Covers (The Smithereens)

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Covers
Compilation album by
The Smithereens
Released25 May 2018
Recorded1980-2008
GenreRock
Length72:19
LabelSunset Blvd Records
The Smithereens chronology
Especially for You - 30th Anniversary
(2016) 		Covers
(2018)

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]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
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.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."The Game of Love" (originally recorded by Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders)Clint Ballard Jr.previously officially unreleased on CD2:34
2."The Slider" (originally recorded by T. Rex)Marc BolanResurrection of the Warlock: A Tribute to Marc Bolan & T-Rex, 19953:04
3."Ruler of My Heart" (originally recorded by Irma Thomas)Naomi NevilleB-side to "House We Used to Live In", 19883:02
4."Wooly Bully" (originally recorded by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs)Domingo SamudioEncino Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), 19923:04
5."Let's Talk About Us" (originally recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis)Otis BlackwellBrace Yourself! A Tribute to Otis Blackwell, 19943:20
6."Girl Don't Tell Me" (originally recorded by The Beach Boys)Brian WilsonGirls About Town EP, 19802:23
7."Up in Heaven" (originally recorded by The Clash)Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper HeadonThe Sandinista! Project - A Tribute to The Clash, 20072:53
8."Time Won't Let Me" (originally recorded by The Outsiders)Chet Kelley, Tom KingNon-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 SeressGod Save The Smithereens, 19993:40
10."Yer Blues" (originally recorded by The Beatles)John Lennon, Paul McCartneypreviously officially unreleased on CD4:45
11."One After 909" (originally recorded by The Beatles)Lennon, McCartneyB-side to "Top of the Pops", 19913:36
12."I Want to Tell You" (originally recorded by The Beatles)George HarrisonSongs from the Material World: A Tribute to George Harrison, 20033:13
13."It Don't Come Easy" (originally recorded by Ringo Starr)Richard StarkeyB-side to "Too Much Passion", 19923:07
14."Well...Alright (live)" (originally recorded by Buddy Holly)Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly, Joe B. Mauldin, Norman PettyLive in Concert! Greatest Hits and More, 20082:38
15."Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" (originally recorded by The Kinks)Ray Daviespreviously officially unreleased on CD2:31
16."The World Keeps Going 'Round" (originally recorded by The Kinks)DaviesB-side to "Too Much Passion", 19922:38
17."Downbound Train" (originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen)Bruce SpringsteenOne Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen, 19973:43
18."The Seeker" (originally recorded by The Who)Pete TownshendB-side to "Only a Memory", 19883:20
19."Somethin' Stupid" (originally recorded by Carson and Gaile, Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra)C. Carson ParksB-side to "Get a Hold of My Heart", 19922:45
20."Lust For Life" (originally recorded by Iggy Pop)David Bowie, Iggy PopB-side to "Only a Memory", 19885:08
21."The Stroll" (originally recorded by The Diamonds)Nancy Lee, Clyde OtisFast Track to Nowhere: Songs from the Showtime original series Rebel Highway, 19943:00
22."Shakin' All Over" (originally recorded by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates)Johnny Kidd, Guy RobinsonB-side to "Top of the Pops", 19914:06


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]

  1. ^ "Covers Archived 2018-08-21 at the Wayback Machine". Officialsmithereens.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
  2. ^ "The Smithereens Cover Tunes Collection". iTunes. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b Elbel, Jeff (11 April 2018). "In the music spotlight: The Smithereens". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b Elbel, Jeff (August 2018). "Spins: The Smithereens 'Covers' review". Illinois Entertainer. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "The Mega Box Set - Unreleased Tracks 2 , disc 14". Discogs.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Rebel Highway - Reform School Girl on IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ "V/A feat. Jon Spencer – Brace Yourself: A Tribute To Otis Blackwell (CD, US)". Pop-catastrophe.co.uk. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
  10. ^ a b "The Smithereens – Time Won't Let Me (From The Motion Picture "Timecop") on Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Timecop on Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
  12. ^ "House of Vibes Discography". Houseofvibes.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ a b "Various Artists/One Step Up - Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen". Yahoo! GeoCities. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ Covers (CD liner notes). The Smithereens. Sunset Blvd Records. 2018.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ 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)
  18. ^ "Encino Man on Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Brace Yourself! A Tribute To Otis Blackwell on Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2018.


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