Old Guy Radio for September 2020 - 19th Amendment Covers
Just last week, the country recognized the 100th anniversary of the certification of the 19th amendment. So, when I was planning another playlist of covers, I naturally decided to make it a list of covers by women.
This was pretty easy to put together (covers playlists usually are), and there were lots more to choose from than are here. So there’s an expanded version on Spotify, of course, specifically including Ellie Goulding’s “Your Song” and Adele’s “Lovesong”, which have both previously appeared in OGR. You might also find Kate Bush’s version of “The Man I Love” there, but not “Rocket Man” (somehow “Two Rooms” is not on Spotify). And surprisingly, Joan Jett is now on Spotify, so a couple of her covers as well. As always, my profile name is pearsons3and2. Or just use the links at the end of the post!
There is no particular listening order. I’d recommend shuffle. Or alphabetical order. Whatever.
Across the Universe - Fiona Apple. From the soundtrack to “Pleasantville”, which is an amazingly odd movie about a brother and sister who get sucked into the world of a black and white television show. Before I had the 19th Amendment idea, it was going to be a playlist of Beatles covers. This would have been on that playlist, too.
Angel from Montgomery - Bonnie Raitt. Written by John Prine, who we’ll talk about some more in the next tribute list. This has become something of a signature song for Raitt. She still regularly plays it in concert. That is, if she were performing right now.
Dance Me to the End of Love - Madeleine Peyroux. If you’ve been paying attention all these years, you know OG loves him some Madeleine Peyroux. What a voice! Like Billie Holiday. Anyway, nice cover of Leonard Cohen.
I Need a Lover - Pat Benatar. Covering Mellencamp back when he was still Cougar. Have we had any Benatar in OGR before? This Brooklyn born rocker was an absolute hit machine during the late 70’s and early 80’s.
More Than This - Charlie Hunter Quartet (Norah Jones). In 2010, Jones released the compilation album “... Featuring Norah Jones”, which consisted of songs by other artists that she sang on. This one by the Charlie Hunter Quartet is a fantastic, laid-back, jazz cover of Roxy Music’s original synth-pop hit. Hunter, by the way, used to play a custom-built eight string guitar, in order to simultaneously play bass lines, melodies, and chords. The same album this song was originally from, “Songs from the Analog Playground”, includes a nice cover of Nick Drake’s “Day is Done”, again with Jones on vocals.
Party Girl - Linda Ronstadt. From Ronstadt’s rather unusual album “Mad Love”, which is almost a new wave album. I mean, three covers of Elvis Costello (including this one)!
The Passenger - Siouxsie and the Banshees. After the success of their cover of The Beatles “Dear Prudence”, Siouxsie and the Banshees considered recording an album full of covers. “Through the Looking Glass” was the result. Iggy Pop has said he likes their cover of “The Passenger” better than his original. And if you are unfamiliar with the mighty Iggy Pop, try his enormous album "Lust for Life", or the great Stooges album "Raw Power".
Summertime - Big Brother and the Holding Company (Janis Joplin). How many versions of this song from Gershwin’s problematic “Porgy and Bess” opera are there? Hundreds. On reflection, Big Brother were not a particularly good band. At least in this one, they basically get out of Janis’ way and let her go.
Thin Line Between Love and Hate - The Pretenders (Chrissie Hynde). How can you not love Chrissie Hynde here? One of my absolute favorite voices in rock. So soulful and emotional. And here covering the Persuaders’ 1971 R&B hit.
Triad - Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick). David Crosby wrote this song while he was still in the Byrds. They recorded it, but did not release it. It is not clear whether the band thought it was too controversial (threesomes and all that), or they just didn’t think it was good enough. So Crosby gave it to the Airplane, who were actually the first to release it. I’m still calling it a cover. “Triad” was eventually included on CSNY’s live “4-Way Street”.
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Annie Lennox. I think this is the most effective of the covers on “Medusa”, Lennox’ album of covers. The original, of course, is Procol Harum’s best known and most popular song, recognizable for the thundering Bach-esque Hammond organ.
Yeah! - The Lounge Kittens. As I researched various covers at Secondhand Songs, I stumbled across the Lounge Kittens. And I am smitten with the kittens. They’re like the Andrew Sisters doing three part harmony lounge music covers of mostly metal songs. Limp Biscuit fans might like their cover of “Rollin’”. I especially liked their Rammstein medley. Anyway, they are hilarious and often explicit. This one is fairly tame.
And that’s that for September.
Here’s the short one:
And here’s the long one: