RollnSmokeRecords: Smokin' Hot Covers of Great Old Songs

1. “I’m Going Down” – (Bruce Springsteen) – Florence and the Machine featuring Kid Harpoon. An original approach to classic rock gem with two clear, old school voices, a guitar and a strong, snappy refrain.

2. “Don’t Know Why” – {Norah Jones} – Smokey Robinson [8-25-09]. A hushed, piano bar rendition of the Norah Jones classic that captures Smokey’s soulfully sliding vocals.

3. “Can’t Find My Way Back Home” – (Loggins and Messina) – Jonah Smith [8-18-09]. With beautiful keyboards and melancholy guitar from this new pop soul/singer-songwriter from The East Coast.

4. “Beautiful” – (Christina Aguilera) – The Lemonheads [6-23-09]. Lead vocalist Evan Dando puts out an album of covers including this unlikely cover of pop star Christina Aguilera ‘s smash hit earlier this millennium done with plain guitar and (male) vocals.

5. “Use Somebody” – (Kings of Leon) -- Pixie Lott [unreleased]. Young, emerging British siren covers already fantastic song in lovely acoustic ballad.

6. “Major Tom” – (David Bowie) -- Shiny Toy Guns [5-5-09]. A contemporary, sythn-pop electro-clash version of the David Bowie original from alternative group out of California.

7. “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey -- Glee Cast [5-19-09]. Just when you thought nothing could get cheesier than the orginal, think glee club and lip-synching in the shower, unlocking the inner geek in all of us.

8. “Heartless” – (Kanye West) -- The Fray [4-7-09]. A more dramatic alt-indie cover by Denver-based band of the pop hip-hop smash hit from last summer.

9. “Ecstasy” – JJ [7-1-09]. Ripping and making addictive threads from Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” and Will Smith’s “Miami,” Swedish electronic act JJ extols the virtues of club drug ecstasy in this haunting and atmospheric track.

10. “Zombie” – (The Cranberries) – Jay Brannan [6-30-09]. A mellow, singer-songwriter acoustic re-working of haunting and culty Irish band track.

11. “Used to Love You” – (John Legend) – Marcus Johnson [6-2-09]. R&B, smooth jazz keyboard cover with vocal reprises.

12. “Smooth Criminal” – (Michael Jackson) – David Garrett [6-2-09]. German violinist tackles the late King of Pop’s ferocious track with gusto.

13. “Rock on” – (David Essex) – Freeland [6-9-09]. Rock/punk/electro/fusion avec eavy bass version from U.K. Adam Freeland, king of nu skool breaks.

14. “Wonderful World” – (Louis Armstrong) -- The Clarks [6-9-09]. A daring shot, an upbeat, alt-rock and roll rendition of the iconic, nearly-untouchable original.

15. “Blame it on the Weed” – (Jamie Foxx) -- Wayne Marshall (un-released). A reggae dancehall version of Jamie Foxx’s hip-hop smash hit praising the virtues of THC.

16. “Might Like You Better” – (Romeo Void) -- Amanda Blank. Philly MC launches her own tech-heavy, stripped down version of 80’s hit.

17. “Love Vigilantes” – (New Order) – Iron and Wine [5-19-09]. A plain, acoustic, folk-version of the early-90’s cult classic.

18. “San Francisco” – (Scott MacKenzie) -- Jill Sobule [4-14-09]. A twist on the old hippy hit with pretty female vocals and strings, including banjo.

19. “Rehab” – Amy Winehouse – Glee Cast [5-19-09]. A full chorus, glee club cover of the dancehall original where you can almost see the doo-op dance moves that go with it.

20. “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” – Paul Simon -- Sophie Milman [6-2-09]. Jazz vocalist born in Russia and raised in Israel takes on American classics like this one in her latest album.

21. “Shankill Butchers” – The Decemberists -- Sarah Jarosz [6-1-09]. Contemporary Bluegrass prodigy covers contemporary alt-band murder ballad with melancholy and strings.

22. “Use Somebody” – (Kings of Leon) -- Bat for Lashes [leaked]. Natasha Kahn combines spare tamborine and organ to cover this (itself new) sexy number by brothers band from Texas.

23. “War/No More Trouble” – (Bob Marley) – Playing for Change [4-28-09]. A cover of the great Marley track, done with a combination of fluid voices, simple guitar scales bongos and even violin.

24. “Goodbye” – Kristinia deBarge [4-7-09]. Her own mid-groove circles back to the all-too-familiar stadium chant of na,na,na,na – hey,hey,hey -- good-bye.

25. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” – (The Beatles) – Easy Star All-Stars [4-14-09]. Done reggae-style, gets you sining right along. Ya. Mon!

26. “Beggin’” – (Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons) Madcon [1-13-09]. An R&B track by hip-hop group that perfectly blends pop with rap for prime danceability.

27. “Give it to Me Right” – (The Zombies) Melanie Fiona [12-23-08]. Her own soulful groove laid over the infamous “Time of the Season Zombie backbeat.

28. “Wonderwall” – (Oasis) -- Noel Gallagher [5-5-09]. From the fund-raising album (top benefit children with cancer) by one of the brothers that form Oasis, naturally this is the star of the all-live bunch.

29. “OBAMA: A Change Has Come” – Urban Mystic [4-28-09]. A soulful rendition of the old spiritual with a contemporary twist, praising our new black president, by son of a preacher form Florida.

30. “Over the Rainbow” – (Judy Garland) Melody Gardot [4-28-09]. A bossa nova, interpretive take on the musical original by young and savvy jazz vocalist.

31. “Hey ya” – (Outkast) -- Booker T. [4-3-08]. A pure, boppy rock instrumental of the wacky hip-hop hit of several years ago.

32. “Knock on Wood” – (Amy Taylor) – James Taylor [4-7-09]. Turning disco into a singer-songwriter staple almost sounds natural in the hands of beloved 70’s icon James Taylor.

33. “Aint No Sunshine” – (Isley Brothers) Wynonna [2-3-09]. A cover of the soul classic done by the sassy matron of country/Americana for more than 25 years.

34. “Show Me Love” –[Robin S] -- Steve Angello & Laid Back Luke [2009]. A remix of the disco classic re-mixed for a still danceable, club/house sound.

35. “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” – (Bee Gee’s) Diana Krall [3-31-09]. A breathy, bluesey rendition of the 70’s era disco classic.

36. “When I Grow Up” – (Pussycat Dolls) MayDay Parade [3-10-09]. Pop-punk cover of Pussycat’s big hit from an up-and-coming group out of Tallahassee.

37. “Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)” – (A.R. Rahman) The Pussycat Dolls feat. Nicole Scheringer [3/2009]. Ditching Bollywood for the Hollywood edition without the Hindi chants and with the cream puff pop lyrics.

38. “Cello Song” – (Nick Drake) -- The Books feat. Jose Gonzalez [2-16-09]. A lovely cover of the soothing original performed by The Books who concoct an original acoustic version featuring Jose Gonzalez’s dreamy vocals for the DARK WAS the NIGHT Red Hot compilation CD which sports an all-star indie line-up of artists and songs.

39. “So Human” – (The Cure) -- Lady Sovereign [2-3-09]. A rip on the cult classic alt-rock tune form the 80’s, done by sassy Brit rapper.

40. “Right Round” – (Dead or Alive) -- Flo-rida [2-1-09]. This hip-hop version is an instant pop R&B smash with its shameless rip on the 80’s dance classic by Dead or Alive.

41. “Womanizer” – (Britney Spears) – Lily Allen [leaked 12-1-08]. Every bit as poppy as the original but front- loaded with a slower pace and charming cockney Brit accent for which Lily Allen is known.

42. “At Last” (Etta Jones) – Beyonce (from Music From The Motion Picture Cadillac Records) [12-2-08]. The talented R&B diva pays homage to the original by belting out the bluesey classic like a champ.

43. “People Get Ready” – Seal [11-11-08]. Along with the rest of the 60’s era-covers packed into this album -- entitled SOUL -- this one does soulful justice to the original a la Seal’s brave and beautiful voice.

44. “Folsom Prison Blues” (Johnny Cash) – Everlast [9-23-08]. Whitey Ford is the former front-man for House of Pain is the unlikely source for this version of the classic country track.