Covers (The Smithereens)
| Covers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 25 May 2018 | |||
| Recorded | 1980–2008 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 72:19 | |||
| Label | Sunset Blvd Records | |||
| The Smithereens chronology | ||||
| ||||
Covers is a compilation album by The Smithereens, released in May 2018 by Sunset Blvd Records.[1] It was originally released as a digital download on iTunes in May 2014.[2] The album features 22 cover songs recorded by the band between 1980 and 2008. Most of the songs have previously been released as b-sides or on tribute albums and soundtracks.
Background
[edit]Covers features songs that are collected from different sessions throughout the band's career.[3] Guitarist Jim Babjak: “Whenever we had extra time in the studio we’d knock off covers for fun."[4]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Illinois Entertainer |   [5] |
Jeff Elbel of the Illinois Entertainer rated the album 7 stars out of 10, stating: "If these songs represent the Smithereens' schoolbooks, Covers is the thesis supporting the band's tenured status as professors and proclaimers of perfect power pop."[5]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Game of Love" (originally recorded by Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders) | Clint Ballard Jr. | previously officially unreleased on CD | 2:34 |
| 2. | "The Slider" (originally recorded by T. Rex) | Marc Bolan | Resurrection of the Warlock: A Tribute to Marc Bolan & T-Rex, 1995 | 3:04 |
| 3. | "Ruler of My Heart" (originally recorded by Irma Thomas) | Naomi Neville | B-side to "House We Used to Live In", 1988 | 3:02 |
| 4. | "Wooly Bully" (originally recorded by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs) | Domingo Samudio | Encino Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), 1992 | 3:04 |
| 5. | "Let's Talk About Us" (originally recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis) | Otis Blackwell | Brace Yourself! A Tribute to Otis Blackwell, 1994 | 3:20 |
| 6. | "Girl Don't Tell Me" (originally recorded by The Beach Boys) | Brian Wilson | Girls About Town EP, 1980 | 2:23 |
| 7. | "Up in Heaven" (originally recorded by The Clash) | Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon | The Sandinista! Project - A Tribute to The Clash, 2007 | 2:53 |
| 8. | "Time Won't Let Me" (originally recorded by The Outsiders) | Chet Kelley, Tom King | Non-album single, 1994 (from the Motion Picture Timecop) | 3:46 |
| 9. | "Gloomy Sunday" (originally recorded by Hal Kemp and Billie Holiday) | Sam M. Lewis, Rezső Seress | God Save The Smithereens, 1999 | 3:40 |
| 10. | "Yer Blues" (originally recorded by The Beatles) | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | previously officially unreleased on CD | 4:45 |
| 11. | "One After 909" (originally recorded by The Beatles) | Lennon, McCartney | B-side to "Top of the Pops", 1991 | 3:36 |
| 12. | "I Want to Tell You" (originally recorded by The Beatles) | George Harrison | Songs from the Material World: A Tribute to George Harrison, 2003 | 3:13 |
| 13. | "It Don't Come Easy" (originally recorded by Ringo Starr) | Richard Starkey | B-side to "Too Much Passion", 1992 | 3:07 |
| 14. | "Well...Alright (live)" (originally recorded by Buddy Holly) | Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly, Joe B. Mauldin, Norman Petty | Live in Concert! Greatest Hits and More, 2008 | 2:38 |
| 15. | "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" (originally recorded by The Kinks) | Ray Davies | previously officially unreleased on CD | 2:31 |
| 16. | "The World Keeps Going 'Round" (originally recorded by The Kinks) | Davies | B-side to "Too Much Passion", 1992 | 2:38 |
| 17. | "Downbound Train" (originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen) | Bruce Springsteen | One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen, 1997 | 3:43 |
| 18. | "The Seeker" (originally recorded by The Who) | Pete Townshend | B-side to "Only a Memory", 1988 | 3:20 |
| 19. | "Somethin' Stupid" (originally recorded by Carson and Gaile, Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra) | C. Carson Parks | B-side to "Get a Hold of My Heart", 1992 | 2:45 |
| 20. | "Lust For Life" (originally recorded by Iggy Pop) | David Bowie, Iggy Pop | B-side to "Only a Memory", 1988 | 5:08 |
| 21. | "The Stroll" (originally recorded by The Diamonds) | Nancy Lee, Clyde Otis | Fast Track to Nowhere: Songs from the Showtime original series Rebel Highway, 1994 | 3:00 |
| 22. | "Shakin' All Over" (originally recorded by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates) | Johnny Kidd, Guy Robinson | B-side to "Top of the Pops", 1991 | 4:06 |
- Notes
- "The Game of Love", "Yer Blues", "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" and "The Stroll" were recorded in 1993-1994 during sessions for A Date with The Smithereens. They were previously released on The Mega-Box Set, an unofficial 21-CD box set released in 2005 through Pat DiNizio's website in a limited edition of 500 copies.[6] "The Stroll" was originally featured in Reform School Girl, an episode in the 1994 Showtime television series Rebel Highway.[7]
- "Ruler of My Heart", "One After 909", "Somethin' Stupid" and "Lust For Life" were recorded in December 1987 during sessions for Green Thoughts.[8]
- "Let's Talk About Us" was recorded in 1993 for Brace Yourself! A Tribute to Otis Blackwell.[9]
- "Time Won't Let Me" was recorded in June 1994 for the film Timecop but not included on the soundtrack album.[10][11]
- "I Want to Tell You" was recorded in 2002 for Songs from the Material World: A Tribute to George Harrison.[12]
- "It Don't Come Easy", "The World Keeps Going 'Round" and "Shakin' All Over" were recorded spring 1991 during sessions for Blow Up.[13]
- "Downbound Train" was recorded 24 January 1997 for One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen.[14]
- "The Seeker" was recorded spring 1987.[15]
Personnel
[edit]Adapted from the liner notes of Covers[16] and Attack of The Smithereens,[17] except where noted.
- The Smithereens
- Pat DiNizio – lead and backing vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Jim Babjak – guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home"[3] and "The World Keeps Going 'Round", co-lead vocal on "One After 909"
- Dennis Diken – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Mike Mesaros – bass, backing vocals
- Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion – bass on "Well...Alright"
- Additional musicians
- Don Dixon – piano on "Ruler of My Heart"
- Michael Hamilton – keyboards on "Wooly Bully"[18]
- Kenny Margolis – piano, backing vocals, hand claps on "Let's Talk About Us",[19] piano on "One After 909" and "It Don't Come Easy"
- Ira Sebastian Elliott – hand claps on "Let's Talk About Us"
- Tony Visconti – backing vocals on "Let's Talk About Us"
- Jimmy Wood – harmonica on "Time Won't Let Me"[10]
- Ron Fair – organ on "Time Won't Let Me"
- Dave Amels – piano on "I Want to Tell You"
- Bill Maryniak – organ on "Downbound Train"[14]
- Marti Jones – co-lead vocal on "Somethin' Stupid"
- Technical
- The Smithereens – production on "Wooly Bully", "Girl Don't Tell Me", "Time Won't Let Me", "It Don't Come Easy", "The World Keeps Going 'Round", "The Seeker" and "Shakin' All Over", compilation producer
- Don Dixon – production on "Ruler of My Heart", "One After 909", "Somethin' Stupid" and "Lust For Life"
- Ralph Sall – production on "Wooly Bully"
- Peter McCabe – production assistance on "Wooly Bully"
- Jon Tiven – production on "Let's Talk About Us"
- Tony Visconti – production on "Let's Talk About Us"
- Ron Fair – production on "Time Won't Let Me"
- Bennett Kaufman – production on "Time Won't Let Me"
- Don Fleming – production on "Gloomy Sunday"
- Michael Hamilton]] – production on "It Don't Come Easy" and "The World Keeps Going 'Round"
- Pat DiNizio – production on "Well...Alright"
- Jim Babjak – production on "Well...Alright"
- Dennis Diken – production on "Well...Alright"
- Kurt Reil – production on "Well...Alright"
- Mike Mesaros – production on "Downbound Train"
- Ed Stasium – production on "Shakin' All Over"
- Todd Sinclair – compilation supervisor
- Rebecca Baltutis – album design
- Bob Gramegna – photo restoration
References
[edit]- ^ "Covers Archived 2018-08-21 at the Wayback Machine". Officialsmithereens.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
- ^ "The Smithereens Cover Tunes Collection". iTunes. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
- ^ a b Elbel, Jeff (11 April 2018). "In the music spotlight: The Smithereens". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
- ^ Jordan, Chris (24 May 2018). "Smithereens: Jim Babjak on life without Pat DiNizio and the future of the band". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
- ^ a b Elbel, Jeff (August 2018). "Spins: The Smithereens 'Covers' review". Illinois Entertainer. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
- ^ "The Mega Box Set - Unreleased Tracks 2 , disc 14". Discogs.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ "Rebel Highway - Reform School Girl on IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ Attack of The Smithereens (CD liner notes). The Smithereens. Capitol Records. 1995.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "V/A feat. Jon Spencer – Brace Yourself: A Tribute To Otis Blackwell (CD, US)". Pop-catastrophe.co.uk. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
- ^ a b "The Smithereens – Time Won't Let Me (From The Motion Picture "Timecop") on Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
- ^ "Timecop on Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
- ^ "House of Vibes Discography". Houseofvibes.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
- ^ Attack of The Smithereens (CD liner notes). The Smithereens. Capitol Records. 1995.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Various Artists/One Step Up - Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen". Yahoo! GeoCities. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
- ^ Attack of The Smithereens (CD liner notes). The Smithereens. Capitol Records. 1995.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Covers (CD liner notes). The Smithereens. Sunset Blvd Records. 2018.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Attack of The Smithereens (CD liner notes). The Smithereens. Capitol Records. 1995.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Encino Man on Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
- ^ "Brace Yourself! A Tribute To Otis Blackwell on Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.