First off, I just want to pass on something that I read the other day. It seems that Scarlett Johansson will be releasing an album of Tom Waits covers. I’m sure that she can’t be a worse singer than she is an actress, but I’m very afraid.

One of the things I’ve always admired about people with musical talent is their ability to take old music that’s part of our genetic code and rework it in a modern style. Here are a few examples.

Kaleidoscope “Cuckoo”
Kaleidoscope was David Lindley‘s band before he went on to work with Jackson Browne and become a famous session musician. I realize that this song doesn’t sound modern by today’s standards, but it did when acid rock ruled the land.

Cylob “Drunken Sailor”
Drum machines and computer-generated vocals. Now that’s what I call modern.

Lemonheads “Knoxville Girl”
I couldn’t do a post of traditional songs without including at least one murder ballad. Just be glad I’m not posting Zamfir’s version of “Banks Of The Ohio.”

I thought Evan Dando was a complete lightweight until I heard this. They don’t rearrange the song so much as just play it on jangly pop guitars.

Blind Boys of Alabama “Amazing Grace”
They sing this song to the tune of “House Of The Rising Sun” which is pretty cool. I think I’d like it better if they sang it to the tune of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” but they didn’t ask me.

The Moldy Peaches “Little Bunny Foo Foo”
Yes, it’s everybody’s favorite obnoxious children’s song.

Apparently the Sunday Star Times in New Zealand picked up the story from the Guardian. So, welcome Kiwis!

Longtime readers already know of my profound and undying devotion to Tom Jones. He’s a great singer, a dynamic performer, and a proud Welshman. He’s willing to work with anybody and sing any kind of song. Tom Jones pretty much personifies showbiz for me.

Tom Jones and Zucchero “She Drives Me Crazy” (Fine Young Cannibals)
This version is much more fully-orchestrated and way more joyous than the original.

Tom Jones “Black Betty” (Ram Jam)
This song seems to be one that you either love or hate. Needless to say, it really curls my toes.

Tom Jones and the Cardigans “Burning Down The House” (Talking Heads)
I have much less trouble with the idea of Tom Jones covering Talking Heads than I have with the Cardigans doing it.

Tom Jones “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” (Arctic Monkeys)
This was recorded at the Princess Diana tribute concert last year. It features Joe Perry of Aerosmith on the guitar. What more could you want?

Tom Jones and Isaac Hayes “Don’t Let Go” (Jimmy Witherspoon)
Like I said, TJ will record any song with anybody.

Jon Langford and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts “Delilah” (Tom Jones)
I’ve heard Langford (another proud Welshman) refer to this song as the Welsh national anthem when he performs it live. Wales is more messed up than I thought.

News on the economy seems to be getting worse by the day. It’s enough to make a person stock up on cash and valuables. Or at least sing about it.

T-Bone Burnett “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” (Marilyn Monroe)
T-Bone Burnett not only has a very cool name (how exactly does one get the nickname T-Bone?), he has gained a measure of fame for putting together the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou? But I think he’s criminally underappreciated as a songwriter and performer.

I know that Carol Channing recorded the song first, but Marilyn Monroe is the singer people think of when they think of this song.

The Flying Lizards “Money (That’s What I Want)” (Barrett Strong)
There’s something really obnoxious about this song, but I can’t put my finger on it. Is it the relentless cheesy drum machine? The flat emotionless singing? The burbling synthesizer? The possibilities are almost endless.

Larry Washington & Christoph Bull “Diamonds Are Forever” (Shirley Bassey)
The singer sounds like she’s got some sort of weird sexual relationship with her diamonds that I’d rather not know about.

Chug “Money Money Money” (ABBA)
I was going to do a post of ABBA covers a couple of months ago and never got around to it. So here’s a song from an ABBA tribute album that Flying Nun Records put out a couple of years ago.

Lora Munro “Big Spender” (from the musical Sweet Charity)
The big brassy goldigger number hits the dance floor.

Thanks to Chris Salmon for the nice mention in The Guardian.

I can’t dance but I adore a nice tango. Something about the exotic rhythm speaks to the lizard part of my brain.

Cristina “Ballad Of Immoral Earnings” (comp. Kurt Weill)
This is the first Kurt Weill song I ever heard. I didn’t know he wrote it, I just thought it was a cool song.

It’s from the Threepenny Opera. Macheath is waxing nostalgic about the good old days when he used to pimp his girlfriend. A way of life then, if not quite the best…

Anita Kelsey “Sway” (Dean Martin)
She’s so very sultry. I’ll sway with you, baby. Anytime, anywhere.

Mandragora Tango Orchestra “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana)
I know, the world doesn’t need another cover of this song. But I’ll post anything that has both accordion and strings.

Ewan McGregor/Jose Feliciano/Jacek Koman “El Tango De Roxanne” (The Police)
I haven’t seen Moulin Rouge, but I really should because it’s got a killer soundtrack. I’m not sure what song Ewan McGregor is singing in the middle of this tune, but it’s mostly the Police song.

Vitamin Lounge “Mr. Crowley” (Ozzy Osbourne)
I went to see Ozzy at the Aragon Ballroom when he was touring to support the Blizzard of Ozz album on which this song originally appeared. Motorhead was the opening act and somebody vomited on my shoe. It’s one of those childhood memories that I’ll always cherish.