Maybe our favorite themed playlists are when we find what we call “unconventional covers”. Songs you might recognize, but presented in a new (and sometimes almost foreign?) way. We think this batch (our volume three of this format) is out best ever, and at least a few of these are huge improvements on the originals. All eleven are fun and interesting takes on songs you might already know.
Show notes from our March 2025 Spotify Podcast:
We started with Phoebe’s ten submissions and Al’s ten submissions, We narrowed those submissions down and eventually ended up with these eleven songs…
Song notes (Quotes are from song lyrics):
- “”Relax” dijo el portero, por mi es honor recibir, puede salir cuando quiere, pero nunca yo partir”
The Gipsy Kings bring their own Latin spice to this overheard classic. - “Said you was hurtin’, almost lost your mind, the man you love hurts you, all the time”
Cat Clyde has been in our playlist both with and without Jeremie Albino. Either way brings us great joy. - “You know it would be untrue, you know it would be a lie, if I was to say to you baby, we couldn’t get much higher”
Maybe it’s because neither of us are Doors fans, but Jackie Wilson’s “Light My Fire” might be the best version we know. - “Mucho mistrust, love’s gone behind”
Sorry, Debbie Harry, but Nick Shoulders kinda owns this song in our hearts now. - “I’m not in love so don’t forget it, it’s just a silly phase I’m going through”
Kelsie Lu brings her atmospheric mood to the 10cc classic “I’m Not In Love”. - “Hang onto your hopes, my friend, that’s an easy thing to say”
The Bangles were very much a product of their era, but they also could craft a really good pop song, and their version of “Hazy Shade of Winter” brings it. - “Yeah the boys were too kind, you’ve been there, you’ve been there, you’ve been there yeah”
Sometimes a good cover makes you completely forget the original. Who would have ever thought that “Thunderstruck” could be such a beautiful piece of music? Hellsongs apparently did. - “Them that’s got shall get, them that’s not shall lose, so the Bible says, and it still is news”
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again. The best covers take a good song, take it completely apart, and then build something completely new out of it. Blood, Sweat & Tears shows us how that’s done. Check out this fun (and much later) video version: - “I never dreamed that I’d find somebody like you, and I never dreamed that I’d lose somebody like you”
Abraham Alexander’s cover is both similar and very different than Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”. We love them both. - “Can I sail through the changing ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life?”
How is it possible that Baby Rose is 30 years old? He voice carries all the wisdom and grace of a singer twice her age. We hope that Stevie Nicks loves this version half as much as we do. - “The drying of your tears today we escape”
We like saving the best for last. This Radiohead cover might be one of our favorite covers we’ve ever brought you on this playlist.
Both our Spotify playlist and our podcast are updated and released around the first of each month. We’re recorded monthly in the warm and cozy hug of the OML Studios in lovely downtown Manchester, Richmond, Virginia.
During our show, we also talked about lots of other things too: the original versions of these covers, some songs that didn’t quite make the cut this time, as well as some songs (covers and others) from previous playlists. You can check out all of those here.
Thanks to Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey for help in recording this month. Theme music is from “Red Eye” by E’s Jammy Jams. Crown of September by Blue Dot Sessions. Trod Along by Blue Dot Sessions. Gentle Son by Blue Dot Sessions. Blood Petal by Blue Dot Sessions. In Passage by Blue Dot Sessions.
Featured image: A Nags Head sunrise.
Questions? Suggestions? Submissions? Drop us an email! As always, thanks for listening, and see you next month!
