Freegal – Three for Free – Under the Covers Edition

This week in Freegal, consider using your three free downloads to discover some interesting cover songs.

Jimi Hendrix – “Blue Suede Shoes” (Carl Perkins cover) from Hendrix in the West

Whilst perusing Freegal and racking my brain in the hopes of pinning down some great cover songs, I simply couldn’t shake Jimi Hendrix’s cover of Carl Perkins “Blue Suede Shoes” out of my head. Hendrix puts forth an arrangement so different from the original that it almost becomes an entirely different song. It’s a live version, the band’s playing loud and loose, and it’s just so Hendrix. Know what I mean Vern? Jimi absolutely destroys on this song, with a fantastic extended solo and if I’m being honest, which I am, I could pull all three downloads from this 1971 live album, Hendrix in the West. Also included on this record are a short version (:58) of The Beatles classic “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and a blistering rendition of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.”  In a desperate attempt to retain some shred of literary, journalistic, bloggistic(?) integrity, I stand by my initial selection of “Blue Suede Shoes.” You however, (as I am sure you are already well aware) are free to select any three songs for your downloading pleasure.

Easy Star All-Stars – “Climbing Up the Walls” (Radiohead cover) – from Radiodread

My first experience with the Easy Star All-Stars was hearing Dub Side of the Moon, their song by song, reggae re-imagining of Pink Floyd’s psychedelic classic, The Dark Side of the Moon. By staying faithful to the original song structure and overall ‘feel’ of the initial cuts, the All-Stars created a fitting tribute that breathes new life into the source material.  In 2006, three years after the release of ‘Dub Side’ the band tackled another mega-album (OK Computer) by arguably one of the biggest British bands to hit since the Floyd, Radiohead, and the resulting album Radiodread was more of the same. In particular the song “Climbing up the Walls” stands out, as vocalist Tamar-kali gives an inspired yet haunting performance. Meanwhile, the rhythm section of the band maintains a steady groove; whilst the horn section gradually works itself into a frenzied crescendo as the song draws to a close.

Rage Against the Machine – “The Ghost of Tom Joad” (Bruce Springsteen cover) from Renegades

Comprised entirely of cover songs and produced in collaboration with the legendary Rick Rubin, Renegades was Rage Against the Machine’s final studio album before going on hiatus in the year 2000. From the opening track, Eric B and Rakim’s “Microphone Fiend” to the final cut, Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm,” Rage put their trademark hip-hop/hard rock stamp on songs spanning a variety of genres. The band elevates their version of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad” to what MadTV’s Eugene Struthers might say is a “whole ‘nother level” entirely. Tim C’s thunderous bass is off-set nicely by Tom Morello’s heavy guitar, while lead singer Zach De La Rocha brings the fury like only he can and Brad Wilk smashes up the drums like he was Michael Douglas in Falling Down. To make another awkward analogy to an ’80s film, sonically, Springsteen’s original is the Danny DeVito to RATM’s Arnold Schwarzenegger. They’re Twins!