Georgia Week: Cover Songs

Georgia artists performing cover songs (some originally by other Georgia artists) seems self-explanatory, but as usual I feel compelled to provide more than a few words of explanation. 

"Speedfreak Lullaby" is a song about the late Benjamin (of the bands Freedom Puff, Opal Foxx Quartet and Smoke). It was originally recorded by Amy Pike's first band, Greasetrap; it's performed here by Atlanta expatriate Kelly Hogan. 

In 1994, Michael Lorant of Big Fish Ensemble and a cast of Georgia musicians and singers recreated the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack. The finished product spanned two CD's and featured a different band on almost every track. Today's comp features Five Eight (with Lorant as Judas and Benjamin as the high priest) rocking out on "Damned For All Time".

Chris Lopez's first band Seersucker covers Athens/Atlanta legends Mercyland, and William Duvall's first band Neon Christ is covered by Atlanta's Car Vs. Driver. Deerhunter covers Pylon, and The Apples in Stereo cover fellow Elephant 6 band Neutral Milk Hotel. Magnapop is covered by REM, and REM in turn is covered by the Butthole Surfers (who lived in ATL and Athens for awhile).

This is a good time to mention that Oh-OK's recorded output (featuring Linda Hopper, later of Magnapop) has just been reissued on LP and CD by Happy Happy Birthday To Me, and you can also buy Magnapop's excellent 2019 album from HHBTM. 

Thanks to Beyond Failure for sharing wax, facts, and the photo of the Metroplex. Lots of good tunes and memories at Beyond Failure.