Best Tributes, Covers, Dedications

One of the best cover albums is "Metal Juke Box" by Helloween

I do have to agree with those who have said that Paint it Blue is one of the best. Of course, there are any number of other good tributes as well as many that are not so good.

Ed Palermo Big Band does terrific big band arrangements of Zappa. Zappa plays Zappa just tries to do what FZ himself did -- which is something FZ would never do, if you know what I mean. But Palermo's stuff is excellent.

I've been through the new Richard Lloyd cover album (Jimi Hendrix) a couple of times and it's interesting. The arrangements sound "thinner" (less dense) and, while some of the original's "funk" appeal is lost, the "pop" appeal of the songs is enhanced. At the risk of offending, it sounds like a white guy covering Hendrix. Lloyd's playing is excellent, but unlikely to please die hard fans of the original. Worth hearing, but not earthshaking.

Marty

Dgarretson,

When I looked at your post again, I realized that Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs had done a Vol II of "Under The Covers". I'm a big fan of Sweet and, even though I found Vol I a bit disapointing (good song choices, cover versions a bit too tame and perhaps "respectful" of the originals for my taste), I set out to find Vol II.

A glance at the cover got my attention quickly. The track list looks like I dictated it. A dozen of my A list favorite candidates for cover versions, including one by Lindsey Buckingham and two!! by Todd Rundgren are included. (These are my two favorite rock artists.) I fired it up in my car on the way home from the store. Ah, well.

I find these covers (with the exception of a very interesting re-work of Yes' "I've Seen All Good People/Your Move") also too tame. They're all good, but I really wanted/expected more. The cds are still fun, but I really wish Sweet and Hoffs had taken a few more risks.

Marty