The Chambers Brothers > In the Midnight Hour
Composed by Wilson Pickett & Steve Cropper

It’s really rare when a cover happily surprises. And grooves hard.

Chambers Brothers Week #3 
Cover #54

Lou Donaldson > Ode to Billie Joe
Composed by Bobbie Gentry

“It’s Your Thing” I understand. What else but “Who’s Making Love”? “Say it Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud” Of course! All perfectly logical Lou covers.

But Ode to Billie Joe?! (And you bet your good gracious butt it’s funky).

What Was That? Week #7 
Legends of Soul Jazz #5 
Legends of the Saxophone #10
Cover #53 

Jerry Douglas > Birdland
Composed by Josef Zawinul

It’s probably that I don’t really know this music (just Alison and Jerry, Alison’s dobro player) that I’m so surprised by the bluegrass cover songs.

What Was That? Week #5 
Legends of the Dobro #1
Cover #52 
Legends of Bluegrass #2

Ella Fitzgerald > Get Ready
Composed by Smokey Robinson

By the end of the 60s the jazzbos were in a complete panic and would cover anything that would seem to make them relevant again. Luckily, the fear would subside within a couple of years and they great could resume being great.

Here’s the original.

What Was That? Week #1
Legends of Swing #3
Cover #50
Legends of Songwriting #18

Ray Charles > Oh What A Beautiful Morning
Composed by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II

Can’t help myself, two Ray Charles beauties in one week! I’ve got an irrational RC cover love, this one in particular, in spite of the corny late-Basie charts.

Beautiful Week #5
Legends of Soul #26 
Legends of the Piano #9 
Legends of Pop #7
Cover #49 

Led Zeppelin > I Can’t Quit You Baby
Composed by Otis Rush

I’m not sure that a Led Zep Otis Rush cover would qualify to anyone else as a ballad or even a classic rock power ballad. But, it’s my blog, and I’ll cry if I want to.

Ballads Week #4
Legends of Rock #14 
Legends of the Guitar #12
Ballad #33 
Cover #48 

Jimmy Smith >Li’l Darlin’
Composed by Neal Hefti

I’ve posted a Basie original (I think) version of this tune, and I’ve posted a Jimmy during his peak period. But so what, ya know?

Ballads Week #2
Legends of the Organ #2
Ballad #31 
Cover #47

The Jazz Crusaders > Moon River
Composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini

Not surprisingly, jazz musicians love Mancini’s tunes. I mean, Mancini loved jazz musicians.

Songwriters & their Songs Week #6 (Moon River Edition #3)
Legends of Songwriting #15 & 16
Cover #46

Johnny Mercer > Moon River
Composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini

Moon River was one of those rare tunes that it seemed like everyone wanted to touch. So I guess when Hank had a hit with it, Johnny wanted in too.

Songwriters & their Songs Week #5 (Moon River Edition #2)
Legends of Songwriting #15 & 16
Ballad #28 
Cover #45

The Brooklyn Bridge > The Worst That Could Happen
Composed by Jimmy Webb

When this track came out in 1968 I had no idea who Johnny Maestro (the BB’s lead singer) was, that he’d had another hit I kind of liked, or that The Worst That Could Happen was a note for note cover of a Jimmy Webb song recorded by The Fifth Dimension. I just knew it was a completely corny record.

So, here I am 40 years later and it’s on my personal Top 100 list. Go figure. (Told you I was a wimp).

Songwriters & their Songs Week #3
Legends of Songwriting #14 
Cover #44 
Ballad #26