I’m always up for listening to different versions of old songs recorded by artists other than the original. In other words, cover songs. Some singers, who weren’t really songwriters, made a career out of doing that. Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Rivers leap to mind on that score.
Anyway, while cruising through YouTube I’ve come up with five cover songs that do justice to the original recordings. So, let’s check them out.
Mitch Ryder — “When You Were Mine.” First off, that Prince track is my favorite that he ever wrote. Cyndi Lauper put a cover of it on her smash album “She’s So Unusual” and I’ve seen her sing that one in concert. Mitch’s version of this Prince tune came out in 1983 on the aptly titled album “Never Kick a Sleeping Dog.” While Lauper’s recording of it is good, somehow “When You Were Mine” sounds better sung by a man.
Miley Cyrus– Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers.” Miley writes some good songs herself but her real forte is covering and putting special touches on rock and country compositions. She performed this Petty tune with her father Billy Ray on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Just a tender and effective read on a sweet song by the late great rocker from Gainesville, Florida. This version is when Miley did it on the Howard Stern Radio Show.
Everything But the Girl–Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Only Living Boy in New York.” There probably isn’t an S&G song that I don’t love but my two personal favorites are the less known cuts; “Baby Driver” and “The Only Living Boy in New York.” The latter being one I was drawn into when watching the small but fine movie “Tadpole.” EBTG does Paul Simon’s song justice with a sweet choral read that I never get tired of listening to.
The Jayhawks — Dixie Chicks’ “Everybody Knows.” Jayhawks lead singer Gary Louris co-wrote this track with the Dixie Chicks (now known as just “The Chicks”) back in 2006 for their “Taking the Long Way Around” album. Ten years later, the Jayhawks recorded it and did well with this introspective song.
Travis Tritt –Steve Earle’s “Sometimes She Forgets.” Easily my favorite Steve Earle song and years ago Travis covered it beautifully. In concert Tritt often also plays Earle’s “Copperhead Road.” A couple of times I got to tell Travis in person that he’s the only guy who should ever be allowed to cover anything written by Earle. He laughed at that and appreciated the compliment.
There’s plenty of other cover songs to discover and appreciate. I’ll get to more of them in the near future.
Next Blog- Holding on to the tried & true.
