B-Boys,  blues masters, freakbeats, and rare groove roustabouts gather round, here’s something that will keep you busy for a long while; 107 covers of 1965 funk/R&B classic Get Out Of My Life, Woman by Lee Dorsey (though originally penned by Allen Toussaint).
Get Out Of My Life, Woman besides being a long time staple track for soul and blues musicians, also holds the distinction of being a top ten sample favorite among the hip-hop set. To which may I recommend most of those garage/beat covers below. Plenty o’ clean breaks in there just waiting to be plundered.
Also as you can see below, this time around I was shooting for quantity. While personally I’m a big fan of the reggae, soul and 60s beat-related covers, I thought a be a tad less fascist this time round and open it up to those that like classic rock (to which I have a love/hate) and blues, a genre that should have died sometime around when Elvis decided to pick up his first guitar. Another side note; surprisingly this isn’t the definitive collection. There were still plenty of versions loose out there that either I couldn’t get my mitts on or some, like in the case of the bloated, heroin-soaked potato sack that was Jerry Garcia, I just flat out refused.

***PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub who slept on the original, check the wall…

Enjoy!
LS

Bah! Only Two Measly Reggae Versions?!?
Junior English – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Mighty Diamonds – Get Out Of My Life, Woman

Whatever It Is, It’s Got To Be Funky…(Rare Groove, Soul, Jazz, Souljazz, Funk etc.)
Jimmy Smith – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Allen Toussaint – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Grassella Oliphant – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Wilmer & The Duke – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Tony Gregory – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Solomon Burke – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Sam Moore – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The New Apocalypse – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
John Schroeder Orchestra – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Joe Williams, Thad Jones & The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Joe Tex – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live)
George Semper – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Dee Dee, Barry And The Movements – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Chuck Jackson – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Bobby James – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Bill Cosby – Get Out Of My Life, Woman

Like Wow Man…(Mod, Garage, Psych, Freakbeat etc.)
The Ultra 5 - Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Ant Trip Ceremony – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Eirik Bergene – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Five D – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Hu And The Hilltops – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Ian & The Zodiacs – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Jormas – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Lea Riders Group – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Made In Sweden – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live)
Noblemen 4 – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Ole Neuman & His Newmen – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Q65 – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
SJ And The Crossroads – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
South 40 – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live)
Tages – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Blackbirds – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Boots – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Cads – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Fireballs – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Fugitives – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Jaybirds – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Kingsmen – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Leaves – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Love Exchange – Get Out of My Life, Woman (Alternate Take)
The Love Exchange – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Mad Lads – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Morlocks – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Mourning Reign – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Racket Squad – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Reprise)
The Racket Squad – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Roadrunners – Get Out of My Life, Woman (Demo)
The Roadrunners – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Scorpions (UK) – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Shams – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Upside Dawne – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Thee Royal Checkmates – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Wax – Get Out Of My Life, Woman

50s-esque
Big Bad Shakin’ – Get Out Of My Life, Woman

Downtempo-ish
Yard – Get Out Of My Life, Woman

Hip-Hop-like
Gutbucket Slim – Get Out Of My Life, Woman

I Fail To See What Is So Damn Classic About ‘Classic’ Rock…
Jefferson Airplane – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (live)
The Byrds – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live 1969)
Grass Roots – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live 67)
Neil Young & Allen Toussaint – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live 2010)
Paul Butterfield Blues Band – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Leon Russell – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live Filmore 1970)
Iron Butterfly - Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Curtis Knight & the Squires - Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Mountain – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live 1973 Capital Theater)
Mountain – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live 1974 Capital Theater)
Jimi Hendrix – Get Out Of My Life, Woman ( Live at George’s Club)
Gerry Rafferty – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Doors – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Demo)
The Doors – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live At The Matrix)
Conqueroo – Get Out Of My Life, Woman

If Mardi Gras shenanigans, 110° Humidity, Flat Beer and White People Doing The Chicken Are Your Bag…(AKA modern day Blues)
Alastair Greene Band – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
W.C. Clark – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Albert King – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Black Passat Blues – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Blue Junction – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Bobby Nathan – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Deadstein – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (live 05)
Fessors Big City Band – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Freddie King Is a Blues Master – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Gov’t Mule with John Paul Jones – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live 2008)
Heather Black – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live)
Leighton Koizumi – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Mel Brown – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Mick Taylor - Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Nils Landgren & Joe Sample – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Nuno Mindelis – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Purple Hearts – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Rich Harper Blues Band – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Roy Buchanan – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Slick Willie – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Sons of Witches – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (live)
Spirit – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live)
Synergy Blue – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Castiles – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Derek Trucks Band – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live 2009)
The Derek Trucks Band – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live at Fox Theatre)
The Derek Trucks Band – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live at Wanee)
The Derek Trucks Band – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live)
The Funky Meters – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live 1995 Fox Theatre)
The Funky Meters – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live 1999 New Orleans)
The Meters – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live)
The Meters – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
The Wood Brothers – Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Tishamingo – Get Out Of My Life, Woman (Live)

Someone needs to tell God, Jesus, Zeus, Mohammed, whomever, to chill the eff out on the celebrity deaths. The latest casualty unfortunately is Mr. Cool Ruler himself, reggae legend Gregory Isaacs, who passed away today at the untimely age of 59. I know I’m not alone in saying this but he was probably one of Jamaica’s finest vocalists.
In fitting tribute, here he is in a somber fashion covering House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals

Gregory Isaacs – House Of The Rising Sun

RIP Mr Isaacs
LS

Most people don’t know this but overweening indie film vagabond Vincent Gallo also moonlights as a musician. With a career that stretches all the way back to the 80s with the infamous experimental band GRAY (which also included late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat), his current solo work seems almost at odds with his prickly demeanor; beautiful, hushed, minimal acoustic songs that border on melancholic jazz or those quieter, more introspective moments of prog rock. And for those who may think this reeks of the worst kind of dilettantism, you need only look to the company he keeps, as collaborators and colleagues include the likes of Jim O’Rourke, PJ Harvey, John Frusciante and cultish UK electronica label Warp Records (to whome he is signed).
Speaking of, today we have fellow label mates Maximo Park, who put a little indie rock punch into Gallo’s tender and moody ballad When.

Maximo Park – When

Enjoy!
LS

***PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub who are willing to look past The Brown Bunny, there’s the original on the wall…

Here’s a little something I’ve been dancing around to like a madman for the last few months; perennial Portugese revolving door Pop Dell’Arte and their rather glowing cover of acid house classic No Way Back by house pioneer Adonis.

Too far gone…

Pop Dell’Arte – No Way Back

Enjoy!
LS

***PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub who weren’t sweatin’ to the original in a warehouse somewhere in Chicago circa 1986, got the original waiting on the wall for y’all.

Sadly enough I was planning on doing a large Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through The Grapevine post this week but seeing how the indomitable Ari Up of punk/post-punk pioneers The Slits has just passed away, she’s getting center stage with her Dennis Bovell engineered oeuvre.

The Slits – I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Rest In Peace Ari
LS

***PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub, bonus re-edit on the wall…

Today we got Manchester in the hizzay! And for once, unbelievably, it’s got nothing to do with The Smiths, Joy Division, The Fall, The Happy Mondays or Tony Fooking Wilson.
Anthemic Mancunian indie delights Elbow get covered by fellow Mancunians Tim and Sam’s Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam, who churn out a rather cheerful xylophone and banjo inflected rendition of One Day Like This.

Tim and Sam’s Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam – One Day Like This

Enjoy!
LS

***PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub who don’t know their @ss from their Elbow, there’s the original hanging on the wall for ya…

While the specifics of my crimes are too lengthy to fill out today’s blog posting, let’s just say I’ve actually Been Caught Stealing twice in my life; once for a hard boiled egg, the other over a 5ml tube of Winsor & Newton Vermillion watercolour paint. Both of which I chalk up to youthful indiscretion (I was like 17/18), and the latter of which saw me pretty much curbing that derelict habit almost entirely. Save however for the occasional drunken hijinks, whose victims include anything from road cones to stuffed penguins (which I also tried to eat) to an original Henri Cartier-Bresson which I pilfered from a now defunct, famous NYC nightclub while Boy George looked on (also a long story).
But I ramble. Jane’s Addiction‘s ode to shoplifting, Been Caught Stealing, is in our pocket today. Kicking off we got two heavy funk covers; a James Brown/Mayfield sounding cut from Jacksoul and an even deeper, darker soul version via Lea Delaria. Funny enough even those ubiquitous classical simulacres The String Quartet managed to get funky this time too. For those who prefer to do their pilfering from more Pakistani pantrys will enjoy the downtempo sitar sounds of Opium Jukebox. And lastly in the fifth of these five fingered discounts, is the always hilarious lounge antics of Richard Cheese.

Jacksoul – Been Caught Stealing
Lea Delaria – Been Caught Stealing
The String Quartet – Been Caught Stealing
Opium Jukebox – Been Caught Stealing
Richard Cheese – Been Caught Stealing

Enjoy!
LS

I feel like I’ve been neglecting my reggae side recently so here’s Ms. Auntie Entity herself AKA Tina Turner and her big 80s comeback, What’s Love Got To Do With It getting a lovers rock/dub re-rub courtesy of The Webber Sisters (here titled What Love Got To Do With It).

The Webber Sisters - What Love Got To Do With It

Enjoy!
LS

Given that there’s a New Order Blue Monday cover being released somewhere out there on a weekly basis, it seems to make more sense to not do one of the usual round-ups but rather parcel them out on an semi-irregular, individual basis. Unlike Jolly Boys covers, whose brilliant Jamaican mento/folk covers I seem to be giving away like Halloween candy at this point.

The Jolly Boys – Blue Monday

Enjoy!
LS

PS For those who may have missed it the first time round here’s another sweet Blue Monday cover…

You can be smart as hell
Know how to add
Know how to figure things
On yellow pads
Answer so no one knows
What you just said
But when you’re all alone
You and your head
What’s the computer say, it’s mumbling now
It says “hey Joe”
It’s spelled it out and
“You’ve got angst in your pants”

Somewhat indicative of the modern condition, eh?
Today the Sparks sardonic synthpop classic Angst In My Pants gets a curious dark cabaret makeover via Fritz Ostermayer (think Tom Waits meets Nick Cave) plus a newer wave treatment from Los Angeles indie darlings Signals (made up from remnant bits of Mae Shi).

Fritz Ostermayer – Angst In My Pants
Signals – Angst In My Pants

Enjoy!
LS

PS For those who thought I’d be waxing on about how awesome Ron Mael’s mustache is…

The irony of today’s Rolling Stones post was, try-as-I-might I could only find a handful of Versions-worthy covers of You Can’t Always Get What You Want. That said, well, I got what I needed; Like yet another killer cover from old school Jamaican mento combo The Jolly Boys and the electro bhangra sounds of Opium Jukebox. Other great ‘gets’ were; a sweet downtempo version from Ituana, a disco cut from Aretha Franklin, several funky soul renditions from Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers, David Newman, Exuma and Maxayn, a lullaby from Rockabye Baby!, some bluegrass from the Pickin’ On series, an odd little blues/spoken word effort from Jean-Jacques Milteau and lastly one I can only describe as Rolling Stones meet Joy Division’s ‘Atmosphere’ by Statemachine.

The Jolly Boys – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Opium Jukebox – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Ituana – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Aretha Franklin – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
David Newman – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Exuma – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Maxayn – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Rockabye Baby! – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Pickin’ On The Rolling Stones – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Jean-Jacques Milteau – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Statemachine – You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Enjoy!
LS

PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub who feel like they didn’t get enough of what they want, got a bonus remix on the wall for ya…

Unlike like 99% of the world, I actually really got nothing bad to say about bouffanted bad girl Amy Winehouse. Those familiar with history of Billie Holiday etc. will know that her antics are on par with most great blue singers. Drama makes for great material and boo hoo if her off-time is a little jarring for respectable street; to which I believe is what most of the gripe is over (and well I’m sure the rather unflattering press photos probably don’t help much either). The only downside I can see was that she blew her shot at a James Bond theme. Tsk tsk Amy.
Pressing on, we cherry picked some great Rehab covers for you today. Leading as always with the favorites is a brilliant mento version from reformed Jamaican band The Jolly Boys, who are going on their 55th(!)year together. Also getting getting heavy rotation on the ipod are some funky instrumentals from Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra and Trio Valore. One misnomer we’re willing to overlook is a non-jazzy Straight No Chaser, who put some old fashion 50s doo-wop in their cut. Also somewhat at odds with their name today is an over the top operatic rendition from The Cocktail Lounge Players. However those looking for a proper lounge version will be happy to hear the bossa-nova grooves of Barbara Mendes. On the opposite end of that spectrum are two country/bluegrass cuts from Keller Williams & The Keels and Paul Kelly. Taking the piss today is UK grime artist Bashy, freestyling some hilarity over his cover. Those searching for something a little more mature will enjoy two acoustic cuts from Parisians duo Cocoon & Julien Doré and Scotland’s, er, Paolo Nutini. And lastly towing the same soulful line as the original are Curly Sue Dee and UK pop cuties Girls Aloud.

The Jolly Boys – Rehab
Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra – Rehab
Trio Valore – Rehab
Straight No Chaser – Rehab
Barbara Mendes – Rehab
The Cocktail Lounge Players – Rehab
Bashy – Rehab
Cocoon & Julien Doré – Rehab (Live)
Paolo Nutini – Rehab
Keller Williams & The Keels – Rehab
Paul Kelly – Rehab
Curly Sue Dee – Rehab
Girls Aloud – Rehab (Radio 1 Live Lounge)

Enjoy!
LS

Neo-cosmic disco outfit Killer Whale (partially made up from disparate bits of ex-Nuphonic Records acts like Faze Action and Fuzz Against Junk), pay homage to the unfortunately late, but very great Arthur Russell, with a stellar live band cover of Is It All Over My Face by Russell’s alter-ego Loose Joints. Primarily an avant-garde composer, Russell’s unique brand of minimalist heartfelt cello ballads would literally make you weep kittens. But cutting loose from from his more cerebral efforts, as well as his day job as music director for NYC’s stately The Kitchen (where he championed such bourgeoning acts as The Modern Lovers and Talking Heads), he fell in with the last days of disco, frequenting infamous clubs like The Loft and Paradise Garage. It was at the latter where he would befriend the illustrious DJ Larry Levan who would go on to help him rework the funky Is It All Over My Face into a proto-House, dancefloor classic. Russell, who passed away in 1992, was for the most part criminally under recognized in his day. Thankfully however that’s changed, as his legacy is now enjoying a surge in post-humous fame in the form of numerous anthologies, re-issues and like today, in inspired cover versions.

Killer Whale – Is It All Over My Face (Killer Whale Original Mix)

Enjoy!
LS

PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub who were more into Pampers than poppers the first time round, got the original on the wall for ya…

Time to dust off those air drums as today we got the unholy trinity known as Rush.
And tackling their modern day warrior, Tom Sawyer, are two jazz cuts from the hard hitting Bad Plus and the smooth Alex Skolnick Trio as well as a bow snapping classical rendition from the String Quartet Tribute.

The Bad Plus – Tom Sawyer
Alex Skolnick Trio – Tom Sawyer
String Quartet Tribute – Tom Sawyer

Enjoy!
LS

PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub got a bonus remix on the wall for ya…

Kudos to somebody, ANYBODY for finally covering Warp Records psych-electronic mainstay Broadcast. In this case those accolades go to Ned Collette & Wirewalker who rewire Broadcast’s already 60s heavy Come On Let’s Go into something akin to a Scott Walker ballad (with maybe a dash of Burt Bacharach thrown in).

Ned Collette & Wirewalker – Come On Let’s Go

Enjoy!
LS

PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub who ain’t in the loop, got the original hanging on the wall…

Where Is My Mind? Something I must ask myself on a daily basis.
Today my mind is on handful of off-beat, left-field Where Is My Mind? covers by The Pixies, a song which has the dubious distinction of being broadcast live to Mars via NASA.
Hands down winner today is lo-fi electronic stand-in Mr Hopkinson’s Computer, who lets the Mac do all the talking. Also bending circuits are Yoav, House of Wires and the Gameboy chiptunes of Christopher Ross. Für meine Deutsches freundes, I’ve got not one, but zwei Wo Ist Mein Kopf? covers; a handclap and piano cut from Wolke and and indie-electronc cut from the not so Teutonic-sounding Locas Electronicas. But speaking of Español we also have two Latin-influenced renditions from the Azucarillo Kings and Raz Ohara. Making Mozart roll over in his grave today are two classical versions from Maxence Cyrin and the ever ubiquitous String Quartet.
Symphony not your bag? The banjo makes a couple of appearances via bluegrass dame Emmy The Great and the drunken xlyophone antics of Los Shajatos.
Looking to indoctrinate your little ones early? Both Rockabye Baby! and Noiserv‘s lullaby/lullaby-influenced cuts should get tomorrow’s little would-be Frank Blacks and Kim Deals gurgling. And on that same tip, but in a very obtuse way, is a rather bizarre Zombina & The Skeletones who peppers hers with actual baby sounds. And in closing is Pixies mensch himself Black Francis teaching his old tune some radical (and quite spacey/dubby) new tricks.

Mr Hopkinson’s Computer – Where Is My Mind?
Yoav – Where Is My Mind?
House Of Wires – Where Is My Mind?
Christopher Ross – Where Is My Mind?
Wolke – Wo Ist Mein Kopf?
Locas Electronicas – Wo Ist Mein Kopf?
Azucarillo Kings – Where Is My Mind?
Raz Ohara – Where Is My Mind?
Maxence Cyrin – Where Is My Mind?
The String Quartet – Where Is My Mind?
Emmy The Great – Where Is My Mind?
Los Shajatos – Where Is My Mind?
Rockabye Baby! – Where Is My Mind?
Noiserv – Where Is My Mind?
Zombina & The Skeletones – Where Is My Mind?
Black Francis – Where Is My Mind?

***Last Minute Addendum. Thanks to the lovely and mysterious ‘Pauline’ for submitting a rather brilliant acapella version from The Blue Ribbon Glee Club.
The Blue Ribbon Glee Club – Where Is My Mind?

Enjoy!
LS

PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub, got a rather insane sounding dub/grime version hangin’ on the wall for you…