Rare are the cover songs that perhaps shine as brightly — if not more so — than the original versions. Consider, then, this trio of cosmically connected examples:
The duo of Iron & Wine (Sam Beam) and Ben Bridwell (of Band of Horses) did a worthy album of cover songs, named Sing Into My Mouth, which happens to be a lyric I somehow never even heard in a favorite Talking Heads song, “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).” I cannot get enough of their version of the song.
Don’t feel bad for The Talking Heads, however, as that band famously covered Arkansas native Al Green’s memorable “Take Me to the River.”
But Green is no slacker when it comes to fine cover versions, either. Check out his evocative take on The Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” and try not to find yourself slack-jawed in amazement.
