Friday, August 27, 2021

27 August 2021 - Calexico - Corona

In 2004, Calexico, a Tuscon, Arizona-based Tex-Mex band, decided to take a Minutemen classic, give it some horns and a mariachi-inspired extended guitar solo, and made a new classic.  Give this 2015 live version a listen. 

Monday, August 16, 2021

16 August 2021 - Sixpence None The Richer - I Need Love

It is interesting to me that Sixpence None The Richer, a band with roots in the Christian music world, covered this song, with the line "I need God, not the political church".  

And yet, Word Records put this out as part of their greatest hits album in 2004.  

Sixpence None The Richer have excellent taste in covers.   In this one, Leigh Nash brings her sing-songy voice to a song written and performed by the huskier-voiced Sam Phillips, and makes it into a differently beautiful masterpiece.

Thursday, August 12, 2021

12 August 2021 - Los Lobos - La Bamba

In 1987, a movie about the life of Richie Valens was released.  

La Bamba

Lou Diamond Phillips starred as Richie Valens, and he appears in this video with LA band Los Lobos, who did the singing and performing, at the request of the Valenzuela family (his real name was Richie Valenzuela). This version of the song went to #1 around the world and was by far the biggest hit of Los Lobos's career.