In Between The Covers

1. Renegades of Funk- Rage Against The Machine

• "Now renegades are the people with their own philosophies, they change the course of history, everyday people like you and me." "Zulu nation, revelations, destroy all nations." Despite my love of old school hip-hop I wasn't familiar with this classic Afrika Bambaataa song until this cover version by Rage Against The Machine. The Rage Against The Machine cover comes from the 2000 compilation "Renegades" which explores the groups musical/political roots. Great covers often have a way of paying tribute and reinventing songs simultaneously; this is a great example. Rage gives this song an amped up sense of urgency not found in the original recording. Before I give too much praise to the cover I need to give credit where credit is due. Bambaataa (the "master of records") was years ahead of his time with the original "Renegades of Funk". The references to "Chief Sitting Bull, Tom Paine, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X" as "renegades of their time and age" is priceless. Tom Paine? Yea. I once had a street person ask me what the best nation was. Of course I told him the Zulu nation. He explained that is was the do-nation. With a line like that I had to oblige.

2. Summertime Blues- Eddie Cochran

• "I'm a gonna raise a fuss, I'm a gonna raise a holler, about a workin' all summer just to try to earn a dollar." "Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do, but there ain't no cure for the summertime blues." We're talking "rockabilly" here. It's probably good that "rock and roll" became the term to describe this music. Eddie Cochran was an early rock pioneer who's career was cut short by a car accident at the age of 21. I'm most familiar with "Summertime Blues" from The Who's classic "Live at Leeds" album. The original is quite enjoyable as well and fans of hand claps will not be disappointed. In an early episode of the Simspsons Bart complains that he's going to miss the whole summer because of a broken leg. Homer comforts him by explaining that it's ok because when he gets older he'll have a job and miss every summer. Summertime blues indeed.

3. Love Song- 311

• "Whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am home again, whenever I'm a lone with you, you make me feel like I am whole again." This 311 cover of The Cure's "Love Song" is quite something. I'm most familiar with 311 for songs like "Down" and "All Mixed Up"...enjoyable stuff but are these songs anything beyond faux punk/ska cover band fodder? Their version of "Love Song" is soulful, sensual and on point. It comes from the "50 First Dates" soundtrack which features reggae/island tinged covers of 80's music. The other most notable cover from the collection is Jason Mraz's take on "I Melt With You". I sort of remember the original version of this song being popular but I was way too busy listening to Public Enemy at the time to pay it much attention. Kudos for 311 for bringing it into my consciousness. If a girl puts this song on a mix CD for you, you did something right...perhaps something right under the covers.