Best Covers of 2012: A Weekend Review Special Edition

By Chris Moore:

The BEST COVER SONGS of 2012

 

As I have previously written about, covers are typically of little interest to me (which is, of course, ironic when considering the large number I have played over the years).  Of course, I typically end up hearing a few that stand out, and this year, they were almost all on the Amnesty International charity album Chimes of Freedom.  Sadly, though the compilation included over seventy songs from a vast range of artists, there were only a handful worthy of recognition.  My favorite cover song of the year, however, is the one unearthed on the soundtrack to the Martin Scorcese documentary based on George Harrison’s life: it is Harrison’s cover of his friend Bob Dylan’s song “Mama You’ve Been On My Mind.”  It is a stripped down, acoustic cover, but it is brilliant and the beauty radiates warmly from this simple yet nuanced performance.

 

1)  “Mama You’ve Been On My Mind” – George Harrison

2)  “One Too Many Mornings” – Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and the Avett Brothers

3)  “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” – Brett Dennen

4)  “Mr. Tambourine Man” – Jack’s Mannequin

5)  “Ring Them Bells” – Natasha Bedingfield

 

Honorable Mention:

“Ballad of Hollis Brown” – Rise Against

“Oh, Sister” (Bob Dylan Cover)

By Chris Moore:

If you enjoyed Jim’s rendition of “To Be Alone With You” from yesterday’s Laptop Session, then I hope you’ll love this Bob Dylan tune, too! Going right along in chronological order, “Oh, Sister” is from his 1975 album Desire. Better known for the song “Hurricane,” Desire really is one of my favorite Dylan albums. It doesn’t hurt that I have fond memories of this one — I’ve been listening to it since Jim bought it (before me!) and brought it to our drivers’ education classes. In contrast, I suppose anything would be more exciting!

I have some good news — by the end of the day, I’ll be joining Jim and Jeff in the 5,000+ YouTube views club!
I’m really excited, so thank you to all who have been watching and supporting these videos.

I hope you’ll keep coming back as “One-A-Day” rolls on in 2008 at guitarbucketlist.com!


“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by Jack Norworth & Albert Von Tilzer – Chords, Lyrics, & How to Play

“Take Me Out To The Ball Game”
Words by Jack Norworth; Music by Albert Von Tilzer

C                                                 D7
Katie Casey was baseball mad, had the fever and had it bad,
G7                                                                              C
Just to root for the home town crew, ev’ry sou, Katie blew.
On a Saturday, her young beau called to see if she’d like to go,
To see a show, but Miss Katie said, “No, I’ll tell you what I can do:”

C                            G    G7      C                               G
Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd.
A                     A7                Dm                D                     G7
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack; I don’t care if I never get back.
G7       C                                G        G7        C7                           A7
Let me root, root, root for the home team; if they don’t win it’s a shame.
A7       F      D7   C                              A7           D7  G7  C
For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out at the old ball game.

Katie Casey saw all the games, knew the players by their first names,
Told the umpire he was wrong, all along, good and strong.
When the score was just two to two, Katie Casey knew what to do
Just to cheer up the boys she knew, she made the gang sing this song:

Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack; I don’t care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team; if they don’t win it’s a shame.
For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out at the old ball game.

** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s). They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **

Keane’s “Hopes and Fears” (2004) – Yes, No, or Maybe So

Keane’s Hopes and Fears (2004) – MAYBE NOT

Keane's "Hopes and Fears" (2004)

Keane's "Hopes and Fears" (2004)

By Chris Moore:

(May 10, 2004)

Review:

Any album that deals its catchiest songs before track three begins is an album that’s bound to disappoint; it’s not so much that these songs are bad — they’re quite good, actually — it’s just that they threaten to put the listener to sleep after a while.

Top Two Tracks:

“Somewhere Only We Know” & “This is the Last Time”