“Surfin’ Bird” was a #4 hit for the Trashmen in 1963. It’s based on two songs by the Rivingtons: “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird’s the Word”
The Ramones covered it in 1977. It’s a perfect song for them – simple, trashy and fast.
The Rivingtons: – “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow”
“Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” was written by Freddy Fender who also performed the best-known version in 1975.
Freddy Fender (1959 original recording)
Los Cenzontles, Flaco Jimenez, David Hidalgo (2017)
“Little Sister” was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. The first recording was by Elvis Presley in 1961. It was covered by Ry Cooder in 1979 and Dwight Yoakam in 1987. Yoakam opened his set with it on June 19, 2018 in Baltimore.
Townes Van Zandt wrote and recorded “White Freightliner Blues”. I’m not sure when. I know the song best from two recent covers by Lyle Lovett (2012) and Steve Earle (2009).
Harlan Howard’s “Above and Beyond” was a hit for Buck Owens in 1960. It was covered by Wynn Stewart in 1967. It was a #1 country hit for Rodney Crowell in 1989.
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was the Rolling Stones’ first #1 record in the US in 1965.
Covers include versions by Otis Redding (1965) and a new wave version by Devo (1977)
The original version of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was recorded by John Denver in 1971.
A really creative cover by reggae artist Toots & the Maytals was released in 197e as “Country Road”
Toots substituted “West Jamaica” for “West Virginia.
“Release Me” was written in 1949 as a country song and has been recorded in different styles. Here are some of the many versions that show how durable the song is.
There was a hugely popular version by Engelbert Humperdinck in 1967 – not my type of music but you can dig it up.
Eddie Miller (1949) – the original version
Lyle Lovett with k.d. lang (2012) (Make sure to check out the Release Me album cover)
Lyle Lovett (live in a studio in 2012)
On Clifton Chenier’s birthday
The zydeco song was written and originally recorded by Clifton Chenier. I am not sure when but I am guessing it was in the 1950s. The cover version I know best was by Buckwheat Zydeco from 1987. There are numerous other versions including Marcia Ball (1986) and the Red Stick Ramblers (2007)
Buckwheat Zydeco (filmed performance – date unknown)
C. J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band (live – date unknown)
“Memphis Shakedown” is from the same session as “Jug Band Quartette” in 1934.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops performed it live with Rhiannon Giddens on kazoo doing the Charlie Pierce fiddle part from the original recording.
If you like the Memphis Jug Band version, try this song from the same session “Ruckus Juice and Chittlin'”
Sad! 