Original vs. Cover: Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd vs. Sparklehorse (with Thom Yorke of Radiohead)

Every once in a while, I come across a song that is just brilliant, and then later realize that it's in fact a cover version. Well, we're going to be having a face off here everyday for the next week - The Original vs. The Cover. I'll be featuring songs that aren't as obvious as say... William Hung's version of I Believe I Can Fly. :) It's my hope that you'll discover some really cool, new songs - and maybe some that you never even knew were covers.

Keep up on my daily postings by clicking LIKE over at the Life On This Planet Facebook Page. Here we go...

The Original

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (1975)

This song doesn't need any introduction. It's one of the greatest, and has been covered by the multitudes. This year, the entire Pink Floyd catalog was remastered and reissued - scroll down to the bottom of this post for a link to the new Experience Edition of the Wish You Were Here album (lots of bonus content).

Buy on Amazon
or

The Cover

Sparklehorse - Wish You Were Here (1998)

Released as a b-side to 1998's split single, Painbird / Maria's Little Elbows, Sparklehorse's fantastic cover of the Pink Floyd classic features Radiohead's Thom Yorke on some distant backing vocals - allegedly sung and recorded over a hotel phone. If you saw the film Lords Of Dogtown, you may recall hearing this cover on the soundtrack as well. Sadly, the man behind Sparklehorse - Mark Linkous - took his own life in March of 2010.

Buy on Amazon
or

Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here - 2011 Experience Edition

Song Of The Day: Radiohead - Stop Whispering

Pablo Honey, and it's huge single Creep, introduced the world to Radiohead back in 1993. It's an album that most people seem to dismiss, although it has some great songs on it. As you've probably heard, Radiohead released their new album today - The King Of Limbs - get it here. I would like to take a moment to look back at the beginning of their career with Today's Song Of The Day - Stop Whispering.  It's a great track, so if you don't own it... click on the little player below to get it on Amazon MP3.  Please enjoy.  :)

Buy 'Stop Whispering' on Amazon MP3

or:

iPod Shuffle: Part 1

In an effort to listen to songs that don't get much intentional play on my iPod, I'm starting a new series on Life On This Planet called 'iPod Shuffle.'  Many of you have done this on Facebook by selecting Shuffle on your mp3 player and writing down the first 10 songs that come up.  Here's my first 10.

1.  The Rolling Stones - Rocks Off
The opening track from 'Exile On Main Street' and one of my favorite Stones songs.

2.  Sinead O'Connor - O Filii et Filae
From 2003's double album 'She Who Dwells.'  I don't own this one on CD, so I'm glad I'm doing this shuffle thing because a lot of things I own on digital format don't get much play time.  This is a traditional Catholic hymn celebrating Easter.  It's quite beautiful.

3.  Morrissey - Papa Jack
From Morrissey's 1997 album, 'Maladjusted.'  This is a decent enough track, but not among his best work.

4.  The Cure - Mr. Pink Eyes
From 2004's 4-disc box set of b-sides, 'Join The Dots.'  Mr. Pink Eyes was originally the b-side of The Lovecats from back in 1983.  A bit odd, experimental and out of control.

5.  Radiohead - Weird Fishes / Arpeggi
A great track from Radiohead's 2007 release 'In Rainbows.'

6.  Legendary Pink Dots - And Even The Vegetables Screamed
A short instrumental from LPD's 1989 album 'The Golden Age.'

7.  The Killers - Midnight Show
From their debut album 'Hot Fuss' in 2004.  I'm not very familiar with their first album, so this track is relatively unheard until now.

8.  James - I Know What I'm Here For (live)
From one of the greatest live albums of all time - 'Getting Away With It...Live.'  Some of the live versions are superior to the studio versions.  If you like James, this should be in your collection.

9.  The Darkness - Love Is Only A Feeling
Wow.  This is pretty damn good.  :)  Part Scorpions, part Queen.  From their debut 'Permission To Land,' 2003.  Okay, I'm hitting back and listening to this one again.  Rad.

10. Suede - Moving
From their 1993 self-titled debut.  Very familiar with this one.  Suede were a great band, and as I understand they've reunited and are doing some shows in Europe.

Well, that's it.  Discovered a few songs I hadn't heard before.  Please feel free to hit shuffle on your mp3 player and post your 10 in the comments below.

Cheers,
Bret