Sunday 03.21.2010 | 6:23 PM UTC

Undercover: Don’t be fooled by legit imitations

Part 1 of 2

Some things to keep in mind:

1. There’s nothing new under the sun
2. Some ideas are better than others
3. Some ideas’ mothers are bigger than other ideas’ mothers
4. I thought of it first

In 1999 I started amassing a hefty collection of cover songs recorded or performed by big-gun artists and fledgling indies. Lovingly sequenced, badly art-directed and inspiringly named, Undercover became a coveted collection of faithful renditions and inspired interpretations of the pop music canon.

125-tracks strong and still growing, it reminds us of pre-teen years spent in front of a mirror, tennis racket slung low, air-guitaring our way to stardom to the strains of Highway to Hell. Ok, for me it was more like air-drumming with utter precision through the whole of Moving Pictures. It’s the unspoiled yen of a pure heart that aspires a kid to get the band back together again, learning to rock by imitation of our musical heroes.

There’s much to, um, cover on the subject, so for now I say just this:

It’s mine. All mine. Don’t be fooled by legit imitations:

http://10trecords.com/10t-undercover-officially-released-today/

10 years prior to this sham, The Original is so much better. Nyah, nyah. Witness a selection from Volumes 1 thru 5 (hurriedly compiled, unlovingly sequenced, for now). You can hear complete versions of each volume here or in the audio player at the top of this page.

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1. Allow Myself to Introduce…Myself: Austin Powers
2. Roadrunner: The Jazz Butcher  Conspiracy
3. Sweet Child o’Min: Lune
4. Creep: Chrissy Hinde
5. Because: Elliott Smith
6. Ceremony: Galaxy 500
7. There’s Nothing More Pathetic Than an Aging Hipster: Austin Powers
8. Mama Told Me Not to COme: Wolfgang Press
9. Sympathy for the Devil: Bryan Ferry
10. Paint It Black: Echo & The Bunnymen
11. Victoria!: The Fall
12. Waterloo Sunset: Elliott Smith
13. Alison: Everything But the Girl
14. She’s My Best Friend: The Wedding Present
15. Happiness Is A Warm Gun: The Breeders
16. Turning Japanese: Liz Phair
17. In The Ghetto: Cartman
18. Paint It Black: The Feelies
19. The Passenger: Siouxie & the Banshees
20. Thirteen: Elliot Smith
21. Season of the Witch: Luna
22. The Killing Moon: Pavement
23. Here: Tindersticks
24. Mrs. Robinson: The Lemonheads
25. Hazy Shade of Winter: The Bangles
26. Dear Prudence: Siouxie & the Banshees
27. Somebody’s Baby: Yo La Tengo
28. Follow YOu, Follow Me: Red House Painters
29. One MOre Cup of Coffee: The White Stripes
30. One: AImee Man