Fake THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO Playlist: Definitive Covers

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl is simply too large a concept to be neatly contained within a mere three-hour weekly time slot. Hence these occasional fake TIRnRR playlists, detailing shows we're never really going to do...but could.



I love covers. Sure, I'm mostly interested in hearing what new material a performer can introduce into our collective rockin' pop experience, but there's still something invigorating about musicians celebrating their influences and/or demonstrating their interpretive skills by tackling a familiar tune. Some covers are perfunctory, some are compelling; every once in a while, though, a cover can be the definitive version of a song you already loved in an earlier incarnation.

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio has done a few all-covers shows, including one tribute to tribute albums (with the tag line, "It's not a cover, it's a tribute!"). We even made one real-life attempt at a show spotlighting definitive covers, cover tunes that matched or surpassed their better-known inspirations. Dana found the concept too limiting, so maybe some of the covers we played that night wouldn't necessarily be considered definitive. Which leaves us an opening for this fake playlist.

Each of the tracks listed below is a cover I think matches or exceeds the essential oomph of a previous version. It's limited to covers that aren't as well known as the predecessors; I could have listed The Beatles' versions of nuggets from the Chuck Berry, Isley Brothers, or Buddy Holly songbooks, but I'd say The Beatles' renditions are more widely-recognized than the originals. I did include the lads' take on The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman."  

Please note that just because I list a cover as "definitive" doesn't mean I don't appreciate the original version, too. Listen, I love The Archies' bubblegum classic "Sugar, Sugar" without shame or apology; I just happen to love the wicked Wilson Pickett's version more. Now, it's time once again to exult in people doing other people's stuff, taking a fab song and making it better. And yeah, Wilson Pickett's "Hey Jude" is here. As it should be.


This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl--y'know, the real one--plays Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse on The Spark WSPJ-LP 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/

Spark Syracuse is supported by listeners like you. Tax-deductible donations are welcome at http://sparksyracuse.org/support/

You can follow Carl's daily blog Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) at 
https://carlcafarelli.blogspot.com/

Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes, Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it at https://tinyurl.com/ycnly8oz Digital download version (minus The Smithereens' track) now available at https://tinyurl.com/ycauy9xt

Fake TIRnRR Playlist: Definitive Covers
* indicates covers and originals I regard as approximate equals; your mileage may vary!

THE RAMONES: Do You Wanna Dance [Bobby Freeman, The Beach Boys, Bette Midler]
--
STIV BATORS: It's Cold Outside [The Choir]
WILSON PICKETT: Sugar, Sugar [The Archies]
PHIL SEYMOUR: Let Her Dance [The Bobby Fuller Four]
HÜSKER DÜ: Eight Miles High [The Byrds]
THE RUNAWAYS: Rock And Roll [The Velvet Underground}
THE STEVE DEATON THREE: Tall Dark Stranger [Buck Owens & his Buckaroos]
--
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Summer Breeze [Seals & Crofts]
GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS: You'll Never Walk Alone [from the play and film Carousel]
WONDERMINTS: You Need Love [The Hollies]
LYRES: Love Me Till The Shines [The Kinks]
P. P. ARNOLD: Angel Of The Morning [Evie Sands, Merrilee Rush]
THE SPINNERS: My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) [David Ruffin]
--
THE FLASHCUBES: Do Anything You Wanna Do [Eddie & the Hot Rods]
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: Sometimes [Gene Thomas, Paul Revere & the Raiders]
THE CICHLIDS: Did You Ever [The Hullaballoos]
THE ROMANTICS: Keep On Running [The Spencer Davis Group]
MR. ENCRYPTO: 1-2-3 [Len Barry]
ARETHA FRANKLIN: The Weight [The Band]
--
WILSON PICKETT: Hey Jude [The Beatles] *
BOBBY WOMACK: Sweet Caroline [Neil Diamond]
BROWNSVILLE STATION: I'm The Leader Of The Gang [Gary Glitter]
THE RAMONES: Indian Giver [The 1910 Fruitgum Company]
THE SKELETONS: Laugh At Me [Sonny]
THE LOLAS: Feelin' So Good [The Archies]
--
T-BONE BURNETT: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend [Carol Channing, Marilyn Monroe]
MICHAEL CARPENTER: That's Alright By Me [Gene Clark]
BARRY WHITE: In The Ghetto [Elvis Presley]
THE MONKEES: Wasn't Born To Follow [The Byrds]
RONNIE SPECTOR & THE E STREET BAND: Say Goodbye To Hollywood [Billy Joel]
PATTI SMITH: Gloria [Them, The Shadows Of Knight]
--
HINDU LOVE GODS: Raspberry Beret [Prince & the Revolution] *
THE BEACH BOYS: California Dreaming [The Mamas & the Papas] *
THE CHOCOLATE WATCHBAND: It's All Over Now Baby Blue [Bob Dylan]
MERRY CLAYTON: Gimme Shelter [The Rolling Stones]
GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS: It Wasn't Me [Chuck Berry]
COCKTAIL SLIPPERS: Don't Ever Leave Me [Connie Francis]
--
THE BUCKINGHAMS: I've Been Wrong [The Hollies]
THE EVERLY BROTHERS: Lonely Weekends [Charlie Rich]
THE CRAWLING KINGSNAKES: Philadelphia Baby [Charlie Rich]
THE BEATNIX: Stairway To Heaven [Led Zeppelin]
THE BEATLES: Please Mr. Postman [The Marvelettes]
THE RAPIERS: I'll Never Get Over You [Johnny Kidd & the Pirates]
--
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: Time Will Tell [The Kinks]
FIRST AID KIT: America [Simon & Garfunkel]
THE RECORDS: Darlin' [The Beach Boys] *
JOE TEX: King Of The Road [Roger Miller]
THE 5TH DIMENSION: Go Where You Wanna Go [The Mamas & the Papas] *
THE RAMONES: California Sun [The Rivieras]
THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: Do You Love Me [The Contours] *
TAVARES: Free Ride [The Edgar Winter Group]
THE SMITHEREENS: Hang 'Em High [Hang Ten High] [Booker T & the MG's]