Ithacamafia Mixtape: vol. 8, Cover Me.

The Mixtapes return, friends. For the eighth installment, and our grand re-opening, I bring you one of the most beloved (and dangerous) musical niche's: The Cover Song. A well-played (and timed) cover song can turn a hostile crowd into your biggest fans. It can turn a dark day bright. It can also make your ears bleed without abandon. So, here I have compiled some of my personal favorite cover songs, whether they're a complete reinvention, a genre-bending tribute, a faithful rendition, or a cover-you-didn't-even-know-was-a-cover. All are welcome here. So, Enjoy.

-- Kluv

1. - "Nobody Does it Better" by Me First & The Gimme Gimmes

(Original Artist: Carly Simon) The Gimme Gimmes are a punk rock supergroup that just happens to only play covers. With members of Swingin' Utters, Lagawagon, Foo Fighters and NOFX, they've got some serious chops -- and take pride in their work. Since 1995, they've been adding jet fuel to some of the classics of all eras and genres (including a recent live album from... a Bar Mitzvah ceremony. Fantastic.) and pumping out songs for young and old to enjoy. Here they kick us off with a rendition of the James Bond classic (and HME Montage Theme), "Nobody Does it Better". Yeah!

2. - "The Man Who Sold The World" by Nirvana

(Original Artist: David Bowie) I'm going to let you guys in on a secret here -- I wasn't a big Nirvana fan back in the day. I liked "Teen Spirit" when I first heard it, and my friend had a tape of "Bleach" which was pretty good. But I hated the onslaught of kids with their Kobain-worship to the point that it turned me off the band completely. (See also: Greatful Dead) It wasn't until a stage manager at a theatre I was working at handed me a copy of Nirvana: Unplugged that I started to get that these guys were pretty fuckin' talented. This is one of my most favorite songs off the record (and, coincidentally one of my favorite Bowie songs).

3. - "All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix

(Original Artist: Bob Dylan) This is one of those songs where the cover has overshadowed the original. Hendrix, who enjoyed Dylan's original simple-folk three-chord version recorded this and it became his only Top 40 hit. Featuring one of the most famous guitar solos of all time, it's a scorching rendition -- with a palpable drive and ferocity to it. For the longest time I had no idea it was a Dylan song, and since then many other artists (U2, Dave Matthews) have recorded their own versions in tribute to both men. Kick ASS.

4. - "Baker Street" by Foo Fighters

(Original Artist: Gerry Rafferty) The original, used perfectly in "Good Will Hunting", is remade here by the Foos. Here we have Grohl take the uber-famous saxamaphone solo and twist it into a guitar (quite successfully, I might add). Great song, great cover. Gerry Rafferty trivia: he also was in the band Stealers Wheel, and sang "Stuck In The Middle With You".

5. - "Gone Daddy Gone" by Gnarls Barkley

(Original Artist: Violent Femmes) Gnarls has hit the bricks this summer and taken over our earphones with the #1 Summer Jam, "Crazy". Here, CeeLo and Danger Mouse put together their own version of the Femmes "Gone Daddy Gone". Strikingly faithful, undeniably fun.

6. - "Bitches Ain't Shit" by Ben Folds

(Original Artist: Dr. Dre) This is the song that made me put together the Covers mix. Back when it was released (a loooooong time ago), I worked on a covers mix for about a month. But, it never really clicked with me, so I scrapped it and slowly built up a collection of covers I enjoy -- the fruits you see here (and will see on future mixes). I think the thing that got me most with this song wasn't just the fact that I remember singing the first one with my friends as we listened to "the Chronic" -- it's the fact that Ben's made an amazing song out of it. It could have been a simple "look at me, making a funny gangsta-rap song cover as a joke" version, but it's more than that. The arrangement of it literally gave me chills the first time I heard it. So, while it may not be something you can sing to your mom, I think it's one of the most creative cover songs I've heard in recent memory. That, and you know, cuz bitches really ain't shit, y'know?

7. - "The Gambler" by Mike Doughty

(Original Artist: Kenny Rogers UPDATE: Thanks to our good friend, Haps, I have been schooled on the fact that "The Gambler" was written by a guy named Don Schlitz. From Haps: "The Gambler was written by a guy named Don Schlitz, and in fact the song was first offered to willie nelson. But willie having just come off the success of the red headed stranger, didn't feel like doing another concept album, he declined and so Schlitz and the producers turned to kenny rogers. And it's a good thing (for kenny) that they did, otherwise I think us youngster's would have only a vague idea of who he even was. And do get me wrong I think his version is kick ass, but calling him the original artist just b/c his version is the most famous (there have been over 23 recordings of the song including one by johnny cash), isn't exactly accurate is it sweet kevsies?") So, I'm sure by now you've heard guys like Matty and I expound on how big of a man-crush we have on Mike Doughty. Well, it's moments like this when we are made to think it's something deeper. I'm sure many of you might remember the old standby These Nuts (Matty, Duck, Diesel and Myself) cover of "The Gambler" from back in the day. We got a lot of traction out of that version over the years, and it was even a hit at the odd Karaoke-bar. So, you can imagine our surprise when man-crush Mike Doughty adds a certain cover to his repertoire. It's like density. I mean, destiny. And when we're thrown in jail for stalking him, we'll use this as evidence that we were meant to be together, pals 4 life.

8. - "Higher Ground" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

(Original Artist: Stevie Wonder) Another song that I didn't know was a cover until after I had heard this one. We were in junior high school, and there was that bassist with the stuffed-animal pants (who also played in the Young MC video). It was funky and fun and I liked it a lot (Klove liked it even more). So, imagine my surprise a few years later when I discovered that the blind guy who sang "I Just Called To Say I Love You" was the one who created this jaunt. Ah, the innocence of the 14-year-old.

9. - "Hurt" by Johnny Cash

(Original Artist: Nine Inch Nails) I think this is one of those covers where the cover manages to outdo the original. And I'm a huge NIN fan, don't get me wrong. When I listened to this song in high school, it was speaking straight to my angst-ridden teenage wasteland. But fast forward a few years, and Cash does this version. Stomach punch. I remember seeing the video for the first time, and I was floored. Speechless. It brought tears to my eyes. Cash brought a lifetime of weight and sorrow and pain and regret to this song -- something that a kid like Trent just couldn't do. It's haunting, it's beautiful, it's perfect. And it fucking devastates me to this very day.

10. - "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley

(Original Artist: Leonard Cohen) Another cover where I think it outdoes the original. And I love Leonard Cohen. Maybe it's heightened because of Jeff's tragic death. I'm not sure. But i know that it's a heartbreaker. The simple beauty of his voice and guitar have allowed it to be used in countless TV shows where it's played during the emotional ending montage.

11. - "I Will Survive" by Cake

(Original Artist: Gloria Gaynor) This song (as well as "The Distance") first brought Cake to my attention. A great cover which expanded their audience, and was one of the first songs that I became aware of as a "cover song". Fun fun fun. I still enjoy going "I should have changed my fuckin' locks!"

12. - "With A Little Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker

(Original Artist: The Beatles) Again, as a kid, all I knew was that this was the theme song to the Wonder Years. I didn't know much about Joe Cocker, other than Belushi's impression. It wouldn't be till long after that I realized the original was done by the Beatles. But it still holds up to this day, capturing that crazy magic Cocker had.

13. - "Human Behavior" by The Decemberists

(Original Artist: Bjork) This one's for Frants, who introduced me to the Decemberists. A fantastically talented band, here they tackle the first Bjork song I ever heard, recreating the eerie drive behind it in the studio. Without all the crazy Icelandic pixie stuff.

14. - "Been Caught Stealing" by Richard Cheese

(Original Artist: Jane's Addiction) Cheese is a guy who's made his living off of this shtick -- taking alternative songs from our generation's formative period and turning them into silly lounge versions. And he's done it well. (Hell, even Paul Anka got in on the action.) Here I couldn't resist putting in his jokey-Jane's song for all to partake.

15. - "Same Old Song" by the Pietasters

(Original Artist: The Four Tops) That's right, it's ska. The Pietasters were one of the first ska bands I saw live, and one of the first ska CD I ever bought. I absolutely loved this version of the Four Tops classic, and though the record couldn't capture their skill of performing it live, it remains one of my early favorite covers.

16. - "Baby Got Back" by Jonathan Coulton

(Original Artist: Sir Mix A Lot) Jonathan is a folky-singer-songwriter who has made this kick-ass version of "Baby Got Back". Fun, creative, well-executed. Also reminds me of the enjoyable version of "Gin & Juice" done by The Gourds a few years ago.

17. - "Baby One More Time" by Travis

(Original "Artist": Britney Spears) Travis takes this pop gem and plays it live for some kids in a studio somewhere. They prove that underneath all that bubblegum, there's actually something to this song.

18. - "Landslide" by Smashing Pumpkins

(Original Artist: Fleetwood Mac) Many of you know that Smashing Pumpkins has long been one of my favorite bands. And while growing up, if ever I waffled with that distinction, the release of "Landslide" buried any doubt for me. I remember picking up the CD single for "Disarm" in tenth grade, which, at the time was my favorite song. Siamese Dream had just come out, and immediately upon hearing that song I knew it was something special. And, since I was a huge nerd, back then I used to buy all the CD singles (and their respective b-sides) whenever I could. So, imagine my surprise when I put this CD on and listened to the b-side, which was this song that hit me right in the boo-boo: "Landslide". I had never heard the Mac version, and I didn't need to. This version resonated in me something fierce. Even years later, upon hearing the Fleetwood Mac version, I still prefer the Pumpkins. Right in the boo-boo.

19. - "Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

(Original Artist: Judy Garland/Louie Armstrong) Speaking of hitting me in the boo-boo -- here's Iz, the late gentle giant (700+ lbs) from Hawa'i who lays down this wonderful medly for us. Featured in countless films, TV shows, and commercials, this song contains a ridiculous amount of beauty in just his voice and a ukulele.

20. - "My Way" by Sid Vicious

(Original Artist: Paul Anka) Here's another surprise for most -- Sinatra isn't the original artist for this song, and in fact, didn't rate the song highly himself (even if it became his signature song). Paul Anka adapted this from an old French song, Comme d'habitude, and here we have a version by Sid -- who, definitely did things his own way. Growing up and learning to shoot amphetemines with his mother, becoming the face and bassist (who couldn't really play bass) for the Sex Pistols, and then spiraling down into a heroin haze & possibly murdering his girlfriend (only to end up out on bail and OD'ing/commiting suicide on heroin his mother gave him). Not something to aspire to, but definitely his own path. (Favorite Sid story: He asked Lemmy from Motorhead to teach him how to play bass by saying: "I can't play bass." To which, Lemmy replied: "I know.") Anways, here's a punk-cover bookend for you.

Thanks for joining us.