….and who knows what week it is for me? I’ve forgotten. I’m certainly not at week 26, though!
Our recent vacation required quite a bit of time in the car, and therefore required a fail-proof playlist. As I was going through my music looking for just the right songs for the trip, something jumped out at me: I have a LOT of cover songs. I can’t help it. I know most people hate the idea of a cover song, but not me. I *love* seeing how different a song can sound when done by a different musician. (Or not, as some covers don’t venture very far from the sound of the original)
Without further ado, here is my contribution for this week’s Thursday 13: Some of my favorite covers, with links to listen to a sample or a youtube vid featuring the song (if I was able to find one). Including several from the same bands/musicians and tribute albums!
Thursday 13 – the cover song edition:
1. Smokin’ in the Boys Room – Motley Crue. This came out when I was about 14. I recognized the song immediately because as a little girl, I would listen to my aunt’s copy of the Brownsville Station original on her record player. And of course I recognized the band, because they were my favorite band for the longest time! I listened to this song over and over and over again during the summer of ‘85, and dropped whatever I was doing to watch the video whenever MTV played it.
2. Hair of the Dog – Guns N Roses. A favorite song, done only the way GNR can. Everyone was all over Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, but in my opinion, this one is much better.
3. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? – Revolting Cocks. I had actually forgotten all about this one, somehow, until Starr posted the video a while back. I haven’t stopped listening to it since! I always thought the Rod Stewart original was L-A-M-E, but this cover rocks. If you have time, you definitely need to check out the video, too.
4. L.A. Woman – Billy Idol. When I first heard about this, I admit I thought it was blasphemous, even though it was Billy Idol. Still, I loved it. It’s just your basic cover, without rearranging or adding a lot of additional sounds.
5. Cinnamon Girl – Type O Negative. I never even knew this was a cover until I’d read it in an interview with the band. I’m not a big Neil Young fan, so I’d never heard the original. Type O has such a distinctive sound, and they’re one of my favorite bands so obviously I much prefer their version to the original. (Note: This isn’t the copy that I have; this sounds more like an industrial mix. Or maybe it’s just a version I hadn’t heard.)
6. Hard Luck Woman – Garth Brooks. Surprisingly good; to me, it sounds very much like the original.
7. Midnight Rider – Willie Nelson. I love everything Willie does. Period.
8. Uncloudy Day – Willie Nelson. I love everything Willie does. Period. Even southern Gospel.
9. Mustang Sally – The Commitments. I always thought the original was done by Wilson Pickett, but according to WikiAnswers.com, that one is a cover as well.
9. Strutter – Extreme. Unless you’re an Extreme fan, you probably don’t realize what a great band they really are. Mainly that Nuno Bettencourt is one of the most underrated guitarists ever. They also have a very distinctive sound, and their spin Kiss’s “Strutter” is one of the better and more unique cover songs I’ve ever heard.
10. Blitzkrieg Bop – Rob Zombie. Another of my very favorite bands covered by one of my very favorite artists. When I first heard about this, I got so excited because I love everything the Ramones have ever done, and love everything Rob Zombie touches. It sounded almost exactly as I imagined it would. I listen to this about as much as the original, because it is so vastly different.
11. Do You Wanna Dance – Ramones. Speaking of the Ramones, they’re known for doing quite a few covers of their own. And this one is my very favorite 
12. Wildwood Flower – Mike Ness. I can honestly recommend ANYTHING covered by Mike Ness and/or Social Distortion. This is my favorite at the moment.
13. Purple Haze – The Cure. Perhaps the most unique cover I’ve ever heard. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the entire song ANYWHERE, and the Amazon sample track doesn’t even take the song out of the instrumental intro. It DEFINITELY sounds more like a Cure song than your basic Hendrix cover, and is, in my opinion, worth a listen.
To see more of this week’s TT, head over here.
Related Posts
Tags: Billy Idol, Brownsville Station, cover songs, Extreme, Garth Brooks, Guns N Roses, Jimi Hendrix, Kiss, memes, Mike Ness, Motley Crue, music, Nazareth, Neil Young, Ramones, Revolting Cocks, Rob Zombie, Rod Stewart, The Commitments, The Cure, The Doors, thursday thirteen, tributes, Type O Negative, videos, Willie Nelson, Wilson Pickett, YouTube
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:44 am
great list.
JO´s last blog post…..Thursday Thirteen #56: 13 movies
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July 2nd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
@JO,
Thanks! And thanks for stopping by!
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July 2nd, 2009 at 9:41 pm
I could have used this playlist today. That or a book on tape.
Alice Audrey´s last blog post…..13 Things I Did This Week
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July 2nd, 2009 at 11:41 pm
@Alice Audrey,
Did you need some aggression? Or just something different?
Thanks for stopping by
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July 6th, 2009 at 11:58 am
@Devilish Southern Belle, Actually, it’s not so much for me as my kids. This could have distracted them for a few minutes.
Alice Audrey´s last blog post…..FWD: Stupid Stuff… But Funny
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July 6th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
@Alice Audrey, I totally understand!
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Okay WHY are we not friends??? I could have written this playlist except that Metallica’s Turn the Page would have to be on here. Have you ever heard Sanctuary’s cover of the Airplane’s White Rabbit? It’ll give you chills.
Anyway, you asked what I write. Since you asked, I’ll do some blatant BSP, and be a little more detailed than usual — you’re going to LOVE this. I write about a fictional rock band and mostly their two founders, Mitchell and Trevor. Trevor’s the bad boy, Mitchell’s the romantic one who makes the girls sigh. They’re like brothers.
The Demo Tapes is a collection of the short fiction about these guys (and the rest of the band, and Mitchell’s eventual wife, who of course has conflict with Trevor). It’s all stuff I posted on my blog between April 2006 and March 2007, and it was written to help drive interest in my novel, Trevor’s Song (which is still unavailable). I’m at work on Demo Tapes: Year 2, which will be the further adventures of all these folk, plus some new faces.
I’d love it if you took a look. Here’s the link:
http://www.amazon.com/ShapeShi.....amp;sr=8-1
Susan Helene Gottfried´s last blog post…..Susan’s Promo Talk: A Thursday Thirteen
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July 2nd, 2009 at 5:20 pm
@Susan Helene Gottfried,
I have NO IDEA….but we totally are now!
Heh, I heard Metallica’s Turn the Page earlier while I was out running errands. I think I like their cover of Whiskey in the Jar better…but that’s probably because Turn the Page depresses me so much despite being backed by Metallica’s aggression. And I’ve never heard Sanctuary’s cover of White Rabbit, but I will definitely have to look it up now.
Your book sounds like it’s right up my alley. Seriously! I would love to have a look when I get a free minute later tonight. I totally dig rockers!
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July 2nd, 2009 at 6:42 pm
@Devilish Southern Belle, Why does Page depress you? I totally ADORE it. Always have. There’s such a sense of longing and yearning… I think the original version was good, but Het puts it to shame. I also think the original, along with Jackson Brown’s the Load-Out, is what pushed me so strongly into writing about rockers. Those songs had a huge influence on me.
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July 2nd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
@Susan Helene Gottfried,
I’m not sure. For one thing, the video was pretty depressing. I love that you’ve been inspired to write in part because of them, though. I do a bit of writing myself, or try to, and a certain rocker has definitely inspired me – well, looks-wise, anyway.
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July 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 pm
@Devilish Southern Belle,
I love covers as long as there is a reason to do it – namely, do something original with it. A cover I love is Sting’s cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing. Not sure who he’s actually covering, but I love Moby’s cover of Run On, as well as Elvis Presley’s Run On.
Love your T13 today!
Julia Smith´s last blog post…..Thursday Thirteen – 113 – 13 Reasons to Read Baby in Her Arms by Stella MacLean
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July 2nd, 2009 at 11:42 pm
@Julia Smith,
I’ve never heard Sting’s version. For all the covers I do have and have heard, it looks like there are so many other wonderful ones I have no clue about!
Thanks for stopping by
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Lovely list … music lifts my spirits and can make my difficult days simpler ;–)
Hugs and blessings,
storyteller´s last blog post…..T-13 Purple Passion Mosaic ‘Window’ Views
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July 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
@storyteller,
It does the same for me. Can’t live without it!
Thanks for stopping by
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July 2nd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
My favourite cover was Hurt Johnny Cash .. originally a NIN song.
chelle´s last blog post…..In Which We Are All Sick
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July 2nd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
@chelle,
That is an excellent song, and I love Johnny Cash’s cover as well. It’s definitely one of my favorites and I probably should have included it instead of something else on the list. But it didn’t come to me in time!
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July 2nd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
There are some great selections there. I love The Commitments version of “Mustang Sally.” Heck, that CD in general is awesome!
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July 2nd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
@Heather, isn’t it, though? The song, I mean. I don’t think I’ve actually heard anything else on the soundtrack, but I probably should.
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July 3rd, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Yes, you really should check out the entire soundtrack for “The Commitments.” Do it! It’s a favorite among friends and I for road trips. Vol 2 is pretty good, too.
Heather´s last blog post…..Stars and Stripes Forever
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July 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
@Heather, I will do that! Thanks for the suggestion!
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July 2nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
What! You didn’t like Rod’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” He wasn’t really sexy, but that’s what made the song so fun . . .
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July 3rd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
@Lori, I didn’t like much 70’s pop music. But yeah, when you put it that way….the song definitely sounds like fun in that context!
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July 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I actually haven’t heard any of these cover versions…:( You must think I live underground or something…lol.. Thanks for the links though..I’m off to listen to them..:)
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July 3rd, 2009 at 12:35 am
@Yyam,
Heh, I don’t think you live underground
I just always figured my tastes ran quite ‘out there’ from most people’s. Be sure to let me know if you like any of them, and thanks for stopping by!
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July 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 am
I hadn’t heard of some of these so I’m off to investigate. I love Mustang Sally. My husband doesn’t, especially when I’m singing along.
Shelley Munro´s last blog post…..Stress!
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July 3rd, 2009 at 11:10 pm
@Shelley Munro, Wow, wonder why? Mustang Sally rocks – in all her incarnations that I’ve ever heard! Let me know if you like any of the songs I have linked
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July 3rd, 2009 at 8:34 am
I am more familiar with the artists (GNR, Garth Brooks and Billy Idol) than the song title. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week!
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July 3rd, 2009 at 11:12 pm
@Hazel, yeah, I guess those are pretty much household names by now. I think just about every artist out there has done a cover at least once.
You have a great week, too!
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July 3rd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
may I say that is a great list
Love is funny”
I Want You”
AD´s last blog post…..I want you. I need you.
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July 3rd, 2009 at 11:13 pm
@AD, Thanks!
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