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.
In 2004, Guster released a Violent Femmes cover album, but that’s just a tiny sample of what they’ve done. They’ve got spunk and pep for Nena’s “99 Red Balloons,” and simple nostalgia for The Mamas & the Papas‘ “California Dreamin’.” And when you think you’ve heard it all, prepare to be wowed by Guster covering “Two of Us” by The Beatles. Their harmonies throughout this classic are beautifully refined.
Download each song individually below or all 42 at the bottom (thanks to archive.org). A * next to a song signifies a must-have MP3. Did I miss any? Post a note in the comments! If you include a link, I’ll add the song to the main post.
Update 11/29: 10 new songs added!
Live Collection: Guster
99 Red Balloons (Nena cover)*
Add it Up (Violent Femmes cover)
Always on My Mind (Willie Nelson cover)
Born to Be Wild (Steppenwolf cover) [New]
Boys Don’t Cry (The Cure cover)
Bridge over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel cover)
California Dreamin’ (The Mamas & the Papas cover)
Celebration (Kool & the Gang cover) [New]
Come on Eileen (Dexys Midnight Runners cover)
Creep (Radiohead cover)
Days (The Kinks cover) [New]
Don’t Fear The Reaper (Blue Öyster Cult cover)
Down in It (Nine Inch Nails cover)
Faithfully (Journey cover)
Funkytown (Lipps Inc. cover)
Gone Daddy Gone (Violent Femmes cover)
Happy Together (The Turtles cover)
Hello/Running with the Night/Say You Say Me/Stuck on You/All Night Long/Hello (Lionel Richie covers) [New]
Home Sweet Home (Mötley Crüe cover)
House of the Rising Sun (Trad. cover) [New]
Hunger Strike (Temple of the Dog cover)
Hungry Like the Wolf (Duran Duran cover) [New]
I Saw Her Standing There (The Beatles cover)
I Want to Know What Love Is (Foreigner cover)
In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins cover)
Jolene (Cake cover)
Keep Your Hands to Yourself (Georgia Satellites cover)
Killing in the Name Of (Rage Against the Machine)
Kiss Me (Sixpence None the Richer) [New]
Kiss Off (Violent Femmes cover)
Kokomo (The Beach Boys cover)
Like a Prayer (Madonna cover)
My Life (Billy Joel cover)
Not the Same (Ben Folds cover)*
(Nothing But) Flowers (Talking Heads cover)*
One (U2 cover)
‘Revenge of the Nerds’ Rap [New]
Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash cover)
Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground cover)
Shaking Through (R.E.M. Cover)
Signs (5 Man Electrical Band cover)
Stand by Me (Ben E. King cover) [New]
Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2 cover)
The Boy with the Arab Strap (Belle & Sebastian cover)
The Chain (Fleetwood Mac cover)
The Sun Shines Down on Me (Daniel Johnston cover)*
Theme from Cheers (Portnoy cover)
Time of the Season (The Zombies cover) [New]
Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler cover)
Two of Us (The Beatles cover)*
Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi cover)
What’s Up (4 Non Blondes cover)
Where the Streets Have No Name (U2 cover)
With or Without You (U2 cover)
(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!) (Beastie Boys cover)
– DOWNLOAD FULL SET –
Check out more from Guster at their website. Download tons of live shows at archive.org. Also, don’t miss last month’s Live Collection from Wilco.
Sweet Caroline- played it in Ithaca NY :)
I saw them cover Andrew WK’s Party Hard in Utica NY.
One of my favorites is their “Born to be Wild” cover with Jump, Little Children. I downloaded it years ago on Napster in college. Potentially from a show at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, but not sure. No clue if it’s still kicking around the interwebz.
my favorite is the lionel richie medley. you can find it here http://www.archive.org/details/guster1996-01-26.flac16
not the same- ben folds
Days by the Kinks
I kind of wish Guster would just cover all of Daniel Johnston’s songs.
I have a copy of them singing the rap from Revenge of the Nerds and the Land of the Lost theme song.
“Time Of The Season” by The Zombies
Anyone have their cover of Comin’ Back Soon- Crash Test Dummies?
I have literally been looking for a collection like this for ten years. You guys are awesome. I’ve added some of my own at the following archive.org site. The included songs are “Stand By Me,” “Born To Be Wild,” “House of the Rising Sun,” “Kiss Me,” “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Celebrate Good Times.”
http://www.archive.org/details/GusterLiveCovers
by the way – “Kiss Me” is laugh-out-loud funny.