Squirrel Bait “Tape from California.” Phil Ochs cover, slightly accelerated.

1. Balalaika Gap – Camper Van Beethoven
2. Wedding Rites (I Already Knew You) – The Subdudes
3. The Winter Cows – Guided By Voices
4. What’s My Name – The Clash
5. Like A Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
6. Get Up Jake – The Band
7. Belong – R.E.M.
8. My Old Man – Ian Dury
9. Avance – Yellowjackets
10. You Shook Me – Led Zeppelin

**Bonus** I’m Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn’t Break Your Heart – Eels

The absolute best song in the world, ever, bar none, is the live version of You Ain’t Gwine To Whistle Dixie (Any Mo’), by Taj Mahal. I shit you not. It is so beautiful it can make grown men cry. You can find it on iTunes on the Best Of Taj Mahal album; in real life, it was first released on the album The Real Thing (recorded live at the Fillmore East). Just. Fucking. Awesome. I guarantee.

Also, too, if you don’t have Jackie Wilson’s Higher And Higher, which is the other best song in the world, ever, bar none, on your iPod, then you totally suck and don’t deserve to even have an iPod in the first place.

I mean, I’m just sayin’.

Fire Island – Fountains of Wayne

Halloween – Matt Pond PA (thanks again for the MP PA recommendation, Tbogg)

Just Kidding – Randell Kirsch

I Feel So Good – Richard Thompson

Happiness In Hell (Spaceman) – X Levitation Cult

You Are My Face – Wilco

Little Red Corvette – $ or & or @ …I can’t find that “Prince” icon in my fonts

Poor Poor Pitiful Me – Warren Zevon

Uptown Girl – Billy Joel

God Only Knows – Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet

Plus:
Golden Years – David Bowie

A few songs for your last 20:

Like Lovers Do – Lloyd Cole

Stupid Songs About Love – X Levitation Cult

Be My Downfall – Del Amitri

The Rain Song – Continental Drifters

I better stop now or I’ll be looking all night!

Well, I’m going to get carried away with Desert Island discs day on Tbogg. Here are my indispensables:

I Love the Way You’re Breaking My Heart – Peggy Lee
Just My Imagination – The Temptations
Gypsy Woman – Curtis Mayfield
Theme from Valley of the Dolls – Dionne Warwick
I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos
Darn That Dream – Clifford Brown & Dinah Washington
Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time – The Delfonics
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
Joy Spring – Clifford Brown & Max Roach
Spring is Here – Bill Evans

(Geez, I must be a sucker for a good ballad)

Also:
If Love is a Red Dress – Maria McKee
Can’t Find my Way Back Home – Allison Krauss
Sugar Baby – Bob Dylan

Babylon Sisters – Steely Dan – live version – best LA song
That whole Steely Dan Live album is pretty fine

If you haven’t seen Lackawanna Blues, darn fine movie with a fine soundtrack, but most notably
Destination – Mos Def
Caldonia – Mos Def
High Heel Sneakers – Tommy Tucker

Also, if you haven’t seen Angels in America (the HBO 6 hours directed by Mike Nichols) you must see it and experience the very fine soundtrack by the great Thomas Newman (son of Alfred, cousin of Randy). This is one that is truly indispensable to me.

While we’re on soundtracks, gotta have Chinatown — the great Jerry Goldsmith

(Why does the comment preview want to escape apostrophes? Some developer getting high on the job, no doubt. Jane, call them out.)

Stupid reformatting editor@$%#&!

You might also like…
Peter Murphy with Trent Reznor cover of Joy Division’s Twenty-Four Hours.

Covers?

How ’bout Wilson “Wicked Wicked” Pickett doing the Archies’ Sugar, Sugar? Or Richard Thompson’s cover of Oops, I Did It Again?

Be Good Tanyas?

Mother and Child – David Sylvian
Hello Again – Lost Prophets
Markgraph – Brian Eno
Electro Blues for Bukka White – Recoil
The Run – Tangerine Dream
South Africa – Roy Harper
Wanderlust – David Sylvian
The Watcher – The Tea Party
Insane in th Brain – Cypress Hill
Mary Jane – Alanis Morissette (!?)

Some ideas…

Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) — The Arcade Fire (Funeral)
Friday I’m In Love — The Cure (Wish)
Silver Springs — Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
Ventura — Lucinda Williams (Live @ The Fillmore)
Sing Me Spanish Techno — The New Pornographers (Twin Cinema)
Back On The Chain Gang — The Pretenders (Learning To Crawl)
Maps — Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Fever To Tell)
Halah — Mazzy Star (She Hangs Brightly)
Up The Wolves — The Mountain Goats (The Sunset)
Ashes To Ashes – David Bowie (Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps))
Lille -– Lisa Hannigan (Sea Sew)
Buffalo Boots – Luna (Rendezvous)
Here Comes Your Man – Pixies (Doolittle)
Let’s Reggae All Night – CSS (Donkey)

I notice that you don’t have any jazz, so I’ll recommend a few jazz songs that you might like even if you don’t like jazz all that much:
Dave Brubeck: Take Five
Booker T. and the MG’s: Green Onions
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers: Moanin’
Horace Silver: Song for My Father
Miles Davis: So What
Miles Davis: In a Silent Way
John Coltrane: Giant Steps
Bill Evans: Peace Piece

a few must haves, mostly covers

Rickie Lee Jones – My Funny Valentine
a shattering rendition, although this was my 2d choice from Rickie Lee, the first being “Rainbow Sleeves”, a Tom Waits composition inexplicably not available on Itunes. It is the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.

Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer – Redemption Song
Truly inspired.

Young at Heart Chorus – Fix You
If you haven’t seen Young at Heart, do so. Then listen to this and try not to cry (and I don’t give a shit if it is a Coldplay song).

Cat Power – Sea of Love
From the Juno soundtrack, hauntingly gorgeous.

Jeff Buckley – Lilac Wine
What a voice. So sad.

Stan Getz and Chet Baker – I’m Old Fashioned
The sax solo that introduces this is just perfection.

U2 and Mary J. Blige – One
Gives me goosebumps everytime I hear the “love is a temple, love is a higher law,” part

Reelin’ In The Years – Marvelous 3
One loud one and jesus christ, is this loud!

and the one song I simply could not live life without:
Otis Redding – Try A Little Tenderness

Suggestions:

Jazz Police – Leonard Cohen
Black Cat Moan – Beck, Bogert & Appice
Cigarettes, Wedding Bands – Band of Horses
Bukowski – Modest Mouse
Impending Bloom – Oregon
Sly Fox – Nas
Truly, Truly – Grant Lee Buffalo
Larf and Sing – Family
Danko/Manuel – Drive-By Truckers
Cinder and Smoke – Iron & Wine

But then you probably have most of them already.

Sarah Vaughan – “Bye Bye Blackbird” (Live in Tokyo), available on iTunes.
Marvin Gaye – “His Eye is on the Sparrow” (normal version or the alternative take) and “Star-Spangled Banner”

Um, depending on your mood/tastes, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Pink Martinis, the aforementioned Iron and Wine, Nicole Atkins, Camera Obscura, Godspeed You Black Emperor…?

In re: covers, here’s a good one: She & Him: “I should Have Known Better” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9ogvC-r8xI

I registered just to give my two songs that I think are awesome covers. You probably already have them, but here goes:

Placebo – Running Up that Hill
The Gourds – Gin and Juice

Both are awesome, both are very different from each other. Also, both are on iTunes.

Never mind, skimming I saw “Tom Jr” and asked if you have a son. No, reading comprehension was not my best subject.

Playing for change: Peace through music, might I suggest you get it ASAP.

Tracks:
1. Stand by Me
2. One Love
3. War/No More Trouble
4. Biko
5. Dont Worry
6. Talkin Bout a Revolution
7. Better Man
8. Chanda Mama
9. Love Rescue Me
10. A Change Is Gonna Come

Playing for change Youtube channel

Flesh for Lulu’s “Subterraneans (wear the coolest camoflage)”
Gang of Four’s “At home he’s a tourist” or “Anthrax (like a beetle on it’s back)”

1. Handshake Drugs (Live) – Wilco
2. Philadelphia Lawyer – Willie Nelson
3. The Bus Driver’s Prayer – Ian Dury & the Blockheads
4. Asomacho – Los Amigos Invisibles
5. All Mod Cons – The Jam
6. I’m Shooting High – Nat King Cole
7. I Got Spurs That Jingle, Jangle, Jingle – Tex Ritter
8. Hoover Factory – Elvis Costello
9. Truck Drivin’ Man (Live) – J. Geils Band
10. Too Marvelous For Words – Louis Prima

Bonus 11. Baby-O – Dean Martin

Songs For The Twenty – covers

1. Love Comes In Spurts – Dirty Looks (Live) (not the metal band, the Stiff band)
2. Getting Mighty Crowded – Elvis Costello
3. Pipeline – Johnny Thunders
4. Treat Her Right – Roy Head & the Traits (might be the original, but has been covered a few times)

1.) Tuck Away My Lonesome Blues – Jerry Douglas with Peter Rowan
2.) Cannibal’s Hymn – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3.) Hollywood Waltz – The Eagles
4.) In Shades – Tom Waits
5.) Fight From The Inside – Queen
6.) Come Back To Me Baby – T-Bone Walker
7.) A Little Of You – The Eurythmics
8.) Cruisin’ For A Love – J. Geils Band
9.) Pretty Little Stranger – Joan Osborne
10.) Dvorak Four Bagatelles – Quartetto Gelato

Bonus: When We Was Fab – George Harrison

Funny–I just cleared off the Nano and reloaded it with nothing but covers, courtesy of coverlaydown.com, which is an amazing source of free mp3s.

I’m assuming you already have Yo La Tengo’s Fakebook and Prisoners of Love, with their indispensable covers of (respectively) Cat Stevens’ Here Comes My Baby and Sandy Denny’s By The Time It Gets Dark. If you don’t also have Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo, then you’re missing their great covers of Blitzkrieg Bop and Beat Happening’s Cast A Shadow.

Here are some other great covers easily found on iTunes:
Kirsty McColl – A New England (Billy Bragg)
Beck – True Love Will Find You In The End (Daniel Johnston)
Mary Lou Lord – Thirteen (Big Star) and let’s be honest, most of the rest of Live City Sounds is almost as good, especially Beeswing (Richard Thompson)
Billy Bragg/Cara Tivey – She’s Leaving Home (Beatles)
Nouvelle Vague – In A Manner Of Speaking (Tuxedomoon)

A few to add as well:

Carolyns Fingers- Cocteau Twins
Elevator Love Letter- Stars
Stop Your Crying- Spiritualized
Things the Grandchildren Should Know (Live)- Eels
Astronaut- Luna
Someday Were Through- Sambassadeur
She Broke You So Softly- Mojave 3
We Own the Sky- M83
Pay For It- Lloyd Cole

recordmendations-
Au Revoir Simone- Stars
Baskervilles- Black Boots (pt 2)
Her Space Holiday- Forever and a Day
The Lucksmiths- Synchronised Sinking
The Ballet- Cheating on your Boyfriend
Ballboy- I Don’t Have Time to Stand Here With You Fighting About the Size of My Dick
They Might Be Giants- Sleepwalkers

and for the ultimate cover-
Aztec Camera- Jump

I don’t know about indispensable, but in an attempt to avoid the “got thats” I’ve tried to find some good but somewhat slightly obscure songs. Here are some I’ve recently run across that I like (mostly while listening to internet radio station Radio Paradise via iTunes):

When You’re Falling – Afro Celt Sound System (vocals: Peter Gabriel)
Little Fluffy Clouds – The Orb (litigated vocals: Rickie Lee Jones) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Fluffy_Clouds
Pressure Drop – Toots and the Maytals (or the cover by The Clash)
Shameless – Ani Di Franco (the iTunes exclusive)
Birmingham – The Wolfgang Press (w/V.U. samples)
The Hop – Radio Citizen
Linoleum – Tweaker (vocals: David Sylvian)
Serve Yourself – John Lennon (not sure about iTunes. If unavailable, substitute White America by Eminem)
People Have The Power – Patti Smith
and just in time for the holidays…
Fuck Christmas – Eric Idol (yes, it’s on iTunes)

Plus, a good Ani video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBJmyrx26Gc

I’ll try to come up with a list of 10 albums to help you get to 20,000. (Not to get too personal, but how big is your hard drive?)

TBogg, I recommend this excellent cover by Flaming Lips. It is a cover of Madonna’s “Borderline”, and it is on an album called COVERED, which I think came out last year.

Here is a link to a video of the song:

http://www.flaminglips.com/blog/siteadmin/borderline-video-featuring-stardeath-and-white-dwarfs

Once you see the video and hear the song, you will want to buy it…

As you’re into covers, Jonathan Coulton’s cover of Baby Got Back has its charms, but admittedly it’s awful geeky to admit listening to him. Also don’t need to give any money to Apple if you don’t want, as you can get it from his site.

Just saw King Crimson in your Amazon wish list. Therefore, additional suggestions with Fripp’s guitar highlighted to be considered:

Heros – David Bowie
Scary Monsters – David Bowie
Baby’s On Fire – Eno
St. Elmo’s Fire – Eno

Various collaborations including those with David Sylvian and The Roches

How’s your Old 97s collection? Try “Ray Charles”, it’s a limited release single on iTunes.

The Avett Brother are nice in an early Ryan Adams sort of way.

Speaking of which, Caitlin Cary and Ryan Adams doing “The Battle”

Suggested Covers —
Shelby Lynne’s recent CD covering Dusty Springfield’s work

Shit List – L7
Boogie Chillun – John Lee Hooker
Happy Birthday to Me – Cracker (this is such a *happy* song)
If I Had a Boat – Lyle Lovett
Death of an American – The Pogues
And one you probably already have:
Raisin in the Sun – Violent Femmes

Here’s a good obscure cover:

Neil Young’s “For the Turnstiles” as covered by The Be Good Tanyas.

Some good minor key rock songs:
Head Down, Soundgarden
Like Cockatoos, Cure
Tear You Apart, She Wants Revenge

Humorous, yet catchy:
Galaxy Song, Monty Python
Creep, Richard Cheese
Fit but you Know It, The Streets

Nothing but goodness:
Beautiful, Moby
Memories Can’t Wait, Talking Heads
Country Death Song, Violent Femmes
Common People, William Shatner (REALLY good)
Red Alert, Basement Jaxx
New York, New York, Cat Power

Sugarcube — Yo La Tengo
Across the Wire — Calexico
If I Only Had a Brain — MC 900 Ft Jesus
Ghostshirts — Big Self
Mayonesa — Chocolate
Screamager — Therapy?
Jogi — Panjabi MC
We Are All Bourgeois Now — McCarthy
Lo Boob Oscilator — Stereolab
Homos — The Frogs
Skokiaan — Brave Combo
Dora — The Mekons

Choose any one or two. Or not.

“I walked with a zombie” by Roky Erickson has a catchy tune, some good guitar work, and fewer words than “I’m so glad” by Cream.

“I’ve just seen a face” cover by The Dillards may be one you don’t have. Plus, the whole “Wheatstraw Suite” album is very pleasant listening.

This is going to be broad because I could be here all day instead of trolling the net for a job. Also, I have no idea what you already have.

I hope these suggestions move you to write the comic novel I know you have it in you to write…

Anything from the first Moby Grape album, but “Indifference” and “Omaha”, which should have been a Top Ten smash that we get to hear on the radio once in a while.
Anything from ‘Lady in Satin’ by Billie Holiday

“Starry Eyes” – The Records
“Desiree” – The Left Banke (another shoulda been Top Tenner)
“Everybody Makes Mistakes” – Lacy J. Dalton
“Piss Factory” – Patti Smith
“When I Was a Boy I Watched the Wolves” Paul Kantner, Grace Slick
“Till the End of the Day” (Kinks) – Shonen Knife (great cover)
“Seven” – Sunny Day Real Estate
“Mechanical World” and/or ’1984″ – Spirit
“Paxton’s Back Street Carnival” – Strawberry Alarm Clock (yes, seriously)
“Love is Like Oxygen” – The Sweet
“Boys in Town” – The Divinyls
“The Living Bubba” – Drive-By Truckers
“Tilt-a-Whirl” – Slobberbone
“Sincerely” – Dwight Twilley Band (orig.)
“Sincerely” – Dramarama (cover)
“This Wheel’s on Fire” – Brian Auger w/Julie Driscoll
“Crank” – Catherine Wheel
“Somebody to Love” – Jefferson Airplane (almost laughably obvious but it would be on my desert island Ipod)
“Heaven and Hell” – The Who
Anything from ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ except ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ – Bob Dylan
“Black Diamond Bay” – Bob Dylan
“Frankenstein” – The New York Dolls

Well, there’s 30 minutes I didn’t have to look for work…

Is this the Zebrahead one you’re looking for? http://www.imeem.com/people/W7fKY_/music/5lSESMVX/zebrahead-wannabe/

The site says it’s on ITunes and Amazon, so I may be totally buggered up here.

As the king of snark, you really should have some Zappa.

I’m the Slime
Andy
Stevie’s Spanking
Be In My Video
Heavenly Bank Account
Why Does It Hurt When I Pee
Teenage Prostitute

Covers:
Bolero
Whipping Post

First the randoms, then the songs you should add:

Shine A Light – Wolf Parade
The Kids Are Alright – Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs
Turquoise Boy – Sonic Youth
Dirty Mind – Prince
Higher Than High – Undisputed Truth
Twenty-Five To Twelve – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Fairytale Of New York – The Pogues
Once, A Glimpse – Maximo Park
Last To Know – Alejandro Escovedo
No Fit State – Hot Chip

Twenty songs you should add:

1. Barstool Blues – Maria McKee (great cover of Neil Young’s best song)
2. Jason Lee – All Girl Summer Fun Band (yes, a song revering Jason Lee’s skateboarding prowess)
3. The Hottest Thing In Town (Live) – Billy Joe Shaver (the best recording ever of a country song, from the Live at Smith’s Olde Bar album)
4. Lavender Blue, Dilly Dilly – Burl Ives (so punk)
5. BabyLet’sHaveABabyBeforeBushDoSomethin’Crazy – The Coup (early 21st century baby making music)
6. Earth People – Dr. Octagon (the best rap song ever about an alien gynecologist)
7. Cryin’ But My Tears Are Far Away – John Doe & Old 97′s (Knitters cover)
8. Neurotica – King Crimson (the most obnoxious song in history)
9. Deceptacon – Le Tigre (woo-hoo!)
10. Hot Burrito #1 – The Mavericks (incredible Flying Burrito Brothers cover)
11. Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues – Mclusky (yaaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhhhh!)
12. Sourpuss – Moris Tepper (theme to The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman)
13. Bitch’s Brew – NoMeansNo (Miles Davis cover with lyrics!)
14. If I Were A Groupie – Pizzicato Five (wheeeee!)
15. A L’oree Des Bois – Plants & Animals (sweet bliss)
16. Lithium – Polyphonic Spree (Nirvana cover)
17. Wichita Lineman – Johnny Cash (the best version of the best song ever written)
18. Four Corners – The Sea & The Cake (instrumental groovin’)
19. I Can Tell Your Love Is Waning – Slobberbone (world’s best murder
ballad)
20. Corduroy – The Wedding Presnt (the ultimate power pop song)

Two can play at this game…

Desafinado–Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto
Desde Que O Samba e Samba–Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso
Saudosa Maloca–Elis Regina (live, on Transversal do Tempo)
Abajur Lilas–Rosa Passos w/ Ivan Lins (Pano Pra Manga)
Cara Valente–Maria Rita
E d’Oxum–Gal Costa
Incompatibilidade do Genios–Joao Bosco (live, on Obrigado Gente!)
Flor de Lis–Djavan
O Grande Amor–Wanda Sa and Celia Vaz
Joana Francesa–Quarteto em Cy
Nasci Pra Sonhar e Cantar–Paula Toller and Dona Yvone Lara (Casa do Samba 4)

etc.

you need:

Spoon’s “Girls Can Tell”,
Sonic Youth’s “Sister”,
Talking Heads’ “Remain In Light”,
Robyn Hitchcock’s “Storefront Hitchcock”,
Andrew Bird’s “Mysterious Production Of Eggs”,
The Pretender’s first,
Sea And Cake’s “Nassau”.

not having those is like not having an iPod at all: totally uncool.

(why does editing kill line breaks?)

http://bigpicture.typepad.com/writing/files/01_wannabe.mp3

Here is that Zebrahead cover! A little Google goes a long way… Enjoy!

Summer Camp – I Only Have Eyes for You.

@ quakerinabasement re: Be Good Tanyas – Specifically “In Spite of all the Damage“

I usually just skip over this part…I think I may have heard of Rosy Music, but have no idea whor or what they are.

Anyway, I’d be poorer without Dave van Ronk’s St. James Infirm’ry.

umm… Roxy Music. And who, not whor. Damn Fridays. Also.

Easy one.

Just take a quick look to see what you DON’T have from Maria McKee, Tanya Donelly, Debbie Harry/Blondie and Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, or even the earlier stuff from the Refreshments. And then, mi amigo, you’ll be complete…

mikey

“Lullaby” by The Black Velvet Band or their cover of “Son of a Preacher Man”.

Whor: Various Artists Cover Wir. Just kidding.

Which Beach Boys songs aren’t already celebrated? Try “Johnny Carson” & “A Day In the Life Of a Tree”, though they could as easily repel as enthrall & the latter won’t reveal itself in a 30-second sample.

My current favorite James Brown: “I Got To Move”, though the best part is several minutes in.

Just heard it on the radio a few weeks ago: “Radar” by Mr. Bear & His Bearcats.

You want covers? “God’s Song” by Etta James.

Have you heard the Slits’ cyclic “Ping Pong Affair” yet?

Once I start mentioning Sparks songs it’s hard to stop but try

Fletcher Honorama
Barbecutie
Don’t Leave Me Alone With Her
Nicotina
A Song that Sings Itself
Let the Monkey Drive
Ride ‘Em Cowboy
Let’s Get Funky

Shut him up! Shut him up! Shut that nut up!

A random ten:

Parasites – 11,000 Switches
Fast Boyfriends – Girls At Our Best
Bucket “T” – Jan & Dean
My Bonnie – Sakura & the Quests
Mary, Mary – The Monkees
Marlon Brando – Black Randy & the Metrosquad
Little Criminals – Randy Newman
Firecracker – YMO/Shamen
Lonesome Mama Blues – Fred Van Eps
Dead Cats – Ken Ham
Buckets of Gore – Philip Yutzy

“Wichita Lineman” – I indulged my pre-adolescent self-absorbed depressive state in a no-FM-radio town by just feeling sad every time I heard the Glenn Campbell version. A deeply melancholy song and I bet Cash really made it grim as well as great. I will check it out on allmusicguide.

Regarding “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding: if you have a choice get the live one at Monterey.

Don’t You Want Me by Moonshine Willy

Actually the whole album (Bastard Child) is really good.

For “Try a Little Tenderness,” I prefer the version by Ebby Calvin “Nuke” Laloosh.

The Execution Of All Things – Rilo Kiley
The Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil – Jefferson Airplane
Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of – U2
Bittersweet – Big Head Todd and the Monsters
The Devil’s Right Hand – Steve Earle
Massive Nights – The Hold Steady
Don’t Bring Me Down – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Mercy Kiss – Abandoned Pools
THE_BOY_NEXT_DOOR – The Bastard Fairies
One More Dance – The Blasters

And: Don’t Lie To Me – Big Star

If I made a list of essential songs, God knows how many I’d list just with R&B picks. But my stab, starting with covers – most essential IMO, but some just for fun.

Papa Was a Rolling Stone — Was (Not Was)
Let’s Burn Down the Corn Field — Etta James
Levi Stubbs’ Tears — (Original inexplicably not on ITunes, so Dave Stewart /Barbara Gaskin cover is good)
Mack the Knife — Etta Fitzgerald, Live in Berlin version
Rockin’ Chair — Louis Armstrong/Jack Teagarden
I Cover the Waterfront — John Lee Hooker/Van Morrison
Where Did You Sleep Last Night – Nirvana
Sea of Love — Tom Waits
Angel Eyes – Jimmy Scott
Cucurrucucu Paloma — Caetano Veloso
I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got — Bettye LaVette
If It Be Your Will – Antony & the Johnsons
Personal Jesus — Johnny Cash

And two that I don’t know if they’re available on ITunes but worth hearing –

Tennessee Waltz — James Brown
Sail Away — Ray Charles

Originals, (I think)- from angsty to …something else..

Did She Jump or Was She Pushed – Richard & Linda Thompson
Dark Side of the Street – James Carr
Down in Love — Freedy Johnston/Syd Straw
Intervention – Arcade Fire
River of Sorrow — Antony & the Johnsons
Blind Willie McTell — Bob Dylan
Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Hope — Avett Brothers
Little Birdhouse of Your Soul — They Might be Giants
Muswell Hillbillies – The Kinks
Flesh & Blood — Solomon Burke
If I Should Fall From Grace with God – Pogues

Ooh, ooh! I thought of another one or two:

John the Revelator-Taj mahal
Zydeco Woman – Eddie Raven and Jo-El Sonnier
Sing, Sing, Sing — Benny Goodman and his Orchestra

foinsap @40,

9. Deceptacon – Le Tigre (woo-hoo!)

Oh aye. The only reason I didn’t add that meself is that I could not possibly have imagined TB not having it already.

Must chase down that M. McKee cover of Barstool Blues now.

An indispensable cover from what is possibly my all-time favorite album-as-a-single work: Tommy Keen covering Lou Reed’s “Kill Your Sons”, from Songs from the Film. He slams the last chord thirteen times, and you can tell without counting that it’s exactly the right number.

Anything by the Felice Brothers, but especially:

Frankie’s Gun
Whiskey in My Whiskey
Ruby Mae
Run Chicken Run

Uplifting music for autumn’s shorter days. Heh.

She’s A Woman – Jeff Beck (Beatles)
Instrumental interpretation showcasing Beck’s georgous guitar work.

Directly From My Heart To You – Frank Zappa (Little Richard)
Straight ahead blues featuring soul piercing blues violin by Sugarcane Harris and Frank’s tastefully understated fuzz tone guitar

I Got You Babe – Chrissie Hynde/UB40 (Sonny & Cher)
Reggae/dub version that turns the pop pablum hit into a tasty truffle

Baby Blue – Amy Mann (Badfinger)
Amy’s soulful rendition of Badfinger’s hit

All Along The Watchtower – Jimmy Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
A cover that is perhaps better then the original

Well Alright – Blind Faith (Buddy Holly)
60′s supergroup updates a 50′s classic

One Way Out – Allman Brothers (Sonny Boy Williamson)
I’ll assume most people have heard this, but listen to it with the original. Sonny Boy recorded more than one version so be sure to find the one that matches the Allman’s tempo. You’ll have a better appreciation for the roots of Rock-n-Roll.

Angel From Mongomery – Bonnie Raitt (John Prine)
Find the live duet she does with Prine.

A few bonus non-covers that are just too good to miss:

Nantucket Sleighride – Mountain
Middle Of The Road – The Pretenders
I’ve Gone Too Far – Etta James
Hold On – Sam and Dave
Who’s Been Talking – Howlin’ Wolf (London sessions version)

.

mr. bogg your preview/edit/widget thingy is kinda fucked up.

This Bitter Earth – Aretha Franklin
Mesopotamia – The B-52′s
Harlem – Bill Withers
Tranquillo (Melt My Heart) – Carly Simon
Ain’t Nobody – Chaka Khan & Rufus
The Glow Of Love – Change
Cathedrals – Dc La Rue
High On Your Love – Debbie Jacobs
I.G.Y. (International Geophysical Year) – Donald Fagen
The Ghetto – Donny Hathaway
Come a Little Closer – Etta James
La Vie en Rose – Grace Jones
Angie Baby – Helen Reddy
Dancing Machine – Jackson 5
It’s Just Begun – The Jimmy Castor Bunch
Solid Air – John Martyn
Dreamland – Joni Mitchell
Expansions – Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes
Happiness Is Just Around the Bend – The Main Ingredient
Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter – Nina Simone
Music Is My Way of Life – Patti LaBelle
Forever in My Life – Prince
I Love You More – Rene & Angela
Strawberry Letter 23 – Shuggie Otis
Why Can’t We Live Together – Timmy Thomas

“TNK-Tomorrow Never Knows” – Phil Manzanera 801 Live
“Alem do Arco Iris (Over the Rainbow)” – Nara Leao
“Wait Until Tomorrow” – Gilberto Gil & Caetano Veloso
“I Am The Walrus” – Spooky Tooth
“You Can Leave Your Hat On” – Joe Cocker
“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” – Leon Russell
“Back Street Girl” – John Batdorf and James Lee Stanley
“Siboney” – Los Super Seven
“Life On Mars?” – Seu Jorge
and lastly NOT a cover but the original
“Breezin’” – Gabor Szabo

“Penis Envy” – Uncle Bonsai, A Lonely Grain of Corn

1) Amphetamine – Steve Wynn (Static Transmission)
2) Mother Natures Son – Harry Nilsson (Harry)
3) Fernando – Jenny Lewis (Acid Tongue)
4) With Your Love – Len Price 3 (Rentacrowd)
5) S.O.S. – Earl Greyhound (Soft Targets)
6) Hip Teens (Dont Wear Blue Jeans) – The Frank Popp Ensemble (Ride On)
7) Forget You – Kellys Heels (Gone Off Pop)
8 Dirty Work – Nash Kato (Debutante)
9) Death To Los Campesinos – Los Campesinos (Hold On There, Youngster)
10)Livin In The City – The Dirtbombs (Ultraglide In Black)

…and one more for good luck…

11) This Land Is Your Land – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (Naturally)

Best song ever
These Arms of Mine – Otis Redding

Other suggestions

O My Soul – Big Star
Alcoholiday – Teenage Fanclub
Cause = Time – Broken Social Scene
Randy Described Eternity – Built to Spill
The Plan – Built to Spill
Carry the Zero – Built to Spill
You Were Wrong – Built to Spill
Its Not the End of the World – Super Furry Animals
DLZ – TV On the Radio
Gratitude – Beastie Boys
I Want To Be Adored – Stone Roses
Debra – Beck
Linus and Lucy – Vincent Guaraldi Trio
1901 – Phoenix
Method Man (the song) – Wu Tang Clan [Off Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)]
I’m the Man Who Loves You – Wilco
Never Ending Math Equation – Sun Kil Moon

I will stop now before I leave a list of 100 songs.

Random Ten:

1. Aerodynamic Beats/Gabrielle Forget About the World – Daft Punk
2. Free Fallin – Tom Petty
3. The Magnificent Seven – The Clash
4. Its Good to Be Free – Oasis
5. Lucky Star – Basement Jaxx
6. Hotel Califonia – Gipsy Kings
7. Prove It – Television
8. Perfect Circle – REM
9. Back on a Roll – Super Furry Animals
10. A Hard Day’s Night – The Bar Kays

I am coming to the conclusion that if I could only own one collection of songs by one artist, it would be, strangely enough, Rod Stewart’s Reason to Believe, which is the collection of his first five solo albums for Mercury. Everything on there is wonderful, and it’s got some great covers.

If I only had to pick one of them, I’d suggest “That’s Alright Mama/Amazing Grace.”

I am a big fan of cover versions of songs, the best of which are from live show and not available on i-Tunes. two of the best that are easily found are Mountain’s cover of Chuck Berry’s “Rollover Beethoven” and The Allman Brothers’ Band version of Willie Dixon’s “Hoochie Coochie Man”, which has been covered by almost everyone but nonbody matches the intensity that the Brothers get from Duane’s guitar work and the rare Berry Oakley vocal.

No clue if these are in iTunes but they are must haves:

1. Iron Man – Fourtet (Kieren Hebden) [this arrangement will change your life]
2. Aftermath (Outtake) – Yo La Tengo [because it just came up on my iTunes and it sounds really nice]
3. Syysaika – Kuusumun Profeetta [music like Gary Oldman's Dracula would have performed had he been Finnish and into electronica/pop]
4. Dredging – Calexico
5. Wave Hill – Accordion Tribe
6. Bulldozer Butterfly – Xploding Plastix
7. Down at the Dinghy – X-Legged Sally
8. I’d Like to Get to Know You – Koushik
9. M.C. – Cafe Tacuba and Kronos Quartet
10. Dallas County Jail Blues – Gene Autry
11. Uncle Sam Goddamn (uncensored ) – Brother Ali
12. Plague of Horn – Tommy McCook
13. 経験 – Reiko Ike [not that great a song, but I wanted to see if FDL could handle Chinese]
14. James Bond Theme – The Surf Champlers
15. Royal Garden Blues – Charlie Christian
16. End of the World Party – Medeski Martin & Wood (get the whole album!)
17. Ranglin Satta – Ernest Ranglin [throw out all your reggae and just go with Ranglin]
18. Amassakoul “N’ Tenere – Tinariwen [makes American rock sound gay]
19. Soul Makossa – Manu Dibango feat. Youssou N’Dour [from the brilliant Wakafrika album]
20. Wings of a Dove – Dr. I-Bolit & Tribal Roots [this may not be in the iTunes store as, imho, they have a really shitty Russian reggae selection]

Johnny Cash’s cover of Springsteen’s “Highway Patrolman”.

Gram Parsons and EmmyLou Harris’ version of “Love Hurts”.

Best song ever is surely one by done by Otis Redding, but I would probably pick “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” from his studio work. And if you love Otis, as all good people should, I’ll make another plug for Solomon Burke.
His recent work was a wonderful, old-style R&B feel.

And a reminder, as great as Otis was, Aretha took “Respect” away from him.

I had another list of songs but I’ll just throw out :

“Happy Jack”..cover by Southern Culture on the Skids.

And what might be the strangest song from a mainstream country star..”Yabba Dabba Doo, The King is Gone (And So Are You) ” by George Jones, about a guy pouring whiskey from an Elvis decanter into a Fred Flintstone jelly glass…and drinking a lot of it.

I believe Hanna Barbera forced them to drop “Yabba Dabbo Doo” from the title. Sticks in the mud, that they were..