Month: March 2022

For this installment of great cover songs, I’m all over the road, so hold on.

MILEY CYRUS- “Wish You Were Here.”  Yes, this is the third time overall I’ve offered praise to Miley Cyrus for her singing but she performs other artists’ songs so well and deserves the accolades.  This time Miley sings up the Pink Floyd classic in a stripped down acoustic manner and she did it in the spring of 2020 as the musical guest of Saturday Night Live while we were in the midst of the COVID Pandemic.  The choice of song was great and so was Miss Cyrus’ version of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9TrCN9S9zE

THE MAVERICKS- “Here Comes My Baby”- The Mavericks are one of those bands that can approach any style of music and do it up right.  Rock, country, pop, swing, mariachi, you name it they can handle it.  Much of that has to do with the range and interpretive skills of lead singer Raul Malo but the rest of the group pulls their weight as well.  The hopping horns infused version of “Here Comes My Baby” is livelier than Cat Stevens’ original take, ditto for the Tremeloes 60’s style singalong rendition of it.

SMITHEREENS – “It Don’t Come Easy.”Besides being a great band with fine original songs like “Blood & Roses”, “Only A Memory”, “Behind the Wall of Sleep” and loads of others, this was a group that did justice to many cover songs.  Everyone from the Beatles and Who to Springsteen, The Clash & more were well done by these guys.  Here’s one of my favorites by late lead singer Pat Dinizio and his band of rockers

NAILPIN  “They Don’t Know.”I came across this cover of a cover.  Originally written and done by the late Kirsty MacColl; then in the early 80’s Tracy Ullman did it up right with a video that included a guest shot by Paul McCartney.  I have no idea where Nailpin came from but this rocking version is a fun twist on the tune.

NEXT BLOG- How I Spent My Spring Break.

It’s time for another take of some of my favorite scenes from past movies. 

“THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI” (2017) There were so many great scenes in this movie about a small town and an unsolved murder.  Chief Willoughby’s farewell letter to his wife is heartbreaking but I also like when after the Chief’s death a new boss arrives to the Ebbing Police Department.  He’s just witnessed Officer Dixon throw an innocent man out a window and is about to make his presence known.

“CHOCOLAT” (2000) While I am not Catholic, the Easter Sunday homily said by the young student priest is one that really resonated with me. Contrary to the narrator’s words, I found this message to be more than eloquent. Every Easter I re-watch this clip to remind myself of some wise and hopeful ideas. 

“CITIZEN KANE” (1941) Considered by many to be the greatest film of the 20^th century (I can’t disagree with that), this scene where Charles Foster Kane gets berated for how he runs his newspaper is a classic.  I’ve always been a big fan of characters who are getting scolded about their actions and they’re able to turn the tables on their antagonists.  This is one such scene.

“THE GODFATHER” (1972) I cheat a little on this scene.  It’s not in the original version of “The Godfather” but has been included in other editions and releases of the film.  This clip takes place AFTER Tom Hagen unsuccessfully tries to do Don Corleone’s bidding and get Johnny Fontaine the star making part in Jack Woltz’s new war movie; but BEFORE the infamous horse’s head in the bed scene.  I really like how the Don and Hagen determine just how “tough” Woltz is.  You even hear the earliest “fuhgettaboutit” I can recall in a movie. 

In the usual showings of “Godfather” this scene was dropped.  Once Hagen leaves Woltz’s home, that horse’s head makes its appearance.  This deleted clip implies the horse killer was Corleone strongman Luca Brasi.  And the Don appears to be more noble after finding out Woltz was sleeping with an underage teen actress.

NEXT BLOG- One more round of great covers of hit songs.

This round of tributes to good cover songs is a fun one with some offbeat observations of some past songs.

SUZY BOGGUSS- “Drive South”- As a forever admirer of John Hiatt’s songwriting and recordings, I examine covers of his music with a critically careful ear.  His 1988 “Slow Turning” record brought us the original version of this song and two years later the Forrester Sisters country group covered it.  Not long after, Aledo Illinois native Suzy Bogguss tracked the cut for her ‘Voices in the Wind” album.  Bogguss had earlier top 10 country hits like “Aces.” “Someday Soon” and “Letting Go.”  Her version of the Hiatt travel tune landed at number 2 on the Country charts and it’s damn good.  John’s recording features his growling voice but Suzy’s cover has a breezy tone to it.  It’s always interesting to compare a male and female version of the same song.

BONNIE RAITT- “Thing Called Love”- This is another great John Hiatt song, this one from the 1987 album “Bring the Family.”  His track has a funky hop to it, while Bonnie’s version is more bluesy, with a touch of twang.  Both styles do the song up right but Hiatt had to be out of his mind thrilled that Bonnie covered “Thing Called Love.”  It was the lead single and video for her “Nick of Time” album which sold loads of copies and put some serious dollars into John Hiatt’s pocket.  Bonnie would go on to cover another Hiatt track, “No Business” but “Thing Called Love” was the better of the two.

THE WHO- “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”- Here’s a fun one to compare.  I grew up being dedicated to the music of Elton John and The Who.  So back in 1991 there was a multi artist album “Two Rooms”done to honor the music of Elton and his lyricist Bernie Taupin.  Sixteen Elton/Bernie songs were covered and The Who took on this great rocker.  It starts out with a gradual slow flurry of guitar and keyboard before Pete Townsend clocked in his Fender Telecaster guitar licks.  Roger Daltrey’s vocals are singed with the proper street fighting attitude.  Then in the last 90 seconds of the track Townsend throws in the chorus from another Elton oldie, “Take Me to The Pilot.”  Just a cool surprise before getting back to the “Saturday, Saturday” chorus.  I’ll always prefer the Elton version and put it at #1 but The Who’s novel approach to it earns a spot at 1A.

EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL- “The Only Living Boy in New York.”  I was never familiar with this oldie from Simon and Garfunkel until I saw the 2002 indie movie “Tadpole” which is a film that deserves its own blog from me in the future.  EBTG’s version of this song was featured and it was totally enchanting.  After seeing “Tadpole”, I had to research the history of this track.  Paul Simon wrote it as his partner Art Garfunkel flew to Mexico (as the song says) to act in the movie “Catch 22.” Simon was left alone to work on their next record and he felt alone, like he was the only living boy in New York.  This is one of those songs so well written that it really doesn’t matter who sings it, the tune is soothing and great to hear over and over again.

NEXT BLOG- More Great Movie Scenes Take #2.

Last year I had fun recalling and writing about my favorite opening lines to songs so I delved into my brain pan and pulled out some more starter lyrics that I can’t get enough of.

“I am a lineman for the county, and I drive the main roads, searching in the sun for another overload.” WICHITA LINEMAN- sung by Glen Campbell and written by the great Jimmy Webb A simply well written set of lines that remain iconic to this day.  All you need to hear is “Lineman for the county” and you know where we’re going.

“I want you to know, that I am happy for you.  I wish nothing but the best for you both.  An older version of me, is she perverted like me?”  YOU OUGHTA KNOW- Alanis Morrissette Despite the quivering vocal, this sounds like a tune that’s going somewhere sweet.  But it isn’t.   And only Alanis knows just who she wrote this song about.

“You think you’re gonna take her away with your money and your cocaine, you keep thinking that her mind is gonna change but I know everything is O.K.” “LISTEN TO HER HEART”– TOM PETTY This is hands down, my very favorite Petty song.  Between the church bell like chiming of those Rickenbacker guitars and the great lyrics, how can you can go wrong?  I once read Petty got the idea for those words from his first wife who told a story of being at some wild party thrown by Ike Turner who was on some cocaine infused bender and threatening women who were at his house.  Yikes!

“Tonight I feel so weak, but all in love is fair, I turn the other cheek and I feel the slap and the sting of the foul night air.” “BRING ME SOME WATER”- Melissa Etheridge Someone’s been done wrong in this classic cut and what’s so good is there’s hurt, vulnerability and anger in these words.  Seeing Melissa play this song live several times is one of the great joys I’ve had in going to concerts.

“You were the first thing that I thought of when I thought I drank you off my mind, when I get lost in the liquor you’re the only one I find.” “KILLIN’ TIME”- Clint Black The title track from Black’s 1989 landmark five hit debut album.  What man or woman out there can’t identify with these words?  You drink to forget someone who still can’t or won’t leave your mind.”  Well done Clint!

“No one knows what it’s like to be the bad man, to be the sad man, behind blue eyes.’– “BEHIND BLUE EYES”- The Who Anyone who listens to FM rock radio knows this classic and it remains timeless.  A quiet start to a song about a self-examination of emotions and tendencies.  Pete Townsend was at his best when writing words like this for the “Who’s Next” album. 

“Cold, late night so long ago, when I was not so strong you know. A pretty man came to me I never seen eyes so blue.” “MAGIC MAN”- Heart  While the opening guitar, bass and drums of this 70’s rock classic are hypnotic, the story gets sold by these opening words.  Ann Wilson wrote this from her own experience as she shares some of what happened in her first serious relationship.

NEXT WEEK’S BLOG– Some more of my favorite re-makes. Cover songs if you will.

The pandemic certainly curtailed my frequent movie going to a once in a blue moon experience.  Ugh!  I’ve watched a few new flicks on demand at home but it’s not the same.  Anyway, I thought to offer up some of my very favorite scenes from various movies of the past.  These are the kinds of situations and scenes that in my opinion MAKE a movie special.

Here’s Take 1 of scenes on film that I cannot get enough of.

“THE COLOR OF MONEY” (1986) A decades later sequel to “The Hustler” where Paul Newman’s character “Fast Eddie Felson” is a successful liquor salesman who plays mentor to young pool hotshot ‘Vincent’ played by Tom Cruise.  In this scene Eddie discovers not only how good Vincent is at nine-ball but also how green and unprepared his girlfriend is in the game of hustling strangers.  Newman is too cool for the room in this clip.

“WAKING NED DEVINE” (1998) One of my top ten favorite movies of all time and I knew it would remain that way ever since the first time I saw it.  In this eulogy scene Jackie O’Shea pays sincere tribute to his dear friend Michael O’Sullivan who’s in the audience, despite Ned Devine being the actual dead man in the casket.  This touching scene shares what deep rooted friendship is all about.

“GOOD WILL HUNTING” (1998) The late Robin Williams earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Sean, a teacher/counseling therapist assigned to guide ‘Will’ played by Matt Damon through court ordered anger management.  In this scene former college roommates Sean and Will’s math instructor Jerry argue over the kid’s progress and where his life is headed.

“THERE WILL BE BLOOD” (2007) Another Oscar winning performance, this time it’s Daniel Day Lewis as the amoral and money hungry oilman Daniel Plainview.  In this scene Plainview and his brother meet with fellow oil barons who want to buy him out.  This clip takes a dark turn to match Plainview’s persona but what I like is how controlled and calm he is at the start of the negotiations.  It quickly becomes obvious that Daniel Plainview has all the answers before questions and propositions are brought up by the others.  He’s the smartest man in the room and also the most wicked.

BONUS SCENE- Another one from “There Will Be Blood”, from earlier in the film when Plainview shows little tolerance for arguing townspeople.

Next Blog– Some of my favorite opening song lyrics, Pt. 1.