“How I Could Just Kill a Man”
by Rage Against the Machine w/Cypress Hill
from the album Renegades
2000
Buy the album on Amazon.
I was never a Cypress Hill fan, and listening to the original of this doesn’t change that. But there are definitely times I love me some RATM. The regular cover of this (sans Cypress Hill) is just as good. I go back and forth between which version I like better, but ’tis the month for duets.
“Rush”
by Big Audio Dynamite II
from the album The Globe
1991
Buy the album on Amazon.
So very many choices. Where to start? I don’t remember why I first bought this album. I just remember it was in one of the first batches of BMG or Columbia House cds (of which I partook many many times, for better or worse) I received. I remember my high school friend Joel and I were so into this album, and he would have me play it whenever he was over. This song is incredibly catchy, and like many songs, takes on a special rockingness when played as loud as possible, vs. the more mellow feel it communicates on lower volumes.
“Alienated”
by Urban Dance Squad
from the album Persona Non Grata
1994 Ariola
Buy the album on Amazon.
Sometimes I get in a mood. It’s like you’re in a funk you’re trying to get out of. You’re pretty sure you set the light, but it’s a ways off. This track will get you through. Listen up.
“Good Times”
by INXS w/Jimmy Barnes
from the soundtrack to The Lost Boys
1987
Buy the album on Amazon.
I was really worried about this month’s theme when Chris suggested it, but I’ve adopted a new policy of not questioning a creative group decision – just go with it. Of course it helped when this track came up on shuffle. Plus, Chris will love the irony. For my first #AprilDuets section, I’ve chosen “Good Times” featuring the vocal stylings of Michael Hutchence from INXS and a dishwasher* named Jimmy Barnes.
At 98, we all rotate.
“Mediate”
by INXS
from the album Kick
1987
Buy the album on Amazon.
I had a different song in mind for our first #KaraokeTuesday, but then the background writing in Lance’s choice triggered this one for me (coincidentally released the same year as his Love and Rockets choice).
“No New Tale to Tell”
by Love And Rockets
from the album Earth Sun Moon
1987 Beggar Banquet Records
Buy the album on Amazon.
The first song I ever sang at karaoke was “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. My friend Sasha finally dragged me to the stage after a few work outings where I would just stare at my friends performing, but never actually participate. She said, “We’re doing this now” and we did and it was horrible.
I was totally hooked. Continue reading Karaoke Tuesday: “No New Tale to Tell”
Going in a completely different direction than Lance for our first ever #CoverFriday:
“Tainted Love”
by Coil (originally by Gloria Jones/Soft Cell)
from the single Panic/Tainted Love
1985
Not sure this can be purchased anywhere digitally
Fine, so I never knew that the Soft Cell version was also a cover until just now. Continue reading Cover Friday: “Tainted Love”
Chris suggested that we institute some theme days during the week to get the juices flowing. I opened the e-mail a bit late in the week so I’m skipping ahead to Friday’s theme, #CoverFriday. So consider this, “challenge accepted” old boy… BAM:
“Kick Out The Jams”
by Bad Brains w/Henry Rollins (originally by The MC5)
from the soundtrack Pump Up The Volume
1990 MCA
Buy the album on Amazon.
“Baby Got Shot”
by Verbena
from the album Into the Pink
1999 Capital Records
Buy the album on Amazon.
I’m going to slide the time scale a little closer to the 21st century with this selection. “Baby Got Shot” has a lot going for it:
And it’s just heavy and catchy as fuck. And it can’t be overemphasized how much the male/female harmonies on the chorus give the song its edge. Subsequent albums from Verbena were sorely missing this. But Into The Pink has a surplus of great tracks, highlights include:”Sympathy Was Dead,” “Pretty Please” and , “Monkey, I’m Your Man.”
“Balloon”
by Catherine Wheel
from the album Ferment
1992 Fontana Records
Buy the single on iTunes or Amazon.
Like many of eventual favorite bands, I stumbled across Catherine Wheel pretty late in the game. The music video for “Way Down” from 1995’s Happy Days was my first exposure. It was pretty heavy compared to their earlier albums and appealed to the pseudo-metalhead in me. Eventually, during a music drought sometime in the early aughts, I picked up their first two albums. It was a good decision.