Covers, A: "All Along the Watchtower," Dylan/Hendrix

The Original

From the album John Wesley Harding

Bob Dylan:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Anyone going to see I'm Not There at the Bijou in the next few days? — cwc

I was shocked and amazed the first time I heard the Bob Dylan version of "All Along the Watchtower". I lost my "All" Dylan virginity when I bought John Wesley on vinyl for a dollar at Granny's Attic last year. I about crapped my pants. OK, that may be an exaggeration, but I was taken aback. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Electric Ladyland

Jimi Hendrix:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Hendrix fuckin' owns this song. — cwc

Can you say that? Viewer warning -- contains adult material not suitable for children or hymen-owning freshman girls. Wait, there are none of those on campus. — BJ

Covers, B: "Because the Night," Patti Smith/10,000 Maniacs

The Original

From the album Easter

Patti Smith:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I suppose Bruce Springsteen should get some love for writing this song. (Correct?) — cwc

The Cover

From the album Unplugged

10,000 Maniacs:   Web site

DJ comments: I used to sport a 10,000 Maniacs shirt back in the day. It was captured in the annals of history when I wore it to get my student ID photo taken my sophomore year (well, my first sophomore year). — cwc

Covers, C: "California Sun," Rivieras/Ramones

The Original

From the album California Sun

The Rivieras:   Wikipedia

DJ comments: This song was playing one time when Jim Morrison was hanging out in California. Or so says the Oliver Stone film The Doors, anyway. — cwc

The Cover

From the album Leave Home

Ramones:   Web site

DJ comments: I used to argue with a coworker about which was the better band: Ramones or Pantera. I know, it's apples to rotten crabapples. You can guess which side I was on. — cwc

Covers, D: "Dear Prudence," Beatles/Siouxsie & the Banshees

The Original

From the album The Beatles [The White Album]

Beatles:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I can't believe we haven't played a Beatles song on the Soup until now. What restraint we show. — cwc

I f'ing love this song. I'm taking the Beatles class right now and have an unbelievable amount of respect for the band. Not that I didn't before, but I can't tell you how much I didn't know. I highly suggest taking it if you ever get a sign-up time on the first day. I think it's the first class to fill up every semester -- due in large part to the kick-ass professor who, though born and raised in Iowa, speaks with a British accent half the time. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Nocturne

Siouxsie & the Banshees:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Robert Smith was a member of the Banshees at this point (random Cure reference). — cwc

Covers, E: "Exit Music (for a Film)," Radiohead/Vampire Weekend

The Original

From the album OK Computer

Radiohead:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I didn't see what the big deal was with Radiohead until OK Computer came out. I can't claim to be there from the Bends era. This song was one of several OKC tracks that hooked me. — cwc

I once read an interview with Thom Yorke about making music over the years. He said that he was never completely happy with any of their songs until they made Exit Music. While the song is good, I can't say I think it's anything spectacular. I guess you can see a pretty major progression from their alt-rock sound toward the more digitalized stuff they've been putting out since (largely, if not all Thom Yorke's doing). — BJ

The Cover

From the album OK Computer Project

Vampire Weekend:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Sorry, I'm not sick of Vampire Weekend (yet). — cwc

I think it's fine as long as we don't play A-Punk again. Seriously, folks -- stop beating the horse. The poor beast is bleeding out the ears. — BJ

Covers, F: "Fortunate Son," CCR/Pearl Jam

The Original

From the album Willy and the Poor Boys

Creedence Clearwater Revival:   Web site

DJ comments: This song continues to be relevant so many years later. — cwc

The Cover

Pearl Jam:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: As I watched the video below, I realized I had no idea what Pearl Jam looked like these days. I almost thought the ZZ Top guy was Stone Gossard. — cwc

Covers, G: "God Only Knows," Beach Boys/Petra Haden

The Original

From the album Pet Sounds

Beach Boys:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Great use of this song in Boogie Nights. — cwc

And Love Actually. Yeah, I saw it! — BJ

The Cover

Available for download at her official Web site

Petra Haden:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Somewhere, Bobby McFerrin is standing at attention. — cwc

Covers, H: "Higher Ground," Stevie Wonder/Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Original

From the album Innervisions

Stevie Wonder:   Web site

DJ comments: Some of my earliest experiences with Stevie Wonder were kinda lame: "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (if you don't know the song, good for you) and his appearance on The Cosby Show making some lame electro-crap tunes with Theo Huxtable. At age 11 or whatever I was, I had no idea how cool Stevie was back in the day. Kinda how some of you guys probably feel about the Red Hot Chili Peppers... — cwc

Yeah, when you're not familiar with the wonder that is Stevie, he seems like this weird 80s musician. I mean, seriously... what's with the sunglasses?! — BJ

Not much of a video: a still shot of the album cover. Enjoy.

The Cover

From the album Mother's Milk

RHCP:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This is the second song on what is arguably the Chili Peppers' best album. Highlights, aside from this cover, include a rousing tribute to Magic Johnson (aptly titled "Magic Johnson") and the album's closer, "Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky." Any album with a verse that gives props to Lakers "legends" such as Byron Scot and A.C. Green is all right in my book. — cwc

Mother's Milk or Blood, Sex? It's like all the other great arguments of the times -- chicken or egg; ranch or honey mustard; chocolate or vanilla; Whitney or Madonna? How do you choose? — BJ

Covers, I: "I Will Survive," Gloria Gaynor/Cake

The Original

From the album I Will Survive

Gloria Gaynor:   Web site

DJ comments: Gloria is like the Cheshire Cat, but instead of only a visible grin, all you can see is part of her face, as her outfit blends in with the dark room in which she's singing, and the light only illuminates the left side of her face. And what's a 1970s smash hit without some random rollergirl? This song rules. — cwc

The Cover

From the album Fashion Nugget

Cake:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Nice update by the Cake boys. Although I didn't see any roller skates. They must have been trying really hard to make the song their own. — cwc

I think this is one of the best examples of how different cover songs can be. I love the difference in the "Hey, hey" part of the song. Yeah... that's super cool. Just super. — BJ

Covers, J: "Jackie Blue," Ozark Mountain Daredevils/Smashing Pumpkins

The Original

From the album It'll Shine When It Shines

Ozark Mountain Daredevils:   Web site

DJ comments: What a bunch of rubes! One of my Waukon friends (not Brittany Jade) actually went and saw these guys years ago at some summer fest in La Crosse, Wisc. I believe gallons of beer were involved.

Another thing: Can you really succeed as a singer while playing drums? Or is my line of thinking tainted by Phil Collins?

(Yes, I honestly do like this song.) — cwc

The first thing I thought of when I watched this video -- The Bee Gees. 'Nough said. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Jackie Blue (rare LP)

Smashing Pumpkins:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: At one time, I thought it would be a great idea to name my firstborn son William Corgan Clair (this was in 1994, long before I had a kid and not long before the Pumpkins started to suck). That was because Corgan used to do cool stuf like covering this song and turning it into a glorious sludge-rock fest. — cwc

We have had many long discussions regarding Corgan and the SP's major decline. One word -- Zwan. (I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.) I remember trying really hard to like them in high school. — BJ

Covers, K: "Kid A," Radiohead/John Mayer

The Original

From the album Kid A

Radiohead:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Radiohead makes it twice. They're kinda good, if you haven't heard. — cwc

I've probably listened to "Kid A" a million times. Yes, one million times. I had the biggest crush on Johnny, the lead guitarist. I've had a Radiohead poster over my bed for the past few years. What can I say? I dream about these lovely English boys. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Heavier Things

John Mayer:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: After his appearance on Chappelle's Show, Mayer is OK in my book. Plus, you can, like, make out intelligible vocals in this version! (But I always viewed Yorke's vocals in the original as another instrument, so it's all good.) — cwc

I was walking home from class one day when a couple of unknown Screamo bands stopped me to see if I would go to their show. Being that no one else was going to show up, I decided to hang out at the Picador to watch them for a bit. They had no place to sleep that night and were planning on putting it out in their tour vans. I offered up the floor/couches at my apartment. (This has a point, I swear.)

Later that night when they're all spread out in my "crib," they pull out their laptops and start watching John Mayer videos. These guys were tattoo-laden, screamo-playin', married, vegan 19-to-25-year-olds were watching John Mayer... it blew my mind. — BJ

Covers, L: "Love Will Tear Us Apart," Joy Division/Susanna & the Magical Orchestra

The Original

From the album Substance: Joy Division 1977-1980

Joy Division:   MySpace

DJ comments: Ian Curtis committed suicide a month after the song was released as a single in April 1980. Apparently love did tear him apart.
For real, though: Deborah Curtis had the phrase "Love Will Tear Us Apart" inscribed on his tombstone. — BJH

If you didn't catch the movie Control at the Bijou before Spring Break, be sure to check out the film on DVD soon. You will run out and buy every JD album you don't already own. — cwc

The Cover

From the album

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Let's see, can we make this song any more depressing? Hey Susanna! Get over here! — cwc

Yeah.......... — BJ

Covers, M: "The Man Who Sold the World," David Bowie/Nirvana

The Original

From the album The Man Who Sold the World

David Bowie:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Hey, Bowie's great and all, but this is simply here to introduce the cover version... — cwc

Best movie ever = The Labyrinth. Bowie was delicious. — BJ

The Cover

From the album MTV Unplugged in New York

Nirvana:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Still one of the greatest moments in music for me, Nirvana on Unplugged. How cool is Kurt Cobain to basically devote half his set to cover songs and the Meat Puppets?! — cwc

I've always wondered what Cobain would be like had he not killed himself (for the skeptics — had he not been murdered). Maybe he would be a minister writing songs about his reformed drug use and new-found devotion to his Lord and savior. In reality, sometimes it's better when people are immortalized, as bad as it may be to say. — BJ

Click here for the video from Unplugged on YouTube

And my favorite Nirvana video, for "In Bloom":