Cee Lo Green “Run Rudolph Run” (2012)
‘Run Rudolph Run’¹ is a song recorded in 1958 by Chuck Berry (and melodically identical to a more famous one he’d release one year later, ‘Little Queenie’). Since then it’s been covered by a remarkable array of artists – from Keith Richards, Dave Edmunds, Sheryl Crow, Bryan Adams, Billy Idol, Reverend Horton Heat, Foghat, and...... Read More
George Thorogood “It Wasn’t Me” (1978)
As legend, or some old music magazine, has it, an interviewer once asked George Thorogood why he didn’t write more of his own songs, to which he replied “Because Chuck Berry already wrote all the f*cking songs that ever needed to be written.” I can’t quite call this a direct quote, but I’m pretty confident...... Read More
The Gourds “Gin And Juice” (2001)
I’m not into much Hip Hop. But I can appreciate a good song when it’s done right. The Gourds, a handsome alt-country / progressive bluegrass band out of Austin, take care of that for us here. And if you watch the second short clip, you’ll see the song’s originator can dig it this way too....... Read More
Gladys Knight & The Pips “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”
Maybe there’s a better example, but I can’t think of any, where there were three different hugely popular versions of the same song. That song, ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ was a smash hit for three artists – Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, and Creedence Clearwater Revival – all within less than...... Read More
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes “Blowin’ In The Wind” (2001)
Some readers of this esteemed blog expressed some objection to my all-too-casual dismissal of the “voice of a generation," Bob Dylan, within a prior post on the Drive-By Truckers. I’d like to try to atone for that now by featuring what is undoubtedly... Read More
Farrelly Brothers // Electric Light Orchestra “Showdown” (1973); Smashmouth “Do It Again” (2000); Billy Stewart “Summertime” (1966)
Look, with a 2-minute graphic diarrhea scene, you either find it funny or you don’t. In other words, you probably either love Farrelly Brothers movies or hate them. Unimaginably gross, dreadfully inappropriate, off-puttingly dark, hopelessly juvenile? Check, check, check and check. Yes, I love them. I’d guess that the Farrelly’s are probably best known for...... Read More
The Human Beinz “Nobody But Me” (1968)
Ever wonder what the most negative song in rock history is? No? NO? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. That’s the opening, ah, verse (?) of ‘Nobody But Me’ – just...... Read More
Wilson Pickett “Hey Jude”
With the improbable help of Duane Allman, Wilson Pickett recorded an astonishing cover of the Beatles' anthem "Hey Jude" just three months after its original release.... Read More