Chicago is the world’s second largest Polish city. The only city with more Polish people in it is Warsaw. It was a very big deal around here when Pope John Paul II came to visit. There are thousands of storefronts all over town that have signs that proclaim “Mowimy Po Polsku” (We Speak Polish).

I drive through a Polish neighborhood on my way to and from work and stopped on my way home the other day at a strip mall storefront restaurant with a sign in front that simply said POLISH FOOD. So I got a small round loaf of bread stuffed with chicken, turkey, and huge amounts of cabbage. There were three shakers on every table: salt, pepper, and paprika. And as I sat there sprinkling paprika on my sandwich and listening to the Polish pop music they were playing I couldn’t help but think about all the Polish covers I have. And of course I couldn’t help but share a few of them with all of you.

Lubomski “Psychobojca (Psycho Killer)” (Talking Heads)
This is faster than the original studio version, much closer to the version on the live Talking Heads album. It features a nice rubbery bass line. Unfortunately the singer does not attempt to sing the French parts in French. At least I don’t think he does. Maybe he’s singing in French with a really thick Polish accent and I can’t tell.

Pidzama Porno “Pasazer (The Passenger)” (Iggy Pop)
I’m trying to learn this song on the mandolin and the thing I’ve been concentrating on is that distinctive chugging rhythm. It’ s currently kicking my ass but I’m not about to admit defeat. These folks don’t have that problem, they’ve got the cadence down and they’ve added some nice horns to boot.

Kazik Staszewski “Niewinna kiedy sni (Innocent When You Dream)” (Tom Waits)
Tom Waits has said that the only two types of songs he writes are Grim Reapers and Grand Weepers. This is one of the Weepers and even if you can’t understand what Mr. Stazewski is saying there’s no mistaking the sentiment of the song. And that is the brilliance of Tom Waits’ songwriting in a nutshell.

Polish TV Supergroup “Ptak na drucie (Bird on a Wire)” (Leonard Cohen)
This is from a TV special entitled “Songs Of Love And Hate: The Music Of Leonard Cohen” that was broadcast 1978. In the U.S. in the 70s you would occasionally see a variety show tribute to a musical artist, I’ve got the soundtrack to one that featured the music of the Beatles. I just can’t imagine any U.S. TV network broadcasting a tribute to Leonard Cohen.

In case these names mean anything to you, the musicians on this song include: Marek Jackowski (guitar), John Porter (guitar), Jacek Bednarek (double bass), Jan Kanty Pawluskiewicz (piano, vocals), Teresa Haremza (vocals), Kora Ostrowska (vocals), Elzbieta Adamiak (vocals), Andrzej Poniedzielski (vocals, guitar), Waldemar Chylinski (vocals), Maciej Zembaty (vocals).

Analogs “Strzelby z Brixton (Guns of Brixton)” (The Clash)
Being a Slavic language, Polish is not quite as, um, lyrical as the Romance languages. Which is a good thing on this aggressive pissed off take on the immortal Clash track.