mixtape songs /

Covers can come across as clichéd but I think it’s really interesting to see what happens when one artist doesn’t try to live up to the original but pay tribute or in some cases change the original recording.

Probably the most drastic changes from cover to original come from Iron & Wine and Bonne ‘Prince” Billy. I think standout performances come from Jack black’s and Elliot Smith’s covers.

I thought of the idea for the title of this tape from the Arcade Fire song called Rebellion (Lies)

Side A Come On Hide Your Lovers

01. Magnet with Gemma Hayes – “Lay, Lady, Lay” from On Your Side – 4:37
[ultimate dilemma -2003]
“why wait any longer for the one you love/when he’s standing in front of you”

Gemma Hayes inclusion on Lay,Lady, Lay creates a playful dialog that wasn’t seen with Bob Dylan’s original.

02. Gold Spot – “Float On” from - 2:39
“if it gets too heavy we’ll all float on”

03. Iron & wine - It’s the Same Old Song - 3:02
[unreleased]
“Sentimental fool—am I”

04. Jon Rae & the River – “Just What I Needed” – 3:45
[unreleased]
“I don’t mind you hanging out and wastin’ all my time/cause when your near well I kinda lose my mind”

The highlight for me on this track is the approach Jon-Rae & the River bring to Just What I Needed. However, I did stop recording the end of their version because it doesn’t sit well on the tape.

05. Ted Leo – “Since U Been gone” - 3:38
[unreleased]
“wait they don’t love you like I you/wait they don’t love you like I love you”

By including Ted Leo I have to unfortunately include Kelly Clarkson. Ted’s performance is so intriguing (referring to the inclusion of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s lyrics) that it by far makes up for Kelly Clarkson.

06. The Mountain Goats - The Sign from Bitter Melon Farm – 2:28
[2002]
“under the pale moon for so many years I wondered who you are/how could a person like you bring me joy/under the pale moon where I see a lot of stars”

In 1996 The Mountain Goats performed The Sign live in London, England. John Darnielle’s banter and stage presence as well as incorporating the audience is worth hearing.

07. Badly Drawn Boy with Jools Holland – “Come on Eileen” from NME & Warchild presents 1 Love - 3:59
[warner music UK Ltd - 2002]
“You in that dress/My thoughts I confess/verge on dirty”

08. Jack Black – “Lets Get It On” from High Fidelity (OST) - 4:27
[hollywood records - 2000]
“And there’s/nothing wrong with me lovin’ you/”

09. Bright Eyes – “Out On the Weekend” from There is No Beginning to the Story EP- 4:10
[saddle creek - 2002]
“think I’ll pack it in/and buy a pick-up”

10. Belle & Sebastian – “Here Comes the Sun” – 3:16
[live]
“little darling I can feel the ice is slowly melting/little darling it feels like years since its been here”

11. M. Ward, Conor Oberst, Jim James – “Girl From the North Country” from Mojo:Dylan Covered
[Mojo Magazine]
“if you’re travellin’ to the North Country fair/where the winds hit heavy on the border lines/please remember me to one who lives there/ she once was a true love of mine”

It’s interesting that M. Ward et al chose to cover the Girl From the North Country from Nashville Skyline and not the original release from The Free Wheelin’ Bob Dylan— Maybe because its easier to perform with multiple singers than the original…

12. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – “I Am a Cinematographer” from Sings Greatest Palace Music – 2:44
[Drag City- 2004]
“I was a big ol’ bear once/yes I was a big ol’ bear once”

Will Oldham covering himself and changing the music and overall sound of the his own song reminds me of Bob Dylan and how he introduced a drastically different approach to Girl From the North Country with Johhny Cash on Nashville Skyline—Which is why I included the Girl From the North Country cover.

13. Elliot Smith – “Trouble” from From A Basement on a Hill II – 2:49
“and I haven’t got a lot of time”

I think that lines from Trouble take on a whole new meaning because Smith recorded it so close to his suicide.

Side B Underneath The Covers

01. Bob Dylan – “Lay, Lady, Lay” from Nashville Skyline - 3:21
[columbia – 1969]
“why wait any longer for the one you love/when he’s standing in front of you”

02. Modest Mouse – “Float On” from Good News For People Who Love Bad News - 3:28
[epic – 2004]
“if it gets too heavy we’ll all float on”

03. The Four Tops – “It’s the Same Old Song” from The Four Tops’ Second Album - 2:46
[Motown – 1965]
“Sentimental fool—am I”

04. The Cars – “Just What I needed” from The Cars - 3:43
[Elektra – 1978]
“I don’t mind you hanging out and wastin’ all my time/cause when your near well I kinda lose my mind”

05. Kelly Clarkson – “Since U Been Gone” from Breakaway - 3:09
[RCA – 2004]

06. Ace of Base – “The Sign” from The Sign - 3:12
[BMG Victor Inc - 1993]
“under the pale moon for so many years I wondered who you are/how could a person like you bring me joy/under the pale moon where I see a lot of stars”

07. Dexy’s Midnight Runners – “Come on Eileen” from Too-Rye-Ay - 4:13
[mercury records – 1982]
“You in that dress/My thoughts I confess/verge on dirty”

08. Marvin Gaye – “Lets Get It On” from Let’s Get It On - 3:59
[Motown - 1973]
“And there’s/nothing wrong with me lovin’ you/”

09. Neil Young – “Out On the Weekend” from Harvest - 4:29
[reprise – 1972]
“think I’ll pack it in/and buy a pick-up”

10. The Beatles – “Here Comes the Sun” from Abbey Road - 3:05
[apple records-1969]
“little darling I can feel the ice is slowly melting/little darling it feels like years since we’ve been here”

11. Bob Dylan with Johnny Cash – “Girl From The North Country” from Nashville Skyline – 3:43
[Columbia – 1969]
“if you’re travellin’ to the North Country fair/where the winds hit heavy on the border lines/please remember me to one who lives there/ she once was a true love of mine”

12. Palace Brothers - “I Am a Cinematographer” from Days In the Wake - 2:36
[drag city - 1994]
“I was a big ol’ bear once/yes I was a big ol’ bear once”

13. Cat Stevens “Trouble” from Mona Bone Jakon - 2:47
[A&M – 1970]
“and I haven’t got a lot of time”