Uncovering cover-ups.

OK... here's the challenge. If you want to just post your own response on your own blog or site, lemme know where it is so I can see it! I was listening to the tunes on my computer the other day, and there were a couple of killer covers. I thought it would make a good post topic. That topic being to name maybe five or ten of the best covers on your computer's hard drive (but I'm going to post more). Rules to filter out the "blah":

a) no Christmas tunes
b) no blues tunes (usually not a shocking change, and lots of tunes have lots of covers)
c) not the most-known version (like The Black Crowes' "Hard to Handle"... which Tom Jones has an awesome old version of, btw)
d) not something that isn't much of a change, like that new (crappy) cover of Badfinger's "No Matter What"
e) not a crappy version of it
f) the rarer / odder the better
g) not just a song sample (like, say, in a rap tune)

Here are some of mine, in no order:

Ryan Adams, "Wonderwall"
This one's almost creepy. The melody's tinkered with, and it's very quiet and moody. I really dig this one. Paul Anka also has a cool new cover of this one out there.

Dolly Parton, "Shine"
Dolly does Collective Soul. This one's also a more laid-back effort, but it's way more killer than you'd think.

Ella Fitzgerald, "Sunshine Of Your Love"
Ella does Cream... with balls! A cool big-band cover.

Ziggy Marley, "Drive"
Ziggy did this Cars classic for the "50 First Dates" soundtrack. It's laid-back, heartfelt, and reggaelicious.

Lizz Wright, "Old Man"
I love Neil Young, and this tune's one of his best. Wright picks it apart a bit, and sings it in an almost suspenseful and breathy way. It has a bluegrass style of instrumentation, but it's quite... moody, yet held back. Almost like a towering, enormous, black cloud. Another great Neil Young cover is k.d. lang's version of "Helpless". She did this one on the Junos this year with Cohen's "Hallelujah". Both great.

John Mayer, "The Wind Cries Mary" (live)
I wish John Mayer would just quit it with most of the radio stuff and get down! He's very gentle on this one, and very skilled. This one's a keeper.

Big Sugar, "Let It Ride"
Gordie Johnson took this BTO bull by the horns and reggae-fied it. It rocks pretty hard, with help from Warren Hayes of Gov't Mule. The reggae twist is what makes it stand out. Excellent.

Travis, "Hit Me, Baby, One More Time"
These Scots actually made this tune listenable. Done acoustically, it sounds heartfelt and... good!

Rockstar INXS
Every "Idol" show had their collective asses kicked this summer with the talent on this show. It's just light years ahead of that mostly crappy crap. Of special note for me so far were Mig Ayesa's "Baby I Love Your Way", and especially Jordis Unga's "Man Who Sold The World". They're both really heartfelt and quite well done.

Jason Mraz, "Summer Breeze"
He can do some stuff that's "meh", but he can also really shine with some jazzy acoustic stuff. This Seals and Croft number is, as Bill & Ted may say, "most excellent".

The Kelele Brothers, "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore"
Ron Sexsmith, er, "El Rondo" sings this one. Hot damn, Ron can really sing the hell out of a tune. This one's just dripping with hurt and soul. It sounds so classic and just right. Kudos to Randy Newman for writing something so timeless.

Colin James, "These Arms Of Mine"
From his album, "National Steel"... if you just lost someone and listen to this song, you WILL cry. If you don't, you're not human. I think I actually may prefer this version over Otis Redding's. Speaking of Otis Redding, he has a cool version of "Satisfaction" you Stones fans may like.

Emm Gryner, "Crazy Train"
Emm has done a couple of cover albums now. I wish she'd do more original stuff. But that's just because her original stuff can be so good. Several of her covers are of tunes by ballsy rock bands. Check out the quiet piano-and-voice treatment of this Ozzy tune. Emm rocks. Usually quietly.

Feist, "Now At Last"
I think Feist's album was probably the best album of 2004. She came out of nowhere on most people and made this timeless album. It mixes genres, but all sticks together. Check out this Blossom Dearie tune at the very end of the CD. It's fragile and sad, with a hint of hope. 'Tis amazing.

Wide Mouth Mason, "Supersition" (also with 'I wish', live)
They can do no wrong. Funk, rock, blues, soul, it's all part of the mix. This one's an all-time fave. Also check out their cover of "Billie Jean". There's even a live version out there of it mixed with "Whole Lotta Love".

Harry Connick, Jr., "Stardust" and "This Time The Dream's On Me"
I couldn't pick one over the other. I think HC does a superb job of both of these standards. Also potential tear-jerkers.

Renee Olstead, "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby"
This actress is, like, 16... and was only 14 when she recorded this! But her voice is sooo supple and smooth. And mature. And seductive. It's like caramel. David Foster snapped her up and did an album of mostly standards with her. This one's one of the better ones, I think. I saw her do "What A Wonderful World" on TV and was stunned. Hopefully her voice won't change too much over the years.

The Pursuit of Happiness, "She's So Young"
This one isn't a cover. It's actually their song. I just think it's awesome and overlooked. Someone could have a hit with this sleeping giant. TPOH rocked.

Check out this site. It has some cool tunes on it, and if you dig around, a fair amount of covers!