After recording his own versions of cover songs with the Frontier Circus, we wondered what covers by other artists make Frontier Dan yell "Yeeeeehaaaaw!" Here's a list of his current five favorites:
1. The Skeletons' version of Peter, Paul and Mary's "Very Last Day"
"It's hard to get much better than this one. The Missouri-based Skeletons were America's best cover band. The way they do it is pithy and bright."
2. The Clash's version of Willi Williams' "Armagideon Time"
"The original is a great song that was only noticed in Jamaica. The lyrics were changed slightly, but the end-times spirit of the song is successfully translated for non-Rastafarians."
Frontier Dan's brother, Oleo Magneto, says, "I saw The Clash play this song in Dallas in front of a roomful of drunken cowboys. It sounded like a war."
3. Patti Smith's "Hey Joe."
"What are you gonna say? It's just great."
4. John Cale's art-damaged take on Elvis' "Heartbreak Hotel."
"Talk about making something different!"
- David Thomas and Jackie Leven's version of The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'."
"You've just got to hear it."
-- Sean Clancy
Style on 03/03/2015