Today’s Video Spotlight focuses on a Covers Headline that I posted about on Feb. 18th. Recently The Gaslight Anthem performed their rendition of Baba O’Riley at the Carnegie Who event in NYC. Here’s some video of that performance.

The Gaslight Anthem is currently working on their new disc, entitled American Slang, which is due out June 15th.

Finally, if you have a video that you’d like to see included in CBN’s Video Spotlight, please visit the Submissions page. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Here’s a list of the newest cover songs that are hitting the market today. If you see anything missing, feel free to contact me!

Jimi Hendrix – Sunshine of Your Love (Cream)

Ben Harper and Relentless 7 – Under Pressure (David Bowie & Queen), Red House (Jimi Hendrix), & Good Times, Bad Times (Led Zeppelin)

Jeff Beck & Joss Stone – I Put A Spell On You (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins)

Jason Castro – Over The Rainbow (Judy Garland)

Shane MacGowan, Glen Matlock, Johnny Depp, Nick Cave, Bobby Gillespie, Glen Matlock, Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones, Paloma Faith, & Eliza Doolittle - I Put A Spell On You (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins)

Umphrey’s McGee – Cherub Rock (Smashing Pumpkins), Hot For Teacher (Van Halen), Burning Down The House (Talking Heads), & Another Brick In The Wall (Pink Floyd)

Streetlight Manifesto – Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard (Simon & Garfunkel)

Williams Riley – Sweet September (Josh Gracin)

Aaron Kelly – My Girl (The Temptations)

Crystal Bowersox – Long As I Can See The Light (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

Alex Lambert – Everyone Knows (John Legend)

Didi Benami – Lean On Me (Bill Withers)

Andrew Garcia – You Give Me Something (James Morrison)

Katelyn Epperly – The Scientist (Coldplay)

Casey James – I Don’t Want To Be (Gavin DeGraw)

Katie Stevens - Put Your Records On (Corinne Bailey Rae)

Lee Dewyze – Lips of An Angel (Hinder)

Michael Lynche – It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World (James Brown)

Lacey Brown – Kiss Me (Sixpence, None The Richer)

Tim Urban – Come On Get Higher (Matt Nathanson)

Lilly Scott – A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke)

Todrick Hall – What’s Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner)

Haeley Vaughn – The Climb (Miley Cyrus)

Jermaine Sellars – What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)

Michelle Delamor – With Arms Wide Open (Creed)

John Park – Gravity (John Mayer)

Finally, if you know of a new release that you’d like to see included in CBN’s New Release wall, please visit the Submissions page. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

I’m pretty much influenced by everything I hear…a nursery rhyme, a t.v. commercial, a choir, a busker on the street, church bells, whatever. Not just music, but ‘noise’ and even ‘the lack of noise’ is an influence. Some of my best musical ideas seem to creep up on me in the middle of the night when you could hear a pin drop it’s so quiet. My head seems to be constantly buzzing with melody and words. I grew up in Oregon where my father was a DJ at a little radio station. He used to bring home records every week so I heard MANY pieces of music both hits and failures. He would just bring the stuff home by the armload. My husband, whom I refer to as “the human jukebox”, never stops spinning the music. ALL different kinds. He has a huge record collection, very eclectic, and I am constantly surrounded by swirling music. I live half of the year in Ireland by the sea and half of the year in the California desert. Both places are VERY desolate and beautiful which I think influenced the sound and mood of “Twist” most definitely. As far as any specific artist that influences me….that is difficult to say. Sort of ranges from Ella Fitzgerald to the Archies and everything in between. Music is my elixir of life.

-Being we’re a cover-specific blog, I’d like to know what you look to bring to a song when you cover / remake it? Then can you specifically talk about your cover of Beck’s “Lost Cause” [Download] (Right Click + Save Target As to download)

Well, I consider myself mainly a songwriter. Mostly I record original material, but every now and then I like to put a cover of something on a record. I have to truly love the song AND it has to ‘fit in’ with whatever else is going on already with the other songs. It’s hard for me to do a cover because if I love the way the song is already recorded, (like Beck’s “Lost Cause”), I’m afraid I’ll never live up to its coolness. (You know…why do it again? It’s already perfect). But, it just fit in so well with the other songs on “Twist” all of which are in one way or another about girls or women I have known and loved. I heard Beck’s “Lost Cause” years ago when I was going to a VERY sad event. It was a funeral for a friend that was so beat up and burned out on her world, she took her own life. Drugs and depression. She was way too young. I can’t hear that song without thinking of that girl and that day. The song just perfectly summarizes how hard it is when you realize that no matter WHAT YOU DO to try and help someone with their personal demons, sometimes they are just unsaveable, and you just have to walk away. Maybe they don’t want to be saved. Who knows. But at a certain point…it’s up to them. The more you love someone…the harder it is to let go. But sometimes that is your only option. Beck captured that idea perfectly (for me). I’d never heard a girl cover the song either. LOTS of boys on youtube…but no girls, so I thought I’d give it a go. Don Dixon who co-produced “Twist” with me played wine glasses on the track which, along with all the other ambient sounds and his haunting vocal harmony, REALLY captured the mood of the tune. I’m very proud of how it came out.

-Explain the direction you took for your new CD and how someone who followed the astroPuppees may react to it?

I took the direction I usually take which is: “follow my guts”. This batch of songs just came out more moody and mellow than my astroPuppees stuff. (Again, I am convinced it is a direct result of WHERE it was recorded and written). Also, the early involvement of Van Dyke Parks really pointed me in the ultimate direction that “Twist” took. His excellent string arrangements (and encouragement) definitely propelled me through the process of making this record. And by the way it was THE most amazing ‘process’ I’ve ever been involved with. Last, but definitely not least, my fellow singing co-hort Marti Jones put her magical vocal stamp on the thing. It was most amazing getting to work so closely with her on this project. Completely creatively satisfying. Unbelieveably inspiring. I am a HUGE fan. And, of course, Don Dixon who pretty much did a little bit of everything to build a sort of structure for Marti and I to stand on, was at the core of the whole thing. I just love how the record makes me feel when I hear it. It’s thanks to those 3 amazing people for sure.

-What is your favorite cover song of all time (something done by another artist), and why?

Hmmmm…I don’t know, how about James Taylor’s version of “Handy Man”. I think it was written by Otis Blackwell. I love the way he takes the song and makes it his own. It sounds as if he actually could have written it.

-If you could choose one artist to cover one of your original tunes, who would it be, and why?

You mean besides anyone who already has? I guess I would say KD Lang. She is an amazing vocalist and the Queen of interpretation. Again making a song HER own. She’s right up there with Ella in my book. Or maybe Joni Mitchell because she rarely does covers, so if she did one of my songs, it would be an incredible honor.

-What’s in store for you for the rest of 2010?

Love. Life. Music. Martinis.

To hear more of Kelley’s music, you can visist http://www.kelleyryan.net/ or you can purchase her new CD “Twist” here.

Here’s a list of the newest cover songs that are hitting the market today. If you see anything missing, feel free to contact me!

Kris Allen – Let It Be (The Beatles)

Flogging Molly – Children of the Revolution (T Rex)

Cancer Bats – Sabotage (Beastie Boys)

moe. – Godzilla (Blue Oyster Cult)

Peter Gabriel - Heroes (David Bowie), The Boy In The Bubble (Paul Simon), Mirrorball (Elbow), Flume (Bon Iver), Listening Wind (Talking Heads), The Power of the Heart (Lou Reed), My Body is a Cage (Arcade Fire), The Book of Love (The Magnetic Fields), I Think it’s Going To Rain Today (Randy Newman), Apres Moi (Regina Spektor), Philadelphia (Neil Young), & Street Spirit (Fade Out) (Radiohead)

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals – White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane)

Mary J. Blige – One (U2)

Crystal Bowersox – Hand In My Pocket (Alanis Morissette)

Didi Benami – The Way I Am (Ingrid Michaelson)

Haeley Vaughn – I Want To Hold Your Hand (The Beatles)

Katelyn Epperly – Oh Darling (The Beatles)

Katie Stevens – Feeling Good (Michael Bublé)

Lacey Brown – Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)

Lilly Scott – Fixing A Hole (The Beatles)

Michelle Delamor – Fallin’ (Alicia Keys)

Paige Miles – All Right Now (Free)

Siobhan Magnus – Wicked Game (Chris Isaak)

Ashely Rodriguez – Happy (Leona Lewis)

Janell Wheeler – What About Love (Heart)

Aaron Kelly – Here Comes Goodbye (Rascal Flatts)

Alex Lambert – Wonderful World (James Morrison)

Andrew Garica – Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down (Fall Out Boy)

Casey James – Heaven (Bryan Adams)

Jermaine Sellers – Get Here (Oleta Adams)

John Park - God Bless The Child (Traditional)

Lee Dewyze – Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)

Michael Lynche – This Love (Maroon 5)

Tim Urban – Apologize (One Republic)

Todrick Hall – Since U Been Gone (Kelly Clarkson)

Joe Munoz – You and I Both (Jason Mraz)

Tyler Grady – American Woman (Guess Who)

Finally, if you know of a new release that you’d like to see included in CBN’s New Release wall, please visit the Submissions page. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Since I have been receiving a good number of email submissions, I wanted to take a part of the blog to start highlighting some of them!

Today’s submission is a cover of John Mayer’s “Say” by  Kelly Rosenthal, Maddie Freeman and Taylor Broom.

You can see more from Kelly [here] and more from Maddie and Talyor [here].

Thanks to Nick for the submission, keep ‘em coming!

If you have a video that you’d like to see included in CBN’s This Just In, please visit the Submissions page. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

• Austin, TX hard rock act The Sword has just recorded a cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Cold Sweat” for an upcoming split-seven inch single. [Read More]

• Amazon.com has posted a playlist of “Killer Cover Songs” featuring artists such as: Lori McKenna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ryan Adams, Deftones, Dixie Chicks, The Bangles, Ace of Base, and Muse (Among others). [Read More]

• Fearless Records has announced the latest in it’s “Punk Goes…” series, this time covering Classic Rock. The disc will be releasd on April 27th. Bands being covered include: Boston, Ozzy Osbourne, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Rolling Stones, Kiss, Queen, .38 Special, Journey, Def Leppard, Blue Oyster Cult, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, and Eddie Money). Artists appearing on the disc include: Hit The Lights, VersaEmerge, The Almost, Mayday Parade, The Summer Set, We The Kings, A Skylit Drive, I See Stars,  Pierce The Veil, Forever The Sickest Kids, The Maine, Envy On The Coast, Every Avenue, Never Shout Never, and blessthefall. [Read More]

Finally, if you know of a some cover related news that you’d like to see included, please visit the Submissions page. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Here’s a list of the newest cover songs that are hitting the market today. If you see anything missing, feel free to contact me!

Johnny Cash – Redemption Day (Sheryl Crow), For the Good Times (Kris Kristofferson), & Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream (Ed McCurdy)

Mark Whitfield (w. John Mayer) – Superstition (Stevie Wonder)

Snoop Dogg – Check  Yo Self (Ice Cube)

Michael Schenker – Layla (Derek & The Dominoes) & Badge (Cream)

Leslie West – Blues Before Sunrise (Eric Clapton), Politician, Born Under A Bad Sign, & Crossroads (Cream)

Pat Travers – White Room, Sunshine of Your Love, Sittin’ On Top of the World, & Outside Woman Blues (Cream)

Rick Derringer – Blues Power (Eric Clapton), All Your Love (Willie Dixon / Otis Rush)

Further – Gloria (Them), After Midnight (Eric Clapton), & Hard To Handle (Otis Redding)

Yonder Mountain String Band – Whipping Post (Allman Brothers)

The Radiators – Low Rider (War)

Widespread Panic – All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan)

Disco Biscuits – Cars (Gary Newman), The Safety Dance (Men Without Hats), & Feel Good Inc (Gorillaz)

Finally, if you know of a new release that you’d like to see included in CBN’s New Release wall, please visit the Submissions page. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

In today’s video spotlight, we feature Jedward, an Irish duo consisting of identical twins John and Edward Grimes – who are known for their appearances on the British television show The X-Factor. The song is a mash up on Queen’s “Under Pressure” and Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby.”

Since appearing on the show, the duo has recorded the track with none other than Vanilla Ice himself.

You can find out more about Jedward [here], and the track can be purchased at Amazon.com.

Finally, if you have a video that you’d like to see included in CBN’s Video Spotlight, please visit the Submissions page. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

Today’s Video Spotlight focuses on a new release I posted about earlier this week, Carolina Chocolate Drops‘ organic cover of Blu Cantrell‘s 2001 track “Hit ‘Em Up Style.” This video was recorded at WDVX’s Blue Plate Special (Knoxville, TN).

You can find out more about the Carolina Chocolate Drops [here], and their version of “Hit ‘Em Up Style” can be purchased via iTunes.

Finally, if you have a video that you’d like to see included in CBN’s Video Spotlight, please visit the Submissions page. You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.