Possession is 9/10 the law, so . . . Covering a song isn’t stealing. Just long-term borrowing. We at Balcony Radio have no problem with musical thievery. That’s why we have a cover song show called Gimme Back My Song. For Episode 18, we put on the miner’s hat and dig deep into the crates for some of the most obscure covers we’ve ever spun.
PLAYLIST:
EVERYBODY’S TALKIN’: BILL WITHERS (JUST AS I AM)
96 TEARS: ARETHA FRANKLIN (ARETHA ARRIVES)
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: CHER (3614 JACKSON HIGHWAY)
BORN TO BE WILD: WILSON PICKETT (HEY JUDE)
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL: SANDIE SHAW (REVIEWING THE SITUATION)
WICHITA LINEMAN: THE METERS (STRUTTIN’)
SUSPICIOUS MINDS: THE HEPTONES (BETTER DAYS)
NATURE BOY: GRACE SLICK (GRACE SLICK & THE GREAT SOCIETY)
YOU’RE SO VAIN: DAVID AXELROD (HEAVY AXE)
DOCK OF THE BAY: PEGGY LEE (A NATURAL WOMAN)
SPINNING WHEEL: SHIRLEY BASSEY (SOMETHING)
SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE: THE 5TH DIMENSION (THE AGE OF AQUARIUS)
BROWN-EYED HANDSOME MAN: NINA SIMONE (HIGH PRIESTESS OF SOUL)
USE ME: LIZA MINNELLI (THE SINGER)
FEELING ALRIGHT: GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN)
HIT THE ROAD, JACK: HELEN REDDY (I AM WOMAN)
THE WEIGHT: JACKIE DESHANNON (LAUREL CANYON)
FIRE AND RAIN: BOBBY WOMACK (THE BEST OF…)
LIGHT MY FIRE: ERMA FRANKLIN (BRUNSWICK ESSENTIALS)
I GOT YOU BABE: ETTA JAMES (TELL MAMA: THE COMPLETE MUSCLE SHOALS SESSIONS)
THAT’S LIFE: JAMES BROWN (GETTIN’ DOWN TO IT)
The Great White North has produced some of the greatest songwriters in rock. Near the top of that heap is a certain Mr. Neil Young. For episode 16 of our show dedicated to cover versions, Gimme Back My Song we join in with a couple dozen of your favorite artists to praise the old man’s work. We’ve got Neil’s best tunes sung in voices best described as better than Neil’s . . . Roll another number and throw on a flannel, it’s time for some homegrown music.
Once you write a song, it doesn’t belong to you anymore. The Universe takes ownership. Sorry. On the bright side, The Universe lends songs out freely. And, you know what, some cover songs are freakin’ great. In this, episode 14 of Gimme Back My Song, we play the two dozen cover songs you’ll want to.