The Who were just given the Kennedy Center honors a few weeks back (along with, blech, Barbara Streisand), so why not honor their best album with nine solid covers. Quality over quantity today. Incidentally, I’m starting to run out of ideas for classic albums for which I could find covers of any songs, so any suggestions? Post ‘em in the comments.Blue Man Group - Baba O'Riley
From the moment the opening riff starts here, it all makes sense. This one was made for the boys in blue. Known primarily for their stage show, the Group has produced several fantastic albums. This comes from the tour they did promoting one, which you can find on How to Be a Megastar Live. Anyone know who’s singing? [Buy]
Sherie Rene Scott – Bargain
It swings, it jumps, it blare, it blasts. A horn-fueled rave-up that has even more energy than the first, Scott isn’t afraid to let it rip on this big band dance number. [Buy]
Out of Place - Love Ain't for Keeping
This adult-contemporary world sound has a vaguely elevator music feel, but it works with this slow dirge and the crooning vocals and last-minute violin solo keep things beautiful. If you like the sound, they did all these tunes on their unoriginally-titled Who's Next 2002. [Buy]
Taildragger - My Wife
Grungey and furious, the drummer does his best Keith Moon while the rest of the band sounds like the band in your neighbor’s garage. Best played loud. [Buy]
Stewart Bozarth - The Song Is Over
Solo piano covers always seem a safe route, but Bozarth’s playing doesn’t hold back, hitting all the tricky riffs without missing a note. [Buy]
Kim Virant - Getting In Tune
Another softy here, Virant gives it just the right subtle touch with her piano until the guitar blasts it away. Listen close for some bass lines that would make Entwistle proud. [Buy]
fIREHOSE - Going Mobile
Though they existed at the same time, these guys are not to be confused with FireHouse, who had several minor hits in the early 90’s (the strange capitalization gives it away). Regardless, they’re nice enough to let their concerts be shared on archive.org, and this tune comes a seven-song set they did of Who covers in 1989, including relative obscurities like Helpless Dancer and Naked Eye. [Download]
Limp Bizkit - Behind Blue Eyes
I haven’t been this blown away by a cover in a long time. And that isn’t because this cover is amazingly good; it’s because it’s somewhat good. I mean, this is the same Limp Bizkit that brought the world “Nookie” and “Break Stuff,” right? The same Limp Bizkit that brutalized our ears with the worst cover of “My Way” the world has ever seen? Well, I don’t know what happened here, because the backing is acoustic and subtle while Fred Durst emotes, dare I say it, beautifully. There’s a weird electronic break in the middle where they spell the band’s name, but even that somehow makes sense! Then, just when I was starting to wrap my mind around the song, I found the music video that features Durst making out with Halle Berry. What is going on?? [Buy]
Tony Furtado - Won't Get Fooled Again
We first heard Tony a few months back with his terrific “Fortunate Son,” and this folksy banjo master is an Americana covers wizard. He brings it all back home with just some subtle acoustics that get to the heart of the song without all the masturbatory guitar. [Buy]
16 comments:
Um... The band doing "Going Mobile" is fIREHOSE, not fIREHOUSE. No "U." They're also a damn fine band in their own right (who arose from the ashes of the legendary Minutemen) that's worth getting to know better. Their "Live Totem Pole EP" album has another great batch of covers.
Down with the bass!
out to make the same comment myself. I saw fIREHOSE a few times live back in the early 90's, 'round the time of "Flyin' the Flannel".
Hey I came to make the same comment but anyway let me say THANKS for all this great stuff!
It could be Tracy Bonham singing on Baba O'Riley. She toured with Blue Man a couple years ago as an opener and did the song with them during their set.
holy Christ! mistaking Firehouse for fIREHOSE? shame on you!
Adrian Hartley is the female vocalist on "Baba O'Riley." She replaced Tracy Bonham (who was vocalist on the previous Blue Man tour).
Thanks for all the corrections guys! I had no idea firehOse had such an active fanbase.
fIREHOSE aside, since you asked... how about a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover album? I tracked a complete covers album for Green River and almost completed one for Bayou Country - actually if you wanted you could put together a complete cover album of Chronicles, Pt 1 (20 tracks - yikes!). If you're willing to revisit artists whose albums you've already used I'd suggest Blood On The Tracks and I'd like to see if a covers album can be put together for Darkness On The Edge Of Town. Thanks for all the work you put into this site - I really enjoy coming here.
fIREHOSE fans are in a league of their own, no doubt.
As for suggestions, how about some Prince? Purple Rain would be the easy way to go, but i'd be mondo impressed if you could do a different album, personally.
Wow! Excellent compilation. I do have another challenge for you: a recreation of Massive Attack's "Mezzanine". I've been able to find multiple covers of "Angel" and "Teardrop", but nothing else.
Sheryl Crow's version of Behind Blue Eyes is way better than Limp Bizkit's, imho.
wooonderfuuulllll covers mixtapee (..and beautilful cover of "love will tear us apart..")
http://www.thankscaptainobvious.net/2008/11/covers-mixtape-xiii.html
This is a great collection, thank you for chasing all these down. For one it renewed my faith in Blue man Group having worked for them for a few years and been burned out by the whole experience.
If you want an interesting version of Behind Blue Eyes, check out the Chieftains 1993 release, An Irish Evening, Mr Daltry guests on the song done to traditional instruments, it isn't exactly a cover, but it gives the song a new dimension
I'd love to hear a whole album of Queen covers -- "A Night At The Opera?". Although maybe some of those songs haven't been covered.
very good
If you didn't know - Limp Bizkit video "Behind Blue Eyes" (I didn't even knew it's a cover, heh!) based on "Gothika" movie with Halle Berry. This song was on OST (the title song AFAIU).
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