James Taylor was on the Colbert Report the other night promoting his new album Covers. The cleverly title album is filled entirely with covers of other people’s songs.
Got me thinking:
What other artists, after already establishing themselves with their own original songs, have put out albums entirely comprised of their interpretations of the works of other songwriters?
Elvis Costello did two: Almost Blue in 1981, covering mostly American Country Music
and Kojak Variety in 1995, covering mostly American Rhythm and Blues.
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs collaborated to put out: Under the Covers, Vol. 1 2006, 1960s Rock
I didn’t actually research this topic, the above examples are all found in my own CD collection- and there’s not a one that I don’t recommend, they are all great albums. I have a special fondness for the Sinéad O’Connor reggae album and the Matthew Sweet / Susanna Hoffs collaboration.
Tori Amos’s Strange Little Girls is a concept cover album - all songs written by men, about women, covered by a woman, of course. It’s kinda hit and miss, but the title track is excellent.
The Smithereens have put out not one but two albums composed entirely of Beatles covers. Shawn Colvin has one called Cover Girl, though I think it’s pretty standard for folk singers to do cover albums.
What’s really interesting is when musicians cover another album from start to finish. Camper Van Beethoven did Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk, The Walkmen did Harry Nilsson’s Pussy Cats and the first Smithereens album up there is a cover of Meet the Beatles. I remember a few years ago someone covered Bob Marley & The Wailers’ album Exodus start to finish but I can find anything about it online.
Tim O’Brien put out an album of Dylan covers called Red On Blonde in 1996. Overall it’s kind of hit or miss, but the cover of Señor is the best version of that song I’ve heard.
Anyway, Yo La Tengo released an album called Yo La Tengo is Murdering the Covers! that consisted of cover songs as requested during I believe a telethon. Most of them are pretty piss poor, but if you’re a fan of the band its definitely worth a listen.
Paul Anka has two: Rock Swings and Classic Songs, My Way. Both albums contain songs such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Black Hole Sun,” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You.”
The last Corrs record ‘Home’ is made up entirely of covers of traditional Irish songs, and occasionally not so traditional (eg Thin Lizzy’s ‘Old Town’).
And along the same lines … Slayer also did an all covers record called something like ‘Undisputed Attitude’.
Patti Smith had the brilliant Twelve. She now owns Smells Like Teen Spirit, as far as I’m concerned, and I never in a million years would have imagined that Within You, Without You could become such a beautiful song.
Paul McCartney’s Run Devil Run has 15 songs, only 3 of which were written by McCartney. The rest were a variety of songs from the early days of playing in the Cavern and Hamburg.
Mark Eitzel (of American Music Club) released Music for Courage and Confidence, which included songs by Culture Club, Bill Withers, Anne Murray & Curtis Mayfield among others. He also released an album called The Ugly American, on which he ‘covered’ some of his own songs using traditional Greek musicians…
Dave Alvin released West of the West, an album of covers of songs written by Californians, including Merle Haggard, John Fogerty, Tom Waits, Brian Wilson & others…
At one time I think David Thomas (or maybe Pere Ubu) was rumoured to be doing a Beach Boys covers album, but I don’t think it ever happened. He has released a couple of their songs, though.