My XPN List Of Ten Fave Cover Songs
This year, the WXPN 885 Countdown will be an all-covers countdown. This is the list I submitted to XPN. I skipped the obvious choices like Hendrix doing ‘All Along The Watchtower’ because that song hardly needs my vote. Based on lists from hosts and XPN staff, it seems pretty apparent to me that ‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley will be #1. I don’t like his rendition, there’s something overwrought about it, at least to me. I penned lyrics to an alternate version, ‘Halitosis’, which I will not share with you here.
I’ve focused on faves that resonate with me, including songs by three artists who I booked at the Gild Hall. Can you guess who they are? Anyway, here we go:
10. The Jody Grind-Peter Gunn (Original: Henry Mancini):
9. Billy Bragg-Dolphins (Original: Fred Neil):
8. Jason & The Scorchers-Absolutely Sweet Marie (Original: Bob Dylan):
7. Phoebe Bridgers-Georgia Lee (Original: Tom Waits):
6. Dave Alvin-Kern River (Original: Merle Haggard):
5. Bettye Lavette-Love, Reign O’er Me (Original: The Who):
4. The Mama & The Papas-Dedicated To The One I Love (Original: The 5 Royales. That’s right, The 5 Royales. Right here.):
3. The Fifth Dimension-Stoned Soul Picnic (Original: Laura Nyro):
2. Laura Nyro: Up On The Roof (Original: The Drifters. Written By Carole King/Gerry Goffin. My favorite song of all-time):
1. The Holmes Brothers-Everything Is Free (Original: Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. The song resonates even more every day as musicians struggle to get paid what they’re worth for the art that they create. The Holmes Brothers were three of the kindest and most generous people I’ve ever met. They were also great artists. I wish more people knew them. Popsy Dixon, who was also the drummer, sings lead on this one, with backing instrumentation by Wendell and Sherman Holmes):
A fun countdown. Feel free to share your faves.
Here are a few covers I like, just off the top of my head. I didn’t dig deep.
Ramones, “Baby I Love You”
Al Green, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”
Beach Boys, “Sloop John B.”
Drifters, “White Christmas”
The Byrds, “My Back Pages”
Harry Nilsson, “Everybody’s Talkin’ ”
Los Lobos, “The World Is a Ghetto”
These I like but they’re here mainly for their significance:
Elvis Presley, “That’s All Right Mama”
Janis Joplin, “Ball and Chain”
‘My Back Pages’ was on my long list. I decided I’d limit the list to only one Dylan cover.
My over/under on the number of Dylan covers on the final list is 35. I think it may be higher.
Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters’ version of ‘White Christmas’ is my favorite version of ‘White Christmas’.
El Som – Good list, at least the ones I’ve heard. I would definitely have put “Stoned Soul Picnic” and “Dedicated to the One I Love” on my list if I’d thought of them.
Great picks Steve! A few from my list…
David Lindley- “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”
Rascals- “Good Lovin’ ”
Paula Cole- “Jolene”
Marcels- “Blue Moon”
Paul Butterfield Band- “Work Song”
and one I forgot…Conrad Lozano from Los Lobos singing “Guantanamera”
‘Good Lovin’ was a cover?
I. Did. Not. Know. That.
Original by the Olympics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUY1LvNX3Io
The Indigo Girls did an outstanding cover of Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue” around the turn of this century, and Alien Ant Farm’s cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” is top-notch (and has one of the most killer drum fills you’ll ever hear).
I agree with you on “Hallelujah.” That song has been more-than-overdone.
I’m sure the Indigo Girls cover will be on the list.
I’m serious when I think that there will be close to 40 Dylan covers on there.
There are so many, you could do an 885 list exclusively of Dylan covers.
Right after they announced the theme, they played this Dylan cover on Funky Friday. I had never heard it before although I’m a fan of the artist who covered it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWvJOCbsosE
The only problem with how many Dylan covers will make the list is that there are so many – over 600 artists, some who’ve done entire LPs of just Dylan covers. That will split the vote hundreds of ways.
You know Hendrix’ “Watchtower,” the Byrds’ “Tambourine Man” and GnR’s “Heaven’s Door” will be up there pretty high, but I can’t think of 32 more so widely admired they’re surefire entries.
For example, whose “Baby Blue”? I’d go with 13th Floor Elevators, but they won’t make my final 10. Others might choose Them, or Bryan Ferry, or the Dead. Speaking of which, “The Dead Do Dylan” will split the Deadhead vote, so which of the Dead’s covers will make it?
Tl;dr: I’ll take the under.
A bottle of French Bordeaux (you) vs. a case of Keystone Light (me)?
If you win, I’ll buy you a beer, but I haven’t had a drink in years.
Billy Stewart .. Summertime
Bobby Darin .. Mack the Knife
Wonder Who .. Don’t Think Twice
Otis Redding .. Knock on Wood
Chris Montez .. Time After Time
Richard (Groove) Holmes .. Dahoud
James Brown .. Prisoner of Love [live version]
Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 .. The Look of Love
Grant Green .. It Ain’t Necessarily So
Everything Tony Bennett ever sang
Man, Billy Stewart doing ‘Summertime’. That’s a classic.