As promised, a summer theme. This is one song to which I don't feel any improvements are needed. The original is perfect, and only a few of the covers featured do I feel succeed in doing something new and exciting. I think the Everly Brothers and Van Halen win the cup this time. See what you think.

In researching this episode, I discovered something interesting, which became the sub-theme of this episode: That both The Who and the Grateful Dead both began covering this song in a straight ahead form in each of the band's early days. Both retired the tune, only to each rework it in the late 70's. So I bookend this episode with those bands' versions. Yes, I might spend a few extra minutes on the Dead's version(s), but that's just because their musical references are so rich, that it's hard for me to resist diving in. I also wish I cut the Little Richard version a minute or two earlier--I started out loving it, but grew to dislike it after repeated listening.

Otherwise, you will hear some prime examples of how music changed between the 60's and 80's. I can't really say that things have changed half as much in the last 20 years.