River Hippie, who is performing that version of “California Dreaming”? School of Rock was, of course, a 2003 movie. Later a company was formed which opened 250 schools around the world which, as in the movie, teach kids to play rock. The students at which of those schools is singing in that video? Incidentally, if it’s the school in Los Angeles, that actually doesn’t fit the feeling that the song was supposed to convey. (And maybe that’s irrelevant, but let me make my point.) Who in the Mamas and the Papas was the emotion of the song supposed to be about, after all? The song was written while the Mamas and the Papas were all living in New York. The song isn’t about John Phillips, who spent his childhood moving around a lot because his father was a U.S. Marine. Later his family moved to Alexandria, Virginia. It isn’t about Cass Elliot, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland and later also lived in Alexandria, Virginia. It certainly isn’t about Denny Doherty, who grew up in Nova Scotia. The song is about the feelings of Michelle Phillips, who grew up in Los Angeles and then found herself living in New York. It’s about her being homesick for Los Angeles.
Hmm, I guess I should call you River_Hippie, not River Hippie.
Huh… didn’t put that much thought into it, just enjoyed it for what it was.
Maybe I should be more familiar with the original before I claim this is a “great” cover but this is a cover and I enjoyed it.
Pink Martini, Amado Mio.
On further reflection I would add that whenever I see youngsters doing covers of older classics it warms my heart a little.
Year Of The Cat/Al Stewart cover by Courtlyn Carr.
Having put even more thought into it, I would say that if I heard the SOR version on the radio, without the video of a bunch of high school age kids doing the song, well… it would evoke pretty much the same feeling as the original. I think they nailed it.
This is a recent find for me: “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” by Eddie Hazel.
Many years ago (not long after Hot Topic opened) I heard a version of “Brandy” on in HT that was just amazing. It was headbanging speed metal and I loved it. I should have bought it right then and there, but I didn’t. I’ve never found it again.
Love this guy. Jacob Koopman covers Blackbird and Fast Car.
Joanna Connor band covers “Walkin’ Blues”
she also had a hit with a cover of daydream believer also …
It’s hard as hell to find (in fact i only ever found it on napster) but mike ness of social distortion has a cover of “this diamond ring” that’s almost better than the original …
Indeed she did. And you may know that she also covered this one by England Dan and John Ford Coley. England Dan (Seals) was brother to James, of Seals and Crofts.
She covered “A Love Song” and “Danny’s Song” by Kenny Loggins as well. In the 70s I guess there was a shift to singer-songwriters but sometimes a division of labor produces great results as well. 
Smells Like Teen Spirit cover, Postmodern Jukebox style.
Joanna Conner/Walking Blues. Eh, I already linked this back in June. Damn alcohol!
Shine On You Crazy Diamond.
Just remembered this - it was used as the theme for the Channel 4 sitcom (and flawed masterpiece), Damned. Nick Cave’s People Ain’t No Good done by Camille O’Sullivan:
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I enjoyed that.
More youngsters playing geezer rock classics.
Mona Lisa Twins, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.