Three New Tributes
Three new tribute albums have recently been released, one honoring lesser known Beatles songs, another is a salute to the songwriting of Tom Waits and the third salutes vintage early guitar rock. Performing these tributes are two veteran acts hailing from New Jersey and one boy from the Bronx.
First up is the second album from the Smithereens honoring the classic sound of the early Beatles. The new album is called B-Sides The Beatles. B-Sides The Beatles is, in a way, the sequel to the Smithereens’ loving tribute to the Beatles’ first official American album, Meet The Beatles!. The difference is that Meet The Smithereens! is a recreation of the entire Meet The Beatles! album from beginning to end. On this new one, the Smithereens (Pat DiNizio, Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and recent addition Severo “The Thrilla” Jornacion) opt to cover an assortment of songs, all linked by the fact they are lesser known Beatles chestnuts, primarily B sides. The Smithereens tackle “Thank You Girl”, “There’s A Place”, “I’ll Get You”, “You Can’t Do That”, “Ask Me Why”, “Cry For A Shadow”, “P.S. I Love You”, “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You”, “If I Fell”, “Slow Down”, “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party” and “Some Other Guy”. B-Sides The Beatles is the fourth album in a little over a year and a half for the suddenly prolific Smithereens. Meet The Smithereens!, which was released in January 2007, was the first “new” Smithereens album (not counting compilations) in about seven and a half years. Since Meet The Smithereens!, the band released Christmas With The Smithereens in late 2007, Live In Concert! Greatest Hits And More this past spring, and now B-Sides The Beatles.
Southside Johnny Lyon has teamed up with a big band fronted by Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg, a longtime member of the Asbury Jukes, to salute Tom Waits. Credited to Southside Johnny with LaBamba’s Big Band, Grapefruit Moon The Songs Of Tom Waits is a jazzy, change of pace for Johnny, and a treat for both Asbury Jukes fans and Tom Waits fans. Tom even shows up for a duet.
Covered on the album are: “Yesterday Is Here” (originally from Tom’s album Franks Wild Years), “Down, Down, Down” (from Swordfishtrombones), “Walk Away” (from the Dead Man Walking soundtrack and Tom’s Orphans Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards), “Please Call Me, Baby” (from The Heart Of Saturday Night), “Grapefruit Moon” (from Closing Time), “All The Time In The World” (from Orphans Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards), “Tango Till They’re Sore” (from Rain Dogs), “Johnsburg, Illinois” (from Swordfishtrombones), “New Coat Of Paint” (from The Heart Of Saturday Night), “Shiver Me Timbers” (from The Heart Of Saturday Night), “Dead And Lovely” (from Real Gone) and “Temptation” (Franks Wild Years). Southside Johnny and LaBamba’s Big Band give these songs new personality by casting them in big band jazz, super club blues and traditional pop settings.
The King of the New York Streets, the Bronx’ own, Dion DiMucci, is back with his tribute to guitar based, rock and roll classics, called Heroes Giants Of Early Guitar Rock. After two consecutive acoustic blues albums (2005’s Bronx In Blue and last year’s Son Of Skip James), Dion turns to the early heroes - Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Del Shannon, Johnny Cash, the Everly Brothers and himself! The album features 15 early rock classics and a DVD which includes an interview with Dion where he talks about his heroes and friends from the first generation of rock and roll. The songs Dion chose to cover are: “Summertime Blues”, “Come On, Let’s Go”, “Rave On”, “Believe What You Say”, “Bye Bye Love”, “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, “Runaway”, “Jailhouse Rock”, “I Walk The Line”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Who Do You Love”, “Sweet Little Rock And Roller”, “Dream Baby”, “Shake, Rattle And Roll” and “The Wanderer”. Dion explained that this album is a labor of love; a chance for him to show his reverence and respect for the rockers who he knew, toured with, jammed with and called his friends. At the same time, he wanted to celebrate the early rock and roll guitar innovators, from Richie Valens and Buddy Holly, to the men behind the scenes, like James Burton, Scotty Moore and Cliff Gallup.
FOOTNOTE: I’d like to also make quick mentions of two additional covers albums that are also out there. James Taylor has cherry picked a bunch of his favorite tunes, songs that he has performed over the years, and recorded his versions of these songs for his new album Covers. Coming on October 28, 2008, is the new Boz Scaggs collection. Boz finally follows his acclaimed jazz album, 2003’s But Beautiful Standards Volume 1, with a new collection of jazz songs, called Speak Low. (Hey Boz, should we consider Speak Low volume two?!)
