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.