The CoverUp

An unforgettable song with origins we never would have expected, and a wild ride of popularity nobody could have predicted. Unchained Melody, originally by Todd Duncan, covered by The Righteous Brothers.  Outro music is Christmas in Prison by John Prine.

Get out your striped socks and your blue foods for an ultra-listenable song that had massive success, and a cover that understood the assignment better than anyone could have expected. Riptide, originally by Vance Joy, covered by Stealth.  Outro music is Pokerface, by Lady Gaga.  Also we have a reading assignment for you this week, and we guarantee you'll thank us for it. 

We're not saying that doubling down on emotionally abusive high school BS is the way to write great music, but wow, there's some great music steeped in emotionally abusive high school BS. Go Your Own Way, originally by Fleetwood Mac, covered by The Cranberries.  Outro music is (They Long To Be) Close To You, but the cover version by The Cranberries. 

The most important song in the history of Heavy Metal has a lot more substance than you might think, as does that song's most unexpected cover. War Pigs, originally by Black Sabbath, covered by T-Pain.  Outro is Fortunate Son, by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

One of the biggest - and most impactful - songs of the 80s, when art rock turned into party rock without losing any of the art. And a cover that shows off a special kind of genius steeped in the purest fandom. Sledgehammer, originally by Peter Gabriel, covered by Lowland Hum.  Outro music is Higher Love, by Steve Winwood. 

We start with an artist you know, but probably don't know you know, and finish with one you definitely know, but maybe didn't know like this. Just One Smile, originally by Gene Pitney, covered by Sheena Easton.  Outro music is A Love Bizarre, by Sheila E, because we couldn't help ourselves. 

We kick off the new year with a foundational song by a tragic but influential artist, check out a cover by a band that learned all the right lessons, and listen to a version that only exists because network TV executives have no idea how to do their jobs. Twenty Flight Rock, originally by Eddie Cochran, covered by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, and by Conan O'Brien, featuring Jack Whit...

An art project that had a shocking degree of influence on literally all of modern music, and a cover that tries really hard to … well, it tries really hard. Tom's Diner, originally by Suzanne Vega, covered by AnnenMayKantereit with Giant Rooks.  Outro music is Keep On Moving by Soul II Soul.

This week, we focus on New Wave greatness, Patriotism, and questionable sandwich spreads. Down Under, originally by Men At Work, covered by Nick Cunningham, and by Leftover Crack.  Outro music is Kookaburra, by Octopretzel. 

You don't want to miss this. We find deep context, make profound connections, and enjoy some impossibly good — and important — tunes. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, originally by Wham!, covered by Shawn Mullins.  Outro music is Cecilia, by Simon and Garfunkel. 

A brilliant but deeply troubled band, a band whose fame almost matches their egos, and an under appreciated band that knew exactly how to get the most out of their music. Wild Horses, originally by The Flying Burrito Brothers, covered by The Rolling Stones (yes, really, we explain it), and by The Sundays.  Outro music is She's a Rainbow, by The Rolling Stones, because even Rich will admit they hav...

A classic song by a band that filled their musical space better than anyone, and a surprising duet that's a complete departure, that's still utterly faithful to the original. Have You Ever Seen The Rain, originally by Creedence Clearwater Revival, covered by Willie Nelson featuring Paula Nelson.  Outro music is It Happens by Sugarland, so we know you'll get your recommended daily allowance of twan...

One of the most innovative and iconic bands really gets the ball rolling - and leans hard on some under appreciated bandmates. And the kings of New Wave work some black magic on it. Psycho Killer, originally by Talking Heads, covered by Duran Duran featuring Victoria De Angelis.  In honor of David Byrne's French accent, outro music is Prisencolinensinainciusol, by Adriano Celentano. He's an Italia...

A brilliant reaches huge success thanks to a combination of musical ability and absurdly savvy marketing, covered by an artist who does her thing as well as anyone. Crazy, originally by Gnarls Barkley, covered by Shawn Colvin.  Outro is Gone Daddy Gone, also by Gnarls Barkley. 

A remarkable amount of synthesizer and vocal genius this week as we tackle a song made and covered by pioneering artists who brought an uncommon level of sophistication to their work. Steppin' Out, originally by Joe Jackson, covered by Trevor Horn featuring Seal.  Outro music is Kiss From A Rose, also by Seal, and also produced by Trevor Horn. 

A hugely successful song proves polarizing, and an artful cover only makes the discussion more complicated. Probably because of Satanists. Teenage Dirtbag, originally by Wheatus, covered by Phoebe Bridgers.  Outro music is Run To The Hills, by Iron Maiden, baby. 

A pioneering song by the band that reinvented the notion of pioneering, and a cover that changes all of the context, but keeps the magic. Strawberry Fields Forever, originally by The Beatles, covered by Cyndi Lauper.  Outro music is Nothing from Nothing by Billy Preston. 

One of the greatest vocal bands ever — which was actually so much more — and a vocalist everyone knows is great, but is all too often overlooked. The Tracks of My Tears, originally by The Miracles, covered by Adam Lambert.  Outro music is Chandelier, also by Adam Lambert. Also, that album of his is High Drama, if you're keeping score and want to check it out. You're welcome. 

We take a look at a foundational songs of modern music by one of the greats who was gone far too early, and follow up with a cover by one of the greats who may have made more people smile more often than any other human. Hey Good Lookin', originally by Hank Williams, covered by Jimmy Buffett — he was supported by a ton of important people in this song, but it's about Jimmy Buffett this week.  Outr...

Curl up on your couch in your Kierkegaard Snuggie and get ready for the universe to show up with some judgement — good times!. God's Comic, originally by Elvis Costello, covered by Craig Cardiff.  Outro music is Veronica, by The Unwieldies, which we'll probably have to talk about some time on the show. 

Episode 300 is a nice milestone to take on the song that served as the initial inspiration when we started this show. A huge song with one of the most important and impactful covers ever. I Will Always Love You, originally by Dolly Parton, covered by Whitney Houston.  Outro music is I Still Miss Someone, also by Dolly Parton. 

Three shockingly different takes on a song written by the godfathers of outlaw country show us everything a country song can be, and then some. There are way more surprises than you think. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In), originally by Jerry Lee Lewis, covered by The First Edition, and by Gretchen Peters.  Outro music is Luckenbach, Texas, by Waylon Jennings. 

One of the foundational songs of Americana, roots, and southern rock, by one of the most influential bands ever, covered by the most super of super-groups, and by someone who understood the original better than anyone expected. The Weight, originally by The Band, covered by Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations, and by Joan Osborne. If you're keeping count, that's three versions.  Outro...

A brilliant songwriter tells a story that is uniquely personal, but also nearly universal. And then Nashville works with the right performer, but takes the song half way. Silver Thunderbird, originally by Marc Cohn, covered by Jo Dee Messina.  Outro music is I'm Alright also by Jo Dee Messina. 

One of the biggest and most impactful songs of the late 80s taught us who we were. A new cover raises all sorts of questions about what we've become. We Didn't Start The Fire, originally by Billy Joel, Covered by Fall Out Boy.  Outro music is The Downeaster 'Alexa', also by Billy Joel.