The 8 Track Podcast: Rachelandthecity’s Favorite Cover Songs

Since the early days of recorded music there have been many incentives to record multiple versions of the same song. In the U.S. publishers, not artists, are paid royalties from broadcasters, so multiple versions of the same song meant more opportunity to cash in on a hit.

But over the years as artists gained more control in the industry, the practice fell out of vogue. Since the record companies would often put out multiple versions of the same song in different genres at the same time, artists felt like these various recordings were confusing to the public and took the spotlight off of the performer. While performing other people’s music was standard for old school crooners in the 50s and 60s, by the 70s it began to be frowned upon if you were not performing original material.

But covers still happen, obviously. They are just not as prevalent as they once were and the good ones tend to have a backstory. Maybe the song is a lesser known work, or is recorded for a soundtrack. Maybe it’s recorded tongue-in-cheek or ironically. Those are ones I find the most interesting. And while many are not that surprising or even inspiring, sometimes a few pop up that are just as enjoyable, if not more than the original. When Ted Leo covered Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” a few years back, not only did he probably gain a legion of new fans – he added some credibility to the American Idol winner and made it okay for hipsters to admit their love for pop music.

Check out a stream of some of my personal favorites. Full track listing with commentary after the jump…

1. “You Really Got A Hold On Me” – She & Him (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
This 1962 top ten single works well because the message still rings so true: Sometimes it’s hard to let go of someone even when they treat you badly. I still love the first She & Him album even if Zooey Deschanel jumped the shark in 2011.

2. “Float On” – Ben Lee (Modest Mouse)
Although I liked the original version when it came out, I didn’t really understand it until Ben Lee pulled a Derrida on the tune and brilliantly deconstructed it. On a side note, Lee was the very first musician I ever interviewed back in 2004. He is an awesome guy, fantastic musician and he dates Ione Skye (my very first girl-crush). He has a new album coming out in October. I’m Styched! (Cross between stoked and psyched!)

3. “Hot in Herre” Jenny Owen Youngs (Nelly)
This song incorporates the hook from go-go performer Chuck Brown’s 1979 #1 R&B hit “Bustin’ Loose” which almost makes it a cover of a cover. This is probably the last song I would expect Youngs to cover, which is what makes it so great. It’s surprising but just as much fun as the original.

4. “Sea of Love” – Cat Power (Phil Phillips)
This song was a one hit wonder for it’s writer – but it’s been covered by tons of artists. While it hit number one in the US – the original version failed to chart in the UK. It even spawned a movie title. But the reason why I love this song is because of The Honeydripper’s version in the 1980s. That’s how I was introduced to Robert Plant.

5. “Spit On A Stranger” – Nickel Creek (Pavement)
The summer of 1999 I moved to New York City, worked in the East Village and bought my first Pavement album at Kim’s on St. Mark’s. It was their last, and best, Terror Twilight. It was the soundtrack of my life that year and at the time I thought this album was a huge secret. This song was my favorite on the album and since I’ve heard it covered more than any other pavement song I know, I guess it wasn’t all that secret afterall. I also really like the Kathryn Williams version.

6. “Iron Man” – The Cardigans (Black Sabbath)
Long before The Osbournes had a hit TV show and the world saw just how non-threatening Ozzy was, I was a little weary of his bat-eating antics and music. But then I got turned on to The Cardigans via Baz Luhrmann’s cover of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes. After I purchased their debut, First Band on the Moon, I came across this song tucked at the end of their CD. This was another one of those songs that I did not really understand until it was covered.

7. “Thirteen” – Kathryn Williams (Big Star)
Yeah, this classic song has been covered by a plethora of folks, most famously by Wilco and Elliott Smith, but I just think this version is my favorite. Being sung by a woman just brings a whole new array of interesting aspects to the song. You should really check out her 2004 cover album Relations. Her version of Nirvana’s “All Apologies” is breathtaking.

8. “Bein’ Green” – Andrew Bird (Kermit the Frog)
This song is on the soundtrack to the new Muppet movie – and it makes perfect sense to have Bird cover it. He seems like the perfect person to lament the harshness of being different, but then embrace it in the end. Also, Bird is a good whistler.

If you have a Spotify account, you can subscribe to my list as I add more of my favorites.

Or if you have suggestions of your own – add them to our collaborative playlist: The Best Cover Songs!