I just heard this on WERS this morning:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow-Cx9IX4So


Willie Nelson covering Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe".   The pairing of artist and song is just perfect -- and the video (done with his son Lucas Nelson) only makes it more so.


I'm wondering if others have covers they've found that give you that "Ah ha!" feeling -- that "now that I hear it, it makes perfect sense" reaction.   Any come to mind?

I've mentioned these before:

"Goin' To Acapulco" by Jim James (MMJ) & Calexico

and "Pressing On" by John Doe (X)

Both are from the I'm Not There soundtrack, which is composed of some 40-odd Dylan covers - some quite obscure and several featuring either Calexico or a supergroup of sorts called the Million Dollar Bashers (Tom Verlaine of Television, Nels Cline of Wilco, Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, and others). 

Dylan covers might not be much of a stretch for the topic, but these two are among the very best I've ever heard...so fully realized and cinematic in scope and beautifully rendered by two astounding vocalists.  They're also uncommon selections showing the depth of the man's catalog.

I can't recommend this album enough.  Granted, some versions work better than others, but the diversity of talents and sensibilities on display is epic.  They are at once tributes to and interpretations of one of America's greatest ever songwriters.

Clifford:  I like that Black Crows cover, but I think what I like about the Willy Nelson cover is that he took a song that had one meaning for me and not only made it his own, but interpreted it in a different way altogether -- as an end-of-life song sung by a father to his son.

Or maybe that's just 'cause I'm not getting any younger myself.  :)

But those Black Crows really wrung every bit of soul and blues and RnR out of that song, for sure!

In Response to Re: Perfect Covers:




Love this, chazz!

'Respect' by Aretha Franklin is one of the alltime great covers.  When Otis Redding first heard her version he famously said "that woman stole my song!".  Yup, she did.  Most folks don't even realize her version was the cover.

In Response to Re: Perfect Covers:


Agreed to the point of both covers being better than the original versions.

Johnny Cash's version of NIN's Hurt is outstanding.

NIN's version of Dead Soulls originally recorded by Joy Division is also outstanding.

And as a Beatle freak, their version of "Please Mr. Postman", IMO, blows away the original Motwon version.

I could list a bunch of covers that I think are excellent.

I'll keep the list short, because you all have better things to do than read a list two miles long.

'Hazy Shade of Winter' by The Bangles. ( Simon and Garfunkel original), love the upbeat version....my favorite Bangles tune ( had to buy the soundtrack album to get it, though).

'Since You've Been Gone' by Rainbow ( Russ Ballard original)...Blackmore and Bonnet make this one sensational....Ritchie at his best.

'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' by Joan Jett ( you aren't going to outdo Angus and the boys on this one!, but Joan does a darn good job).

'Little Wing' by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Imagine trying to cover Hendrix!!!, you would have to have rocks in your head!!!, but if you are Stevie Ray Vaghan, you can get away with it...and it's very good!

'Hair Of The Dog' by GNR, (Nazareth classic). The original is awesome, but Axl and Co. do a great job on this classic.

'Epic' covers of non-epic originals:

Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann

Roll Over Beethoven - ELO

These both make the originals sound ordinary imho.

A few of my favorite covers:

You're So Vain - Faster Pussycat. It blows Carly Simon's version away.