General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Part 95.........."I'm Covered In Cover Songs"

You guys know how much I love cover songs, and I haven't done a cover song entry in a while. You know I couldn't resist much longer.

In order to receive votes in this category, the song had to be a cover that was recorded on an a studio or live album by another band. Tribute albums were completely disqualified unless the version appeared on another album (see "I Wanna Be Sedated" for an example of this rule). Also receiving votes in this category were "Back In The High Life Again" by Warren Zevon (originally by Steve Winwood), "California Girls" by David Lee Roth (originally by The Beach Boys), "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley (originally by Leonard Cohen), "Hard To Handle" by The Black Crowes (originally by Otis Redding), "Jolene" by the White Stripes (originally Dolly Parton) . NOT RECEIVING VOTES is "People Get Ready" by Alicia Keys and Lyfe Jennings originally by Curtis Mayfield. He will never appear on this list.

"All Along The Watchtower"- Jimi Hendrix (originally by Bob Dylan). Here is one people forget that Jimi actually covered. Kinda surprising by a guy who wrote some of the best rock songs of all time in just a few short years in the business. This cover of Bob Dylan's 1967 song appeared on Hendrix's 1968 album "Electric Ladyland" and became his only top 20 hit in the United Kingdom. Surprisingly, Hendrix spent more time recording and overdubbing this song than any of his others. In fact, he did it so much that bass player Noel Redding actually quit the band because of this song. Bob Dylan later said that this cover was so great that it was "overwhelming".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIhtafqZvy8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzanOzyqgas

"Big Yellow Taxi"- Counting Crows feat. Vanessa Carlton (originally by Joni Mitchell). This song was actually covered by Amy Grant first, but did you really think I was gonna put her on here? This song was written by our Canadian friend Joni Mitchell while she was in Hawaii and saw a parking lot as far as the eye could see outside of her hotel room and thought it was a shame for such a big parking lot to take up so much space in paradise. The Counting Crows version featuring Vanessa Carlton was actually more successful on the charts than Mitchell's (which actually only peaked at #67), peaking at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was included on the soundtrack for the 2002 movie "Two Weeks Notice" starring Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock, but another version was originally featured as a hidden track on their album "Hard Candy", but it did not feature Vanessa Carlton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvtJPs8IDgU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlNZN94_u-s

"Dedicated To The One I Love"- The Temprees (originally by "5" Royales). I was torn on this one. I really like the Mamas and the Papas version, but how often are we really gonna talk about the Temprees? The Temprees were a mildly successful band from Memphis and released this single on the album of the same name in 1972. I feel great that I gave these guys another 5 minutes of fame. However, all joking aside, while I always have loved the Mamas and the Papas, I seriously like this version best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPQBTqbotfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ponMaR-2E

"Drift Away"- Uncle Kracker (originally by Dobie Gray). Usually I would tell Uncle Kracker to literally "drift away", but this song is too good to pass up, even for him. Dobie Gray scored his only major hit with this song in 1973. 30 years later, Uncle Kracker released it on his album "No Stranger To Shame" and in a real class act, featured Dobie Gray on the song and in the video. I always like to see newer artists pay homage to older guys who paved the way, or in this case, recorded the song that put them on the top. Irony though about this song. They sing about "rock n' roll", but isn't this more of a country song? I'm just sayin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A69BertdSt4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaPnOASOWIU

"I Can't Get No Satisfaction"- Otis Redding (originally by The Rolling Stones). This just shows that even in the middle of the civil rights era of the 1960's the Rolling Stones were second to the Beatles as the biggest act on the planet. Otis Redding was an outspoken artist for African American rights, and I'm sure riffled some feathers by recording and performing this song, but this version is pretty slamming. Redding himself admitted that he didn't know all the words to this song because he couldn't understand Mick Jagger (I say the same thing myself all the time), so he made up the parts he didn't know. This version as also featured on his 1965 album "Otis Blue". However, in respect to the Stones, Redding featured horns playing the guitar riff. The irony of this is that the original song that the Stones wrote had intended for this very same thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYSFEfeC3Ro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPFCiN5yMuU

"I Wanna Be Sedated"- The Offspring (originally by The Ramones). I don't know if I should be ashamed or proud that the Ramones have finally made their first appearance on "Late Night Music". Despite their unreal suckage, this is a pretty catchy song, so I've always thought. The Offspring version was featured on the Ramones tribute album "We're A Happy Family", but as pictured here, was also featured in the film and on the soundtrack for the movie "Idle Hands". Sadly enough, this is probably the best part of the movie. At least we get to see Jessica Alba, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV3-qRvuJaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQeo3OfuEDM

"I Will Survive"- Cake (Originally by Gloria Gaynor). I hate the Gloria Gaynor version of this song. I guess it's kinda like "I Will Always Love You"- you just get sick of it. This version was featured on Cake's 1996 album "Fashion Nugget" and was publicly panned by Gloria Gaynor due to John McCrea changing the lyrics to include profanity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=596qaxm-u4o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I

"Landslide"- Smashing Pumpkins (originally by Fleetwood Mac). Sorry, I couldn't do the Dixie Chicks again. This rare version was released in 1993 as the B-Side of Smashing Pumpkins single "Disarm" (funny they had a double acoustic release....anyway). It was later featured on their 1994 album of B-Sides, "Pisces Iscariot". Billy Corgan I think does a fantastic job singing this song and surprisingly enough I think his voice is perfect for it. I'll even go out on a limb and say I like this one better than the Dixie Chicks version. This one just seems more personal, which is the way Stevie Nicks intended it to be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yoh6G_11cKw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhNrrrCCTdA

"Hey Ya!"- Obadiah Parker (Originally by Outkast). You know how much I love acoustic hip-hop covers! My ultimate favorite! This internet sensation by Arizona acoustic group Obadiah Parker was released in 2009 on iTunes on their live album "The Tip Jar Vol. 1" and has received rave reviews, including from Andre 3000 himself. It's funny how you don't realize how some hip-hop songs can work in an acoustic form until you actually hear it. I could cross off something on my bucket list if I could karaoke to this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c745E7T_Wvg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWgvGjAhvIw

"Heartless"- The Fray (Originally by Kanye West). Score for another hip-hop cover! Not long after Kanye West's version of this song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008, the Fray released a live version of the song that was featured on their 2009 album "Live From Soho" and later on a re-release deluxe edition of their self titled second album. The studio version peaked at #79 on the charts, and featured this super cool video. Bonus points for the heart. I've never liked Kanye, and you all know this, but the lyrics are amazing in this song, and I love the way this video portrays what this song is really trying to convey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBTdJHkAr5A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co0tTeuUVhU

"Oh Girl"- Paul Young (Originally by The Chi-Lites). Paul Young I guess had to be known as someone other than a crappy British singer who only had one hit and then tried to take over "Do They Know It's Christmas" when he tried to have soul with this 1990 attempt at covering the Chi-Lites 1972 hit. This version from this album "Other Voices" kept Paul Young from being a one hit wonder (I guess) as it reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, but thank God we haven't heard Paul Young sing anything else. He is one of the most overrated singers ever to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sTnsos3T0k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sstY_MI3skE

"Amazed"- Boyz II Men (Originally by Lonestar). I love Boyz II Men. This song came out actually after their on entry in "Late Night Music", as this version was featured on their album "Love". This live version from the "Second Cup Cafe" segment of "The Early Show" on CBS, features a pretty good live version of this song. I think it shows Boyz II Men's true musical diversity by being able to cover a country song and doing it a lot like the original while still keeping their own style. Man these guys are awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cbGbrhvrho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-skFgrV59A

"Our Love"- Mary J Blige (Originally by Natalie Cole). I think Mary J. Blige always ends up being on these lists. But seriously, can you blame me? This song was originally a hit for Natalie Cole in 1977, but was featured on Mary's 1997 album "Share My World" and is the last track on the album, closing out a landmark R & B album (and Mary's last album as a crackhead, but this claim is disputed). Mary J might be the best "cover song" artist ever because no other artist can keep the song so original while adding so much passion and soul (especially in this case, in an already passionate soulful song). I'm gonna go ahead and say this version is better than Natalie Cole's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLR1PgqJxJs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkD6wgdggyk

"Back At One"- Mark Wills (Originally by Brian McKnight). Mark Wills hit #2 on the country charts with the 2000 cover of Brian McKnight's smash hit of the previous year which was featured on his album "Permanently". Mark Wills is one of the better country cover artists, as he's covered a few non country songs now and made them into pretty good versions- I gotta respect that. Obviously he doesn't have the voice of Brian McKnight, but I still like this version and I like the way he didn't get carried away with it. He kept it simple not trying to outdo Brian McKnight vocally (if that's possible).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY-Iy65JpXo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NZCu6exrIY

BONUS VIDEO- "Interstate Love Song" - Hootie and the Blowfish (originally by Stone Temple Pilots). This live version was featured on the short lived TNT show "Hard Rock Cafe" and is an unreal cover version of the Stone Temple Pilots classic hit. Please don't ever tell me again that Hootie and The Blowfish isn't a real rock band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NZCu6exrIY