Billy Corgan, "Wrecking Ball"
Technically, it's "William Patrick Corgan," but shyeah right. It's Billy! You're Billy, man! The ship has long since sailed on trying to take a more adult-sounding name, dude. Anyway, this is one of the rare Corgan/Smashing Pumpkins covers that doesn't sound like garbage since the song actually somewhat fits Corgan's....unusual, let's go with unusual....voice. It actually sounds awesome, and actually a lot like a real Pumpkins song. Couldn't this have fit in perfectly on Adore?
U2, "So Cruel"
U2 only played this one in concert a handful of times, and I believe this is a version from a soundcheck, not an actual official show. Hard to believe it couldn't have gotten any more play, even without the stacked Zoo TV setlist, since this rendition sounds gorgeous.
LL Cool J, "Mama Said Knock You Out"
The remaining H!L!M! entries all stem from this Ringer article about the legacy of MTV Unplugged, and you can't really go wrong with any of the links from that piece. (Except the Nirvana stuff. Never forget that Nirvana is the most overrated band this side of the Doors.) This performance of "Mama Said Knock You Out," for instance, is absolute pure gold. There is a full generation that doesn't even remember LL used to be a rapper, and a terrific rapper at that.
10,000 Maniacs, "Because The Night"
There are so many amazing songs in rock history hat became huge hits for one artist despite being literally tossed away others. Bruce Springsteen reportedly considered this to be just a middling love song and didn't bother properly recording it back in 1978. Jimmy Iovine, who was producing Bruce's album, also happened to be working on Patti Smith's new album at the same time, in the same studio, and Iovine knew enough to not throw away a gem of a track. He brings it over to Patti, she rewrites the lyrics, and boom, it's one of her biggest hits. This is one of the great "wait, WHO wrote this?" songs in music history.
There are so many amazing songs in rock history hat became huge hits for one artist despite being literally tossed away others. Bruce Springsteen reportedly considered this to be just a middling love song and didn't bother properly recording it back in 1978. Jimmy Iovine, who was producing Bruce's album, also happened to be working on Patti Smith's new album at the same time, in the same studio, and Iovine knew enough to not throw away a gem of a track. He brings it over to Patti, she rewrites the lyrics, and boom, it's one of her biggest hits. This is one of the great "wait, WHO wrote this?" songs in music history.
Maxwell, "This Woman's Work"
GOOD LORD, MAXWELL'S VOICE, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! YES, THIS DESERVES ALL CAPS!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment