(...Story Continued from Previous Page) A bad piece of sushi? Getting hit by lightning?
Whatever the cause, "Metal Mood" stands as among the most bizarre -- and
borderline genius -- records of any type, cover or otherwise, with faux-groovy
renditions of Van Halen's "Panama" and Judas Priest's "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," as well as
a positively swingtastic take on Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train." (Editor's note:
Adding credence to the possibility that Boone was crazy like a fox is Paul Anka's 2005 release, "Rock Swings," in which the erstwhile teen idol and later pop
classicist assembled his own grab bag of rockers set to swing arrangements.
Anka's pilgrimage from R.E.M. and Nirvana to the Cure, Spandau Ballet and, again, Van Halen was delivered
with a straight face -- and actually earned plaudits for its blue chip backing
band. Go figure.)
Odetta, "Odetta Sings Dylan"
(1965)
Odetta, the American blues singer best known for her role in
the folk music revival of the late 1950s, had a huge influence on Dylan. Ironic,
then, that "Odetta Sings Dylan" was the first of numerous Dylan cover albums,
bringing a delta blues approach to tracks such as "Mr. Tambourine Man" and
"Masters of War," and stripping the songs of their Dylan-esque distance in favor
of the somber and sincere. Though rarely mentioned when discussing Odetta's
influential career, this record is a little-known gem of interpretation.
Billy Bragg, "The Internationale"
(1990)
Never one to shy away from politics, the English
singer-songwriter Billy Bragg goes full polemical bore with "The
Internationale," a collection of left-wing protest songs and anthems. Though
certain tracks, such as Eric Bogle's "My Youngest Son Came Home Today," are
moving and intense, Bragg often sounds like the world's smartest undergraduate,
with all the arrogance and humorless true-believer-dom it implies. Still, Bragg
always brings his stunning set of pipes to bear, which helps to ultimately
elevate "The Internationale" from "Oh please!" to "Oh wow!"
Patti Smith, "Twelve" (2007)
Though no
stranger to the cover -- see her stunning version of Them's "Gloria" -- "Twelve" is Smith's first proper record of
reinterpretations, and shows that she hasn't lost a bit of intensity over the
years. The song list, which includes "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
alongside "Gimme Shelter" and "White Rabbit," is an oddly conventional
collection of rock and pop standards ranging from the '60s to the '80s. In
Smith's capable hands, these crusty classics are reborn in fresh and vital
interpretations.
Guns N' Roses, "The Spaghetti Incident?"
(1993)
Axl, Slash & Co. reveal themselves, in their final hour,
still capable of combining glam, hard rock and punk into the tight,
full-throttle package that made "Appetite for Destruction" so stunning. Tracks such
as the Damned's "New Rose," Steve Jones' "Black Leather," and the Stooges' "Raw Power" dazzle in their tight, high-voltage
boogie. Aside from the cover of Charles Manson's "Look at Your Game, Girl," "The
Spaghetti Incident?" is a diamond in the rock 'n' roll rough.
Michael Shilling is a frequent contributor to MSN Music. He is a novelist
and short story writer who teaches writing at the University of
Michigan. |
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