It’s been a great first week at the Covers Tournament, but we’re still looking for those break-out songs that will pace the field for the next month. You can listen here, and vote by commenting below before 8pm…PST on Saturday. Might as well give those left-coasters Saturday night to rock out.
Tonight we start off with two fun, brassy numbers:
Don’t Do It (The Band) vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green)
After a six-hour concert, The Band closed out the Last Waltz with this tune, a Marvin Gaye original, though in the movie it’s actually shown as the first song. Al Green brings some zest to the song that introduced the Beatles to America.
I Fought the Law (Clash) vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders)
Next up, the Clash bring some real ammunition to this Bobby Fuller Four original. One day in 9th grade I saw the “Rock the Casbah” video on MTV and was just thunderstruck. I hopped over to my buddy Nick’s place, and he was raving about a song HE had just heard on the radio, “I Fought the Law”. The two of us went to Tower Records and split the cost of The Clash’s Greatest Hits, which was ok, because he had a CD burner. This story makes absolutely no sense to someone under the age of 16.
It pains me to match it up against the Breeders, as I’m a huge Kim Deal fan, but you all did not nominate a lot of rockers, so these two seemed as good a fit as any. It’s also a coincidence that I’m putting up two Beatles covers again- this tournament’s already shown the variety in style when it comes to covering the Beatles.
Now we really slow things down for the Velvet Underground, with two female vocalists to boot.
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power)
Finally, we close out with two titans of previous tournaments, Van Morrison and Dire Straits. We’ll see if Romeo and Juliet has the magic to pull off a deep run with a new artist behind it.
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers)
Pastables here:
Don’t Do It (The Band) vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green)
I Fought the Law (Clash) vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders)
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power)
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers)
Living the Dream 
Don’t Do It (The Band) = 4
vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) = 6.5
I Fought the Law (Clash) = 6
vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) = 3
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) = 4
vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) = 6
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) = 7.5
vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) = 6.5
Don’t Do It (The Band) vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) 3.75/8
The Band = meh which turned into HOW LONG IS THIS DANG SONG? (and the score slipped from a neutral 5 to this)
But Al Green, I would hold your hand ANYTIME. Swoon swoon.
I Fought the Law (Clash) vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) 7.5/7.6
I love this version of IFtL. I didn’t think I was going to like this version of Happiness but surprise, I did! Thanks, nominators.
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) 6.5/7.5
Sweet Jane was pleasant but underwhelming. Love Cat Power’s voice.
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) 8.5/8.25
loved this into the mystic. but r&j is good too.
This set is making writing sub plans after a 13 hour work day that started at 6:00am more pleasant. Actually I guess I’m still working.
Don’t Do It (The Band) vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) 5/9
I’m not always in the mood for Al Green but that was awesome.
I Fought the Law (Clash) vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) 7.8/8.5
Man. Tough. Both really good. I think the Breeders’ cover is more interesting, but a good punk cover is so satisfying.
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) 8/9
EVEN TOUGHER. Jeeeez. With so many lackluster songs it’s a shame to see such good songs matched up early.
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) 5/7
I really liked the Killers cover when I first heard it, but it hasn’t really stood up. I think what’s so great about the song is the amazing guitar work, and the Killers don’t quite cut it. Still, the other song is pretty nondescript.
Don’t Do It (The Band) vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) 7 / 4
I Fought the Law (Clash) vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) 9 / 5
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) 4 / 2
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) 6 / 9
Don’t Do It (The Band) vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) – 8/7
I Fought the Law (Clash) vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) – 7/6
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) – 8.5/4
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) – 9/5
This is a really strong day- great songs.
Don’t Do It (The Band) 6 I love this song, but I think I prefer the Rock of Ages version, which is a little faster and with a more distinct bass line and less jammy. Still, I love Levon Helm’s voice and Bill Graham’s accent is classic.
vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) 8 This is great. I wish it were twice as long.
I Fought the Law (Clash) 7 I haven’t heard that in forever. The solo around the one minute mark almost sounds Allman Brothers-y.
vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) 5 Like Kim Deal and like Happiness is a Warm Gun, but this doesn’t quite hit the right notes, especially the whispered verses at the end.
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) 5 I used to think this was a really inventive cover of one of my favorite songs, but then I realized it was a pretty straight take on the version the Velvet Underground performed regularly in concert. Even though the Cowboy Junkies mellow version doesn’t sound much like the VU studio version or the Lou Reed solo version off of Rock and Roll Animal, it’s actually very similar to a track off their live album from 1969:
http://grooveshark.com/#/artist/The+Velvet+Underground/4058
vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) 6 I like this whole album a lot and am glad someone nominated something off of it. Really looking forward to Sea of Love.
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) 3
vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) 6
Don’t Do It (The Band) – 5.5
I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) – 9
I Fought the Law (Clash) – 6.5
Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) – 4
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) – 7
I Found a Reason (Cat Power) – 7
I enjoyed both of these.
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) – 9.5
Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) – 8
I nominated Into the Mystic, and I just love Swell Season’s take on this song. I bet even Van would approve. Tough luck facing Romeo and Juliet – but I can’t say I didn’t like this song, too.
Great set of songs today, thank you!!
Don’t Do It (The Band) vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) 6.5 to 5.0
I Fought the Law (Clash) vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) 5.0 to 4.0
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) 4.0 to 5.0
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) 8.0 to 7.0
Try Marc Cohn’s version of Into the Mystic
Don’t Do It (The Band) vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) 5.5 to 4.5
I Fought the Law (Clash) vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) 5.5 to 3.5
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) 4.0 to 4.5
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) 7.5 to 7.0
Don’t Do It (The Band) 6
I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) 8
I Fought the Law (Clash) 8
Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) 5
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) 6
I Found a Reason (Cat Power) 4.5
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) 7.5
Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) 6
Me and TIm
Don’t Do It (The Band) vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green)-
Me 8.7 : 7.1
Tim 7.5 : 7
I Fought the Law (Clash) vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders)-
Me 9: 7
Tim 7: 9
We had a spirited discussion that led to a replay. Agree to disagree, as if there was another way.
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power)
Me: 5: 6.5
Tim 7.5 : 8
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers)
Me: 5: 7
Tim: 1 : 2
Ok….
Scores for me and my friend Anna:
Don’t Do It (The Band) = 6.7/6.9
vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) = 5.3/5
I Fought the Law (Clash) = 10/10
vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) = 6.9/7
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) = 5/5
vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) = 4/7
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) = 6.3/6
vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) = 7.1/6.3
Don’t Do It (The Band) = 4
vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) = 6.5
I Fought the Law (Clash) =8
vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) = 5
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) = 4.5
vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) = 5
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) = 5
vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) = 5.5
Don’t Do It (The Band) 6 awesome, but unwittily long
I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) – 9.5 funky as hell, has wit, and a hilarious intro, and yeah…
I Fought the Law (Clash) – 7.5
Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) – 7.5
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) – 5.5. – just really like her voice
I Found a Reason (Cat Power) – 4 – just really don’t like her voice
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) – 7 (might have been higher, but again, drags on with too much song and not enough story)
Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) – 5.5
Don’t do it 9.5 I wanna hold your hand 6
I fought the law 8 happiness is a warm gun 7
sweet jane 6 i found a reason 5.5
into the mystic 6.5 romeo and juliet 6
Scores for BDay and KDay
Don’t Do It (The Band) 3.5 / 1
vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) 6 / 4
I Fought the Law (Clash) 8 / 2
vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) 4 / 1
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) 3 / 3
vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) 3.5 / 4
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) 5.5 / 5
vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) 2 /3
2HK Wedding
Billy, Ilya, Cristina, Rupa, Sippy
Don’t Do It (The Band) = 7.3 7 7.3 7 6.3
vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) = 7.3 7.5 6.9 6.3 7.1
I Fought the Law (Clash) = 8 8 9.6 – –
vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) = 5 7 6 – –
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) = 9.8 7.5 7 6.5 7.2
vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) = 9.9 8.5 8.5 7.3 7.9
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) = 8 7.7 8 8.2 7.9
vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) = 8.9 9 8.9 8.5 7.8
Don’t Do It (The Band) – 5.75
vs. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) – 6 *I thought, I love this song, love Al Green, but yet, I dunno.
I Fought the Law (Clash) – 6.5
vs. Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) – 5
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) – 5.25
vs. I Found a Reason (Cat Power) – 5
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) – 6.5
vs. Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) – 8.5
Don’t Do It (The Band) – 5.6
I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Al Green) =7.2
I Fought the Law (Clash) – 7.6
Happiness is a Warm Gun (Breeders) – 5.3
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies) – 7.3
I Found a Reason (Cat Power) – 4.5
Into the Mystic (The Swell Season) – 6.2
Romeo and Juliet (The Killers) – 5