John Prine’s 1971 song “Sam Stone” is about a Vietnam soldier who comes home addicted to drugs. It’s got some great lines like “There’s a hole in daddy’s arm where all the money goes.”
Swamp Dogg covered it.
Category: Music covers
Covers: Total Destruction to Your Mind
I discovered this great 1970 soul song by Swamp Dogg through the Oxford American magazine annual music issue a few years ago. Swamp Dogg has lots of other great songs. I just found this cover from 2017 by the Isley Brothers and Santana.
Covers: Photograph
“Photograph”  was written by Ringo Starr and George Harrison and recorded by Starr in 1973. Camper Van Beethoven played it faster in their version released in 1993.
Covers: Pictures of Matchstick Men
The original version of “Pictures of Matchstick Men” was recorded by the English band Status Quo in 1968.  It’s a great piece of 1960s psychedelic trash. American band Camper Van Beethoven made a great cover version in 1989. It’s an affectionate tribute to the weirdness and excesses of the era. Robert Christgau wrote that it “smirks cheerfully at hippie nostalgia”.
Covers: Think
“Think” was originally recorded by The “5” Royales. It is an excellent record but unusual only for Lowman Pauling’s guitar playing which was ahead of it’s time.
James Brown’s 1960 cover was revolutionary. He completely redoes the song in a much faster tempo.
Steve Cropper also covered it on his 2011 album Dedicated – A Tribute to the 5 Royales.
The “5” Royales are not nearly as well known as they should be. Two of their best songs, “Think” and Dedicated to the One I Love” are better known in cover versions. This comprehensive box set is very impressive.
Covers: (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love And Understanding
Nick Lowe wrote “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love And Understanding” and recorded it as a member of Brinsley Schwarz in 1974.
Lowe later produced Elvis Costello’s version, recorded in 1978 as a b-side of a single and added to the 1979 American release of his album Armed Forces. This is the best known version and it certainly is more forceful than any other one I know.
It was also recorded in 2017 by Los Straitjackets; they have backed Lowe up in concerts.
Finally, I found a ragged but entertaining all-star version led by Bruce Springsteen in 2004.
Covers: It’s Too Late
There are several songs with that title but this is the Chuck Willis R&B song from 1956. Derek and the Dominos covered it in 1970 and performed it on the Johnny Cash Show.
Covers: Hearts of Stone
The R&B version of “Hearts of Stone” was a #1 hit for Otis Williams and the Charms when they recorded it in 1954. John Fogerty recorded a version in 1973 that sounded like his Creedence Clearwater Revival records.
This is the original version by the Jewels which I was not aware of until I prepared this post. The Otis Williams version is similar.
Covers: Suspicious Minds
Mark James, the song’s author, recorded it in 1968. Elvis Presley covered it very successfully in 1969 with the same producer and a very similar arrangement.
The Fine Young Cannibals covered it in 1985 and Dwight Yoakam recorded it in 1992.
Covers: Big Road Blues
Tommy Johnson’s original recording was made in 1928. Big Maceo recorded it in 1945. Bonnie Raitt covered it on her first album in 1971. Her version is closer to Tommy Johnson’s.
David Bromberg covered it for his 2020 album Big Road.
Sad! 