A Tribute to Prolific Pop Songwriter Jerry Leiber

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Aug 232011
 

Jerry Leiber, the famed songwriter, passed away yesterday at 78. He was the lyricist in the songwriting duo Leiber and Stoller while Mike Stoller handled the composing. Together they penned such classic pop songs as “Hound Dog,” “Kansas City,” “Stand by Me,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Yakety Yak,” among many other hits which were originally performed by artists like Elvis Presley, The Drifters, and Ben E.King. In 1995 Leiber and Stoller’s catalog of hits was turned into the Broadway musical Smokey Joe’s Cafe, which was nominated for seven Tony Awards. The duo was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Continue reading »

This Week on Bandcamp: Hope Anchor, Pondertone, Alison Cecile Johns, Montana Skies, The Instant

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Mar 112011
 

This Week on Bandcamp rounds up our favorite covers to hit the site in the past seven days.

Lots of nostalgia today. Three hits from yesteryear mingle with two more recent songs. If anything though, the more recent songs recall even heavier memories, as both the original artists passed away in their prime. Remember songwriters who left us too soon as well as those who trundle on with today’s selection. Continue reading »

Live Collection: Guster

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Nov 102010
 

Live Collection brings together every live cover we can find from an artist. And we find a lot.

The recent release of Easy Wonderful has given Guster fans reason to fall in love with them all over again. As their album title insinuates, they have an agreeable sound that resonates with you and has aged well over the past (almost) 20 years. If the Beach Boys went to college in the 90’s, added some bongos, and stayed out of the sun, Guster is what they would sound like.

Featured on soundtracks like Life as a House and Wedding Crashers, their songs can pull at the heartstrings as you croon along with them. On the other hand, they are better known for their laid-back, wisecracking personalities that beam from the stage and infect their fans. During their years of touring, they have taken on many cover songs with both their sensitive and playful dispositions (but mostly the latter). Typically at the end of a show, Guster will rile up the crowd with a number from Madonna, Talking Heads, or whoever sings the “Cheers” theme song (Portnoy) and get everyone involved.  Most of the time, it’s just an excuse to get drummer Brian Rosenworcel out in front showing off his questionable vocals, calling in the crowd for backup.  It’s just like being at a karaoke bar. Continue reading »

Song of the Day: Andrew Sky, “Stand by Me” (Ben E. King cover)

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Nov 032010
 

Song of the Day posts one cool cover every morning. Catch up on past installments here.

Though “Stand by Me” was originally a solo song, it has inspired many strange duets. Warren Zevon and Stephen King. Sting and Lady Gaga. Timon and Pumpa. But today we bring you a trio. Together at last, it’s Andrew Sky, Andrew Sky, and Andrew Sky! Rocking on a rooftop, the Virginia-based songwriter triples himself for some synchronized Motown snapping.

“Simplicity was key,” Sky tells us. “The bass line is so powerful by itself that I didn’t want to overpower it. I kept in mind some of the best advice I have ever received as a songwriter: don’t say in 10 notes what you can say in three. So, I chose an acoustic guitar and used a trumpet section in the chorus to emphasize the off beats, which are very important to the song.” Continue reading »

Neon Trees Go Doo-Wop on Justin Bieber

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Jun 142010
 

I have a higher tolerance for pop covers than most people, but I figured Justin Bieber’s megahit “Baby” was just too awful to ever be listenable. I was wrong. Utah-based new wavers give the song a doo-wop soul shine, going so far as to mix in a little “Stand By Me.” And it works!

The band played the tune for Billboard’s “Mashup Mondays” series and made no secret of the reasoning behind the choice. “We might as well cover something people are enjoying right now,” mohawked frontman Tyler Glenn says at video’s end. This mentality generally leads to awful, terrible covers, but the quintet bucked the trend. I’m in shock that I am enjoying “Baby” in any form, but there’s no denying this energy. Peep the video and download the MP3 below. Continue reading »

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