The CoverUp
We sneak up on the end of 2025 with a tribute episode for someone who was a great talent and a musician’s musician, and a cover that aces the hard job of doing the song justice. Play A Train Song, originally by Todd Snider, covered by Jason Isbell. Outro music is Beer Run, also by Todd Snider.
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The foundations of modern American folk music, one of the biggest Canadian songs ever, and a possibly misplaced application of Christmas cheer. Seasons In The Sun, originally by The Kingston Trio, covered by Terry Jacks, and by Westlife. Outro music is M.T.A., also by The Kingston Trio, because we can’t get enough of them — it’s a family tradition.
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A perfectly executed song that utterly defines a genre — for good or ill — and a cover that takes a simple start and uses a lot of musical smarts to recontextualize it. All The Small Things, originally by Blink-182, covered by City Mouth. We’ve used this outro music before, but it’s time to restore the ear worm. The Bumblebee Tuna song by Mephiskapheles.
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A brilliant song that couldn’t have been anything else with the level of talent behind it, and a cover that probably took its job a little too seriously. Tell Me Something Good, originally by Rufus, covered by Pink. Outro music is Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi, and you can totally hear that thing we talk about in the episode. It’s unmistakeable.
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A huge hit at the start of a really complicated career, and a band who knows where to take their inspiration. Your Love Is My Drug, originally by Kesha, covered by Blusher. Outro music is Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2.
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One of the great folk songs of the modern era captures the spirit — and the historical record — of maritime tragedy, and the cover that knows it stuff as well as the original. The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald, originally by Gordon Lightfoot, covered by Simon Barr Sinister. Outro music is the theme from Underdog, because how could it not be.
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The knives come out over whether we’ve found the perfect love song as we look at another classic episode. The Book Of Love, originally by The Magnetic Fields, covered by Peter Gabriel, and by Gavin James. Outro music is In Spite Of Ourselves, by John Prine with iris DeMent.
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We revisit episode 53, with one of the most important songs in the history of rock and roll, an incredible original, a hugely successful but also problematic cover, and … well, a great artist who stepped outside of his comfort zone. Hound Dog, originally by Big Momma Thornton, covered by Elvis Presley, and by James Taylor. Newly added outro music is Ball ’n Chain, also by Big Momma Thornton.
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Another archive episode revisited, with a classic song that’s been covered countless times, and it just so happens that three of them are brilliant in their own way. People Get Ready, originally by The Impressions, covered by Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart, and by Alicia Keys. Outro music (newly added) is It’s All Right, also by The Impressions.
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We pull a classic episode from the archives, back to episode 20, where we take a look at one of the most important bands in Hip Hop, and a cover that couldn’t possibly work, but does. 911 Is A Joke, originally by Public Enemy, covered by Duran Duran. Outro music (which is new to the episode) is Eve of Destruction, a rare cover by Public Enemy.
info_outlineA beautiful song that subtly obscures its musical roots by an artist with surprising connections to the genre, and a cover that goes all in on everything. I Can See Clearly Now, originally by Johnny Nash, covered by Hothouse Flowers.
Outro music is Closer to Fine by Indigo Girls, and we guarantee it will all make sense.