Happy birthday John Lennon
John Lennon would have been 66 today (had he not been shot by obsessed fan Mark David Chapman in 1980). He was only 40 when he died, and I’ve sometimes wondered what other wonderful music he had still within him.
I figure the occasion of his entrance into this world (with a bang – he was born during a German aid raid over Liverpool the night of October 9-10, 1940) is a fine reason to post some covers off the Working Class Hero: A Tribute To John Lennon album (1995, Hollywood Records). It’s an eclectic little snapshot of the musical environment of the mid-90s, with some spiffy covers & interesting interpretations.
Also speaking of covers, Coverville has a John Lennon covers podcast for free download as well.
Instant Karma! – Toad The Wet Sprocket
Nobody Told Me – The Flaming Lips
I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier – Mad Season
(featuring Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, and Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees)
Power To The People – The Minus 5
(Scott McCaughey with members of R.E.M., The Posies, and Wilco & The Decemberists – in various incarnations)
Also, you may be interested in reading my post on the 25th anniversary of his death last year, which has an active download link to a demo version of my favorite Lennon solo song — one of the most gorgeous recordings you will ever hear: earnest and yearning and raw and perfect.
Name: Heather Browne
The Screaming Trees version of “Working Class Hero” would be a good addendum to this post.
Ken Smith — October 10, 2006 @ 9:01 am
Yeah Ken…also…it’s Jackson (no relation) Browne’s B-day. Maybe Nico doing “These Days” would be cool. BTW: what ever happened to her son.
mickeyitaliano — October 10, 2006 @ 11:41 am
I love the Toad the Wet Sprocket cover. Thanks for posting it.
cheers, Baby
http://www.musichawk.com
Baby — October 10, 2006 @ 9:11 pm
I had never heard that version before of ‘I know’;it’s so honest,musical and direct.I cannot believe there were no comments on it in the past.It’s as if its still playing once its stopped.A great post.Thanks.
russell — October 11, 2006 @ 4:09 pm
russell, amen! I love that version of I Know. Love, love, love. It is so stripped and I love the honesty in the cracking of his voice. A little gem for sure, and I can see what you mean when you say that it seems to keep playing after the end. Rad.
heather — October 11, 2006 @ 4:21 pm