Cover Yourself

I love it when artists cover themselves. And I don't mean live concert performances. I mean new versions of their old hits. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Here are a few that work -- the original and the cover:

• Men At Work - "Down Under" 1982
  
• Colin Hay - "Down Under" 2003
  
  
• Pete Townshend - "Let My Love Open The Door" 1980
  
• Pete Townshend - "Let My Love Open The Door" 1996
  
  
• The Beach Boys - "Surf's Up" 1967
  
• Brian Wilson - "Surf's Up" 2004
  
  
• Paul Kelly - "You Can't Take It With You" 1989
  
• Paul Kelly & Uncle Bill - "You Can't Take It With You" 1999
  
  
• George Harrison - "My Sweet Lord" 1970
  
• George Harrison - "My Sweet Lord" 2000
  
  
• Paul McCartney - "Maybe I'm Amazed" 1970
  
• Paul McCartney - "Maybe I'm Amazed" 1999
  
  

Five Random Covers

• Beck - "Diamond Dogs" David Bowie cover
  
• Los Lobos - "Sleeping On The Sidewalk" Queen cover
  
• Scud Mountain Boys - "Wichita Lineman" Glen Campbell cover
  
• Robbie Williams - "She's The One" World Party cover
  
• Parthenon Huxley - "The Diary of Horace Wimp"ELO cover
  
  

Just A Covers Band?

I confess to being completely ignorant of The Mavericks other than knowing they're a good covers band. Maybe someday I'll explore all of their music, but for now I really like what they've done to these three classic songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Hollies, and Elvis Presley:

• The Mavericks - "Down On The Corner"
  
• The Mavericks - "The Air That I Breathe"
  
• The Mavericks - "Are You Lonesome Tonight"
  

Buy Mavericks CDs here!

Beatles Covers

Well, I made it through the holidays in one piece. Was a bit startled when I woke up on the 1st in a Mexican jail, but that's too long a story to repeat here.

Since I'm still in recovery, here's something easy -- Beatles covers. No other band has been covered as much as the Fab Four, and I love 'em all, no matter how weird and wacky. I never met a Beatles cover I didn't like.

Here's a few:

• Eight Seconds - "Hey Jude"
  
• Eels - "I'm A Loser"
  
• Sean Altman - "Don't Bother Me"
  
• Phil Angotti & The Idea - "Eleanor Rigby"
  
• Oingo Boingo - "I Am The Walrus"
  
• Nick Heyward - "All My Loving"
  
• Peanuts Gang - "A Hard Day's Night" (Toy Instruments)
  
• Jason Falkner - "Here, There and Everywhere"
  
• Chumbawamba - "Her Majesty"
  
• Hindu Rodeo - "I'm Only Sleeping"
  
• Big Daddy - "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite"
  
• Art Garfunkel - "I Will"
  
• Huey Lewis - "Oh! Darling"
  
• Canadian Brass - "I Am The Walrus"
  
• Ringo Starr - "Love Me Do"