The middle-aged dummies are forming a band called "Blanket"! It's a cover band. (2 Viewers)

[zamboni]

zamboni:

A Whiter Shade of Pale - Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (Procol Harum)

Quick short-lived slice of life back in 1984 with the formation of the supergroup HSAS. Sammy Hagar was still doing his solo thing and a year away from replacing David Lee Roth; Neal Schon was bored with Journey after the huge Frontiers album and looking to do something else; Kenny Aaronson was the bass session guy extraordinaire playing with everyone; and Michael Shrieve was meandering after his stint as Santana's drummer (always remembered most for his long drum solo at Woodstock during "Soul Sacrifice").

HSAS only released one album (Through The Fire), which was pretty solid. In addition to the WSOP cover, they got a fair amount of MTV airplay with the live "Missing You"

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I'm starting to get @KarmaPolice a little more while working through the playlist.

Not that I don't like covers, but some are "disappointing" when you love the original enough.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Charlie Steiner:

Gloomy Sunday - Peter Wolf (Billie Holliday)

Inner monologue:

"Wait -- is this the J. Geils Band 'Peter Wolf'?"

(listens to track, waits for vocals to kick in)

"Wow! Sounds just like the J. Geils Band 'Peter Wolf' -- gotta be him. Must be on one of his less commercial releases ..."

(flips over the cassette case** of Wolf's 1984 album Light's Out just to see ...)

"Mind. Blown. "


** This past fall, the kids helped my wife clean out a closet that's been virtually untouched since we moved in 17 years ago. They found my old cassettes! My daughter has a hand-me-down tape deck on which she was able to play the cassettes. Her and her brother called dibs on their favorites.

One of the guys I grew up with was a bit of a music connoisseur (more than most suburban teenagers) and had an ear for material that was off the beaten path (for example, he introduced us to Grandmaster Flash). I once gave him 3-4 blank cassettes and he put a lot of cool mixes on them, some even with bits from his Firesign Theater albums mixed in. One of the cassettes was only songs done in minor keys, and this was one of them.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Mt. Man:

Working On The Coal Mine - DEVO (Lee Dorsey)


Doug B:

Don't Leave Me This Way – Communards (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes)


higgins:

Der Kommissar - After the Fire (Falco)


krista4:

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Grievances – Clem Snide (Daniel Johnston)

Of the covers I'm already very familiar with, these are my favorites.

I almost had that Clem Snide on my list.

 

[Scoresman]

I'm starting to get @KarmaPolice a little more while working through the playlist.

Not that I don't like covers, but some are "disappointing" when you love the original enough.

A lot of my covers are songs where I didn't like the original that much, but do like what the cover artist did in their version. A perfect example is my #31, Joan Jett performing Dirty Deeds.

 

[zamboni]

One of the cassettes was only songs done in minor keys, and this was one of them.

I assume this was one of the songs.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I'm starting to get @KarmaPolice a little more while working through the playlist.

Not that I don't like covers, but some are "disappointing" when you love the original enough.

A lot of my covers are songs where I didn't like the original that much, but do like what the cover artist did in their version. A perfect example is my #31, Joan Jett performing Dirty Deeds.

She is quite yowza in that video.

 

[Galileo]

Uruk-Hai:

You're No Good – Linda Ronstadt (Dee Dee Warwick)

Warwick's version is nuts and sounds like nothing else I can think of that came out in 1963. It certainly doesn't sound like anything her more famous sister would have done. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller cut this version and it doesn't sound like anything else they would have done, either. I don't know who playing percussion on this, but they clearly weren't right in the head.

Anyway, there are a bazillion versions that have been done since and Linda's is the most famous. It kind of set the template for many of her later covers and is about as raw as she ever got (from a '70s SoCal perspective). The band is full of ringers and Ronstadt sings the hell out of it. I think it's the best vocal of her classic period.

Love this song...I got it a few spots higher

 

[Galileo]

rockaction:

Susie Q – Creedence Clearwater Revival (Dale Hawkins)

This is a band I completely overlooked as I assembled my list. They have several covers that are likely to make appearances on people's lists, and they should have been on my list.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

1 Point - Voulez Vous - Culture Club (Abba)

The original

ABBA - Voulez-Vous

Listen to the new album: https://abba.lnk.to/VoyageAlbumListen to more music by ABBA: https://abba.lnk.to/musicIDFollow ABBA:Facebook: https://www.facebook.c...

m.youtube.com

This was one of Abbas less successful singles, but reached #3 in the UK. Released in 1979. By now Abba fatigue had set in and former strongholds like Australia had enough. It reached #79 there.

The cover

Boy George 'Voulez-Vous' - Culture Club / Abbamania

The Culture Club's Boy George sang 'Voulez-Vous' on the 1999 compilation Polydor CD of Abba songs entitled 'Abbamania.' The track was repeated for an ITV pro...

m.youtube.com

Talk about a mismatched vocal. Poor George struggles mightily with this one.
Beefcake alert on the video.
This song was performed as part of a TV special called abbamania. Quality control not important.
I have included a few bad covers to illustrate the diversity of cover quality.

 

[Galileo]

Hawks64:

Baba O'Riley – Pearl Jam (The Who)

That's pretty damn good, and I am not much of a Pearl Jam fan.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

My favorite extra points are

Venus - Bananarama
Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
Susie Q - CCR
Dirty Deeds - Joan Jett
Whiskey River - Willie Nelson
Big Ten Inch - Aerosmith

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

1 Point - Funky Town - Pseudo Echo (Lipps Inc)

The Original

Lipps Inc. - Funkytown (1980)

Lipps Inc was an American disco and funk group from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group was best known for the chart-topping 1980 worldwide hit single "Funkyto...

m.youtube.com

Steven Greenbergs sole contribution of note was this glorious late era disco, early synth pop funky number that is still a joy to listen to today. Of course he loved the cover, it gave him another chunk of money. The original reached #1 in the US for 4 weeks and was a global smash. #1 in at least 18 countries and top 5 in every country of note. The worst chart ratings were in Italy and South Africa where it still reached #5. It made #2 in the UK and Australians sure love some Funkytown, cause it was number one there too and finished as the ninth biggest selling single of the year.

The Cover

Pseudo Echo - Funkytown

Music video by Pseudo Echo performing Funkytown. (C) 1986 RCA Records a division of Sony Music Entertainmenthttp://www.vevo.com/watch/USRV81300713

m.youtube.com

Pseudo Echo were Australias big synth pop band. Heavily influenced by Ultravox, which is why I liked them. They had major hits in Listening, A Beat For You, Don’t Go and Love an Adventure off their first two albums. Funkytown was just a fun cover they did during live sets where they could show off a rockier sound. They had to be convinced by the label to release it as a single. The video was so basic as it wasnt expected to do anything.
It reached #1 in Australia, spent 7 weeks at the top spot. It quickly got released in the US and UK and reached top 10 in both, surprising everyone.
World domination was sure to follow, right? Wrong. With Bon Jovi, Motley Crue etc dominating, Pseudo Echo thought it a good idea to abandon their teen fans, slap on the leather, grow their hair long and record a rock album. Thud. Musically its a nice development. The hooks are still glorious, but that was it. A big miscalculation

 

[Galileo]

There are 8 songs on this opening list that I didn't even know were songs let alone recognize them as covers.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

One of the cassettes was only songs done in minor keys, and this was one of them.

I assume this was one of the songs.

He didn't have access to that one, though he did put multiple songs from the movie soundtrack on one of the tapes, along with some Blotto.

Here's what else I have to say about my first song on this list:

While Billie Holliday's version is probably the most recognized, its actually the third version to be recorded in English.

The song itself is Hungarian in origin and known as the Hungarian Suicide Song. First recorded by Hungarian composer/singer Rezső Seress in 1935, the two English versions (Hal Kemp and Paul Robeson) that preceded Holliday's came out in 1936, with hers coming out in 1941.

This song is on the list because the times I spent with that circle of friends from my teen years through college were actually carefree and joyful such that even a depressing song like this won't change that fact, and because somehow the fact that it's being sung by the same guy who sang Angel is a Centerfold takes some of the gloominess away from it for me.

 

[Ilov80s]

I don't have much on Jealous Guy other than Roxy adopted it as part of their set after Lennon's murder. When they recorded it, it became a big hit for them. I hadn't realized it was not a hit not even a single for Lennon until it was re-released several years after Roxy's success with it.

 

[krista4]

I don't have much on Jealous Guy other than Roxy adopted it as part of their set after Lennon's murder. When they recorded it, it became a big hit for them. I hadn't realized it was not a hit not even a single for Lennon until it was re-released several years after Roxy's success with it.

Happened to be listening to this one as I got to your post. Lovely version, and I don't know how I've missed it throughout the years.

 

[zamboni]

One of the cassettes was only songs done in minor keys, and this was one of them.

I assume this was one of the songs.

He didn't have access to that one, though he did put multiple songs from the movie soundtrack on one of the tapes, along with some Blotto.

 

[krista4]

There are 8 songs on this opening list that I didn't even know were songs let alone recognize them as covers.

Just wait until we get further into OH's list!

 

[Charlie Steiner]

One of the cassettes was only songs done in minor keys, and this was one of them.

I assume this was one of the songs.

He didn't have access to that one, though he did put multiple songs from the movie soundtrack on one of the tapes, along with some Blotto.

(IYKYK)

 

[krista4]

Then I was wrong. Never heard of Robert Gordon or his first recording of the song

He is a bit rockabilly. His sound reminds me of the 50s and early 60s. His vocal style reminds me of Elvis. I like the Pointer Sisters' version way better.

I mainly know Gordon from a different hit cover he had. We'll see if it shows up.

It doesn't, so feel free to discuss any time.

 

[krista4]

31. Pai E Filho (“Father and Son”) - Nara Leão (Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam)

Well, if you guessed that my question about whether translated versions of songs would count as covers might mean some Portuguese versions of English language songs, you were right. While I included a number of Brazilian artists in my MAD 31 Worldwide list, I left out Nara Leão. Thought I’d make it up to her by giving her the lead off spot here with her rendition of one of Cat Stevens’ greatest songs (if not his greatest).

Nara Leão was known as the “Muse of Bossa Nova.” She was friends with many of the bossa nova figures before moving a bit more to the political side of the Tropicalias, including appearing on the Panis et Circensis album that was my avatar back during that countdown. While a “muse”, she was a heck of a singer and guitar player in her own right.

This was outstanding.

 

[krista4]

31.

Song: Mozambique

Artist: Jimmy Buffet / Emmylou Harris

Original Artist: Bob Dylan​

Original song facts:

"Mozambique" is a song written by Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy that was originally released on Dylan's 1976 album Desire. It was also released as a single and reached number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100.



Interesting facts about the cover:

Emmylou Harris supplies the female harmony vocals on both the original and cover versions of the song. The cover was released after Buffet’s death on his posthumous album Equal Strain on All Parts.

I'm always skeptical when I see Jimmy Buffett's name, and after all these drafts and countdowns, I shouldn't be. I just can't shake that I'm going to hear "Cheeseburger in Paradise"-type **** no matter how many times I'm proved wrong. This was an excellent cover!

 

[krista4]

All Along the Watchtower - Neil Young with Booker T. and the MGs (Bob Dylan)

Of course this one is brilliant.

I hadn't heard Daydream In Blue before watching Severance. But it's used to great effect there.

I'd never heard of this song, nor the original or cover artist, but

1 Point - Funky Town - Pseudo Echo (Lipps Inc)

This singer sounds just like the Erasure guy to me. Enjoyed this.

 

[krista4]

Aw ****, if ol' Hugo is "covering" Jay-Z, then I would have picked Heavy D & The Boyz "covering" the O-Jays. I don't mind, though. Nothin' on me. I just thought we were gonna get a full country rendering of the lyrics to 99 Problems, and we only get the signature couplet/chorus. Don't take me seriously, Mrs. R. I'm just bummed.

I'm not vetting any of these (thank god), so not commenting on whether I would have let it in if I were, but I actually really enjoyed this one!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

New-to-me covers from #31 that I really liked include:

Mozambique – Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris (Robert Zimmerman)
Friend Of The Devil - Lyle Lovett (Grateful Dead)
Voulez Vous - Culture Club (Abba) -- George's vocal is nothing special, but the backing track is
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (Procol Harum)
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) - Jonathan Butler feat. Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder)
A House Is Not A Motel - Yo La Tengo (Love) -- I took the original in the Jukebox Draft
Dirty Deeds - Joan Jett (AC/DC)
99 Problems - Hugo (Jay-Z) -- I have seen Jay-Z perform this live with Phish
The Sound Of Silence - Disturbed (Simon And Garfunkel) -- I may have heard this before, but I think I would have remembered if I did, it's pretty memorable
It’s O.K. - Pearl Jam (Dead Moon)

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Covers from #31 that I know and like:

You're No Good – Linda Ronstadt (Dee Dee Warwick)
Venus - Bananarama (Shocking Blue)
Funky Town - Pseudo Echo (Lipps Inc)
Jealous Guy - Roxy Music (John Lennon)
Obsession - Animotion (Holly Knight & Michael Des Barres) -- I had no idea this was a cover
Baba O'Riley – Pearl Jam (The Who) -- I believe I have seen PJ do this live
Susie Q – Creedence Clearwater Revival (Dale Hawkins)
Working In The Coal Mine - DEVO (Lee Dorsey)
Whiskey River – Willie Nelson (Johnny Bush) -- I have seen Willie do this live; he always opens his sets with it
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm (Michael Jackson)
Big Ten Inch Record – Aerosmith (Bull Moose Jackson)
Der Kommissar - After the Fire (Falco)

Didn't recognize this one by title but I have heard and liked it before, maybe on this board:

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Grievances – Clem Snide (Daniel Johnston)

 

[krista4]

New-to-me covers from #31 that I really liked include:

Mozambique – Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris (Robert Zimmerman)
Friend Of The Devil - Lyle Lovett (Grateful Dead)
Voulez Vous - Culture Club (Abba) -- George's vocal is nothing special, but the backing track is
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (Procol Harum)
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) - Jonathan Butler feat. Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder)
A House Is Not A Motel - Yo La Tengo (Love) -- I took the original in the Jukebox Draft
Dirty Deeds - Joan Jett (AC/DC)
99 Problems - Hugo (Jay-Z) -- I have seen Jay-Z perform this live with Phish
The Sound Of Silence - Disturbed (Simon And Garfunkel) -- I may have heard this before, but I think I would have remembered if I did, it's pretty memorable
It’s O.K. - Pearl Jam (Dead Moon)

I thought my listening party went really quickly, and then I realized after seeing your post that I'd neglected the several that are only on Youtube.

I'd be shocked if you hadn't heard the Disturbed cover. It was all the rage several years ago. Even my Mom shared it with me.

 

[rockaction]

We need a rabbit emoji



There we go! I won’t say what it’s for, but there’s that little guy!

Actually, I truly don’t have anything bad to say right now.

 

[krista4]

We need a rabbit emoji



There we go! I won’t say what it’s for, but there’s that little guy!

I just sent you a guess.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Then I was wrong. Never heard of Robert Gordon or his first recording of the song

He is a bit rockabilly. His sound reminds me of the 50s and early 60s. His vocal style reminds me of Elvis. I like the Pointer Sisters' version way better.

I mainly know Gordon from a different hit cover he had. We'll see if it shows up.

It doesn't, so feel free to discuss any time.

Gordon helped launch the career of Marshall Crenshaw by recording Crenshaw's "Someday Someway," which hit #76 on the Hot 100 at a time (1981) when neither rockabilly (Gordon's genre) or power pop (Crenshaw's) moved the needle on the charts much. The following year, Crenshaw released his own version as a single and it went to #36.

One of my mentors from my earliest days in the newspaper business, who has since passed, told me that he saw Gordon and Crenshaw share a bill in 1981, with Gordon headlining and Crenshaw opening. Someday Someway was included in Gordon's set but not Crenshaw's. Gordon's recording was accidentally queued up by the pre-show DJ, who got the "throat cut" signal from one of the roadies to switch to something else.

Gordon version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjanR0KuqsI
Crenshaw version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7sg66vfNHs

 

[rockaction]

We need a rabbit emoji



There we go! I won’t say what it’s for, but there’s that little guy!

I just sent you a guess.

I would just for the record like to let everyone know that she nailed it, and not in the internet meme way.

 

[krista4]

Gordon helped launch the career of Marshall Crenshaw by recording Crenshaw's "Someday Someway," which hit #76 on the Hot 100 at a time (1981) when neither rockabilly (Gordon's genre) or power pop (Crenshaw's) moved the needle on the charts much. The following year, Crenshaw released his own version as a single and it went to #36.

One of my mentors from my earliest days in the newspaper business, who has since passed, told me that he saw Gordon and Crenshaw share a bill in 1981, with Gordon headlining and Crenshaw opening. Someday Someway was included in Gordon's set but not Crenshaw's. Gordon's recording was accidentally queued up by the pre-show DJ, who got the "throat cut" signal from one of the roadies to switch to something else.

Gordon version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjanR0KuqsI
Crenshaw version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7sg66vfNHs

Cool, I had no idea. Have always liked the Crenshaw version.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

New-to-me covers from #31 that I really liked include:

Mozambique – Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris (Robert Zimmerman)
Friend Of The Devil - Lyle Lovett (Grateful Dead)
Voulez Vous - Culture Club (Abba) -- George's vocal is nothing special, but the backing track is
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (Procol Harum)
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) - Jonathan Butler feat. Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder)
A House Is Not A Motel - Yo La Tengo (Love) -- I took the original in the Jukebox Draft
Dirty Deeds - Joan Jett (AC/DC)
99 Problems - Hugo (Jay-Z) -- I have seen Jay-Z perform this live with Phish
The Sound Of Silence - Disturbed (Simon And Garfunkel) -- I may have heard this before, but I think I would have remembered if I did, it's pretty memorable
It’s O.K. - Pearl Jam (Dead Moon)

I thought my listening party went really quickly, and then I realized after seeing your post that I'd neglected the several that are only on Youtube.

I'd be shocked if you hadn't heard the Disturbed cover. It was all the rage several years ago. Even my Mom shared it with me.

2015 -- yeah, I had a 4-year-old and was way overworked at my job. I was definitely not aware of what was "the rage" that year.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Might as well keep a running tally.

OH cover songs I have heard of: 0
OH original songs I have heard of: 0
OH cover artists I have heard of: 1
OH original artists I have heard of: 0

 

[zamboni]

New-to-me covers from #31 that I really liked include:

Mozambique – Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris (Robert Zimmerman)
Friend Of The Devil - Lyle Lovett (Grateful Dead)
Voulez Vous - Culture Club (Abba) -- George's vocal is nothing special, but the backing track is
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (Procol Harum)
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) - Jonathan Butler feat. Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder)
A House Is Not A Motel - Yo La Tengo (Love) -- I took the original in the Jukebox Draft
Dirty Deeds - Joan Jett (AC/DC)
99 Problems - Hugo (Jay-Z) -- I have seen Jay-Z perform this live with Phish
The Sound Of Silence - Disturbed (Simon And Garfunkel) -- I may have heard this before, but I think I would have remembered if I did, it's pretty memorable
It’s O.K. - Pearl Jam (Dead Moon)

I thought my listening party went really quickly, and then I realized after seeing your post that I'd neglected the several that are only on Youtube.

I'd be shocked if you hadn't heard the Disturbed cover. It was all the rage several years ago. Even my Mom shared it with me.

2015 -- yeah, I had a 4-year-old and was way overworked at my job. I was definitely not aware of what was "the rage" that year.

I discovered the cover only within the past few years, but it’s powerful indeed.

 

[Raging weasel]

We need a rabbit emoji



There we go! I won’t say what it’s for, but there’s that little guy!

I just sent you a guess.

I would just for the record like to let everyone know that she nailed it, and not in the internet meme way.

Only halfway through the playlist and haven't heard anything horrible yet but think there's a good chance you're (not)talking about my selection

 

[Tau837]

New-to-me covers from #31 that I really liked include:

Mozambique – Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris (Robert Zimmerman)
Friend Of The Devil - Lyle Lovett (Grateful Dead)
Voulez Vous - Culture Club (Abba) -- George's vocal is nothing special, but the backing track is
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (Procol Harum)
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) - Jonathan Butler feat. Stevie Wonder (Stevie Wonder)
A House Is Not A Motel - Yo La Tengo (Love) -- I took the original in the Jukebox Draft
Dirty Deeds - Joan Jett (AC/DC)
99 Problems - Hugo (Jay-Z) -- I have seen Jay-Z perform this live with Phish
The Sound Of Silence - Disturbed (Simon And Garfunkel) -- I may have heard this before, but I think I would have remembered if I did, it's pretty memorable
It’s O.K. - Pearl Jam (Dead Moon)

I thought my listening party went really quickly, and then I realized after seeing your post that I'd neglected the several that are only on Youtube.

I'd be shocked if you hadn't heard the Disturbed cover. It was all the rage several years ago. Even my Mom shared it with me.

2015 -- yeah, I had a 4-year-old and was way overworked at my job. I was definitely not aware of what was "the rage" that year.

I discovered the cover only within the past few years, but it’s powerful indeed.

I first ran across it within the past year at some point and instantly loved it.

 

[Doug B]

Gordon helped launch the career of Marshall Crenshaw by recording Crenshaw's "Someday Someway," which hit #76 on the Hot 100 at a time (1981) when neither rockabilly (Gordon's genre) or power pop (Crenshaw's) moved the needle on the charts much. The following year, Crenshaw released his own version as a single and it went to #36.

Random trivia: Marshall Crenshaw had a cameo in Lou Diamond Phillips' La Bamba, playing Buddy Holly in performance the night before The Music Died.

 

[Tau837]

Just Win Baby:

In My Life -- Dave Matthews (Beatles)

I view myself as a casual Beatles fan, nothing close to many of you. But Dave Matthews is one of my top 10 favorite artists of all time. I also happen to love acoustic music, and this is stripped down. Combining all of that in a John Lennon tribute performance meant this had to be on my list, and I thought it would be a great opener.

 

[Raging weasel]

Just Win Baby:

In My Life -- Dave Matthews (Beatles)

I view myself as a casual Beatles fan, nothing close to many of you. But Dave Matthews is one of my top 10 favorite artists of all time. I also happen to love acoustic music, and this is stripped down. Combining all of that in a John Lennon tribute performance meant this had to be on my list, and I thought it would be a great opener.

I thought it was great and I don't like Dave Matthews!

 

[rockaction]

1 Point - Funky Town - Pseudo Echo (Lipps Inc)

The original song is so strong even a keytar can't make it bollocks.

Both songs are very cool. Over at Steve Hoffman, there was a thread devoted to cover songs that were better than the original, and one or two people saw fit to post Pseudo Echo. I disagree, but the song has kind of a good rep among certiain songsters, so there's that. Love the tidbit about the leather and guitar/hair metal. That was chosen . . . unwisely.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Uruk-Hai:

You're No Good – Linda Ronstadt (Dee Dee Warwick)

Warwick's version is nuts and sounds like nothing else I can think of that came out in 1963. It certainly doesn't sound like anything her more famous sister would have done. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller cut this version and it doesn't sound like anything else they would have done, either. I don't know who playing percussion on this, but they clearly weren't right in the head.

Anyway, there are a bazillion versions that have been done since and Linda's is the most famous. It kind of set the template for many of her later covers and is about as raw as she ever got (from a '70s SoCal perspective). The band is full of ringers and Ronstadt sings the hell out of it. I think it's the best vocal of her classic period.

Love this song...I got it a few spots higher

Hey! Spoiler alert, dude.

(I don't think we're supposed to give this away.)

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Aw ****, if ol' Hugo is "covering" Jay-Z, then I would have picked Heavy D & The Boyz "covering" the O-Jays. I don't mind, though. Nothin' on me. I just thought we were gonna get a full country rendering of the lyrics to 99 Problems, and we only get the signature couplet/chorus. Don't take me seriously, Mrs. R. I'm just bummed.

I'm not vetting any of these (thank god), so not commenting on whether I would have let it in if I were, but I actually really enjoyed this one!

The hook "99 problems" is from an Ice-T song. Borrowing seems to be the theme here.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

31.

Song: Mozambique

Artist: Jimmy Buffet / Emmylou Harris

Original Artist: Bob Dylan​

Original song facts:

"Mozambique" is a song written by Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy that was originally released on Dylan's 1976 album Desire. It was also released as a single and reached number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100.



Interesting facts about the cover:

Emmylou Harris supplies the female harmony vocals on both the original and cover versions of the song. The cover was released after Buffet’s death on his posthumous album Equal Strain on All Parts.

I'm always skeptical when I see Jimmy Buffett's name, and after all these drafts and countdowns, I shouldn't be. I just can't shake that I'm going to hear "Cheeseburger in Paradise"-type **** no matter how many times I'm proved wrong. This was an excellent cover!

It is very lovely.

If the list of one pointers is this fun, the rest must be spectacular.

 

[rockaction]

The hook "99 problems" is from an Ice-T song. Borrowing seems to be the theme here.

Indeed. No sweat. I'm just bummed that I ixnayed Heavy D.

Now that we've found love what are we gonna do
With it?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

scorchy:

Do Ya Think I’m Sexy - Revolting Cocks (Rod Stewart)

WTF is this? I'm using headphones, and Mr R wants to know as well.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I don't have much on Jealous Guy other than Roxy adopted it as part of their set after Lennon's murder. When they recorded it, it became a big hit for them. I hadn't realized it was not a hit not even a single for Lennon until it was re-released several years after Roxy's success with it.

Happened to be listening to this one as I got to your post. Lovely version, and I don't know how I've missed it throughout the years.

Just got to it now. Agree on both accounts, but I guess I only listen to one Roxy album.

This is straightforward but very pretty.

 

[Mt. Man]

31. Working in the Coal Mine - Devo
Original: Spotify Youtube.

I waffled a little between this and another DEVO cover (that might show up later, so no spotlighting) to the point that I wasn't sure either was going to make my 31. Obviously I ended up leaning this way. It's a song where I enjoy both versions, and where DEVO is relatively faithful to the original. Or at least as faithful as you can expect, given their style. That being said, there's a good deal of energy and even fun put into a song about, you know, working long hours just to get by. DEVO's version is perhaps best known from the Heavy Metal soundtrack, though unlike "Through Being Cool", only appeared in (/over) the end credits.

 

[krista4]

A few others I wanted to highlight as favorites from this round:

"Superwoman" (Jonathan Butler and Stevie Wonder) - I'm not sure this cover needed to be made, but I'm glad it was.
"Way Down in the Hole" (The Blind Boys of Alabama) - This reminded me that one of my prepared but ultimately not posted lists of five was "Five songs Pip won't listen to." It was just five covers by Tom Waits, Billy Bragg, and Lucinda Williams.
The original of "Whiskey River" - thanks for posting this link. I did seek out several of the originals of songs I didn't know in this round, and this was the best of them.

My favorite new-to-me cover of this round: "A House Is Not a Motel" by Yo La Tengo.