The CoverUp

A huge song from a band that should have taken over the world, an early cover from a band that kinda did, and a family band that can hold their own with both of them. I'm a Man, originally by Spencer Davis Group, covered by Chicago Transit Authority, and by Los Lonely Boys.

Outro music is 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago, where they really let the horns go wild.

An unforgettable song with origins we never would have expected, and a wild ride of popularity nobody could have predicted. Unchained Melody, originally by Todd Duncan, covered by The Righteous Brothers.

Outro music is Christmas in Prison by John Prine.

Get out your striped socks and your blue foods for an ultra-listenable song that had massive success, and a cover that understood the assignment better than anyone could have expected. Riptide, originally by Vance Joy, covered by Stealth.

Outro music is Pokerface, by Lady Gaga.

Also we have a reading assignment for you this week, and we guarantee you'll thank us for it.

We're not saying that doubling down on emotionally abusive high school BS is the way to write great music, but wow, there's some great music steeped in emotionally abusive high school BS. Go Your Own Way, originally by Fleetwood Mac, covered by The Cranberries.

Outro music is (They Long To Be) Close To You, but the cover version by The Cranberries.

The most important song in the history of Heavy Metal has a lot more substance than you might think, as does that song's most unexpected cover. War Pigs, originally by Black Sabbath, covered by T-Pain.

Outro is Fortunate Son, by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

One of the biggest - and most impactful - songs of the 80s, when art rock turned into party rock without losing any of the art. And a cover that shows off a special kind of genius steeped in the purest fandom. Sledgehammer, originally by Peter Gabriel, covered by Lowland Hum.

Outro music is Higher Love, by Steve Winwood.

We start with an artist you know, but probably don't know you know, and finish with one you definitely know, but maybe didn't know like this. Just One Smile, originally by Gene Pitney, covered by Sheena Easton.

Outro music is A Love Bizarre, by Sheila E, because we couldn't help ourselves.

We kick off the new year with a foundational song by a tragic but influential artist, check out a cover by a band that learned all the right lessons, and listen to a version that only exists because network TV executives have no idea how to do their jobs. Twenty Flight Rock, originally by Eddie Cochran, covered by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, and by Conan O'Brien, featuring Jack White.

Outro music is 25 Minutes to Go, by Shel Silverstein.

An art project that had a shocking degree of influence on literally all of modern music, and a cover that tries really hard to … well, it tries really hard. Tom's Diner, originally by Suzanne Vega, covered by AnnenMayKantereit with Giant Rooks.

Outro music is Keep On Moving by Soul II Soul.

This week, we focus on New Wave greatness, Patriotism, and questionable sandwich spreads. Down Under, originally by Men At Work, covered by Nick Cunningham, and by Leftover Crack.

Outro music is Kookaburra, by Octopretzel.