“Jet Airliner” was written by Paul Pena and recorded by him in 1973. His version wasn’t released until 2000. Steve Miller heard the Pena recording and released a popular single in 1977.

“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” was released by the Beatles on the white album in 1968. It’s an upbeat McCartney song influenced by ska. R&B singer Arthur Conley was among the people who covered it. So did the Muppets. Check out the version by the Bedrocks. Several covers have millions of views on YouTube.

I thought of posting this when I saw the cover by Barbara Lynn. ” What’d I Say” (1959) is probably Ray Charles’s most famous record.

I saw Ray Charles perform in the late 1970s or early 1980s at Artscape in Baltimore. By that point, he was no longer an innovator and the show looked like it came out of a time capsule. Even though it was old-fashioned, it was still great.

Happy birthday to Barbara Lynn, born on this day in 1942 in Beaumont, Texas. Here she is performing “What I’d Say” in 1966. pic.twitter.com/G4wNPKXPOL

— Dust-to-Digital (@dusttodigital) January 16, 2021

“I’m into Something Good” was made popular by Herman’s Hermits in 1964. The original version by Earl-Jean was also from 1964. The song was written by the husband and wife team Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Goffin got Earl-Jean pregnant!

from Wikipedia: Carole King has said that in writing the song she was inspired by Brian Wilson: “I make no bones about it, that song was influenced by Brian’s music”.^[5]

“Twistin’ the Night Away” is a great Sam Cooke song released in 1962. The much more passionate 1963 live version from the Harlem Square Club wasn’t released until the 1980s. The most popular cover is Rod Stewart’s version on his excellent 1973 album Never A Dull Moment.

“The KKK Took My Baby Away” is a 1981 Ramones song that was covered by the Drive-By Truckers on their latest album.

“You’re Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond” was recorded by Blind Willie Johnson in 1930. I love the 1971 live cover by Taj Mahal.

“Tulsa County” was written and recorded by Pamela Polland. I know the Son Volt version best.

This is tragic. Steve Earle just covered “Harlem River Blues” by his son Justin Townes Earle who died in 2020.

with Jason Isbell on guitar

“Barbara Ann” by the Regents (1961) is a good very conventional doo-wop record. The Beach Boys 1965 cover is another story. The live in the studio party version is sloppy but still very entertaining because of the excellent harmonies.

The minions made it into the “Banana Song”

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