Bird And The Bee

All squawky synths and drum machines, this is actually quite true to the original, done by Hall & Oates on their 1976 album Bigger Than Both Of Us. Inara George sings this in a sort of lounge kind of way whereas the Hall & Oates is more classic Philly soul. I like the phrasing and musicality in her voice very much though. " It's so easy to hurt others when you can't feel pain." Too right baby!

The Ballad Of El Goodo - Evan Dando

Originally done by the magnificent Big Star on their brilliant first album #1 Record in 1972, this has to be in my all time Top 10. I still like the original best, but Evan Dando does a really good job of conveying the message here. It's like he was born to sing these lyrics. Nice chiming guitars here too, but much quieter than the Big Star tune. "I've been built up and trusted, broke down and busted, but they'll get theirs and we'll get ours." Ain't no one going to turn me 'round!

Couldn't I Just Tell You - Game Theory

Scott Miller and his "miserable whine" (that is what he calls his voice) take a stab at Todd Rundgren. A real "college rock" sound on this, but so genuine! Todd put this on his 1972 masterpiece Something Anything, which inspired Game Theory in so many ways that I guess they figured they'd give it a go. The Rickenbacker rears its strings once again and the production is pretty sub-par, but it's just too much fun! "Keep your head and everything will be cool, You didn't have to make me feel like a fool." A real San Franciscan treat!

Chelsea Hotel - Lloyd Cole

From Leonard Cohen's 1974 album New Skin For The Old Ceremony, this is another case in which I like the cover version best. Lloyd Cole's quiet turns of phrase make Cohen's fab lyrics come to life. A gorgeous chorus here too, and i love the little harmonica solo followed up with a bendy guitar solo. "You told me again you preferred handsome men, but for me you would make an exception." Now that is poetry!

With A Girl Like You - Alex Chilton

Martina and I were at Mark's and Sylvia's a couple of weeks ago and Mark played the original of this by The Troggs from 1966. Though they were basically one-hit wonders on this side of the pond, they were massive in the U.K. with plenty of chart hits, this being one of them. Chilton does a great job here in his own demented sort of way. It is quite true to the original but the sound is more Power Pop than the first version. " Ba ba ba ba baaa, ba ba ba ba baaa." This is also poetry!

Let's Go To Bed - Ivy

The Cure's first foray into dance music from 1984 is toned down and given the modern electronic treatment by Ivy. I don't know much about them, other than it's a side project for the bass player from Fountains Of Wayne and his Parisian wife. I like her laid-back vocals and it's hard to ruin a great song, which this indeed is. "You think you're tired now, but wait until three." Phew, I am tired! That was a lot of two-finger typing!