Ten outstanding NJ Beatles covers, from 1969 to 2015

by JAY LUSTIG
Frank Sinatra released The Beatles' "Something" as a single in 1970.

Frank Sinatra released The Beatles’ “Something” as a single in 1970.

The Weeklings, whose setlists are largely comprised of Beatles songs, are opening for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at the Stone Pony on Friday. I started wondering if the Jukes have covered many Beatles songs over the years. It turns out, not so much. But then I started thinking about other Jersey artists, and hunting down their Beatles-cover videos on YouTube.

I found some great ones, I think. Here they are in chronological order.

If you have ones you think I’ve overlooked, please mention them in the comments section below. Perhaps I’ll do a Part II.

1. Dionne Warwick recorded a typically classy version of “Hey Jude” on her 1969 album, “Soulful.”

2. Here’s a great 1970 version of “Yesterday” by Cissy Houston:

3. Frank Sinatra famously said that “Something” was “the greatest love song ever written.” And he should know.

4. In 1976, Frankie Valli covered “A Day in the Life” for the documentary, “All This and World War II.”

5. The Feelies’ indie-rock landmark album Crazy Rhythms (1980) included this electrifying version of “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide (‘Cept for Me and My Monkey).”

6. The Smithereens have covered many Beatles songs over the years, including two complete albums (2007’s Meet the Smithereens! and 2008’s B-Sides the Beatles) and this cover of “One After 909.”

7. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame still hasn’t inducted Bon Jovi. But when it opened its Cleveland museum in 1995, band members, along with other musicians, played The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends” at the celebratory concert at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium.

8. To honor The Beatles, who played at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall in 1964, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed “Tell Me Why” when they performed at the building (now called Boardwalk Hall) in 2003.

9. Bettye LaVette did a great job with the rarely covered “The Word” on her 2010 album, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook.

10. The Weeklings are a relatively new Jersey band (featuring Glen Burtnik, Bob Burger, John Merjave and Dave Anthony) that specializes in Beatles covers and Beatles-inspired music. Here they are performing “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).”

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2 comments

Tom Chesek July 2, 2015 - 4:43 am

The Bongos’ Richard Barone did a sublime “Cry Baby Cry” on his “chamber rock” milestone COOL BLUE HALO…

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njartsdaily@gmail.com July 2, 2015 - 6:02 am

Excellent suggestion, thanks

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