Not all tribute albums are created equal. We take a look at the ones that actually step out of the shadows of the people they’re honoring.
PINK FLOYD
The Easy-Star All-Stars: Dub Side of The Moon
Why didn’t anyone think of it earlier? In 2003, a collective of New York’s best reggae musicians did a song-by-song remake of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon in a dub style and the results were expectedly bongtastic. Also check out Radiodread, the crew’s take on Radiohead’s OK Computer.
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
Shelby Lynne, Just a Little Lovin’
She doesn’t even try to recreate the gritty sound but Grammy-winning country singer Shelby Lynne does a graceful job dusting off some choice cuts made famous by the bouffant-loving English singer, including “Anyone Who Had a Heart” and “The Look of Love.”
JOHN DENVER
Take Me Home: A Tribute to John Denver
You wouldn’t expect a stellar cast of indie-rock stars to lineup to bow before the man that wrote “Rocky Mountain High.” But the likes of Red House Painters, Bonnie Prince Billy, and Low all offer up alternately somber and raucous versions of classics from the late John Denver’s back catalog.
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
Heaven and Hell: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground
Long out of print, this lo-fi tribute to the world’s most iconic lo-fi band mostly features Lou Reed-channeling rarities from the likes of Nirvana (“Here She Comes Now”), Buffalo Tom (“All Tomorrow’s Parties”), and Screaming Trees (“What Goes On”), along with a bunch of surprisingly decent British shoegazers. Well worth the ridiculous prices on eBay.
HANK WILLIAMS
Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute
You really can’t go wrong with a lineup that includes Bob Dylan, Beck, Keith Richards, Emmylou Harris, and Johnny Cash. Now throw in country classics like “Long Gone Lonesome Blues” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and you’ve got the makings of a truly classic tribute disc.
LEONARD COHEN
I'm Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen
Another out-of-print, this eclectic collection features a cast that includes the Pixies, R.E.M., Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, plus a good handful of total obscurities, doing distinctive takes on Cohen's best compositions. This is where Jeff Buckley first heard “Hallelujah,” as performed by John Cale, inspiring one of the most legendary covers of all time.
GRAM PARSONS
Return of the Grievous Angel, A Tribute to Gram Parsons
In 1999, the late country-rock hero got a much deserved celebration of his work at the hands of some of his biggest disciples, including Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Whiskeytown, Lucinda Williams, and even Elvis Costello. Parsons’ former partner at the mic, Emmylou Harris even dropped by a few of the sessions.
BLACK SABBATH
Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath Vol. 1
The second volume may have included Busta Rhymes, but it’s this 1994 set that sees the likes of White Zombie, Faith No More, and Sepultura playing live and loud for one of the greatest heavy metal acts of all time. It was so much fun, even Ozzy showed up to the party to revive “Iron Man” with Therapy.
ROLLING STONES
Paint It Blue: Songs of the Rolling Stones
The Stones have spent a lifetime trying to emulate their blues heroes, so it only makes sense to hand over a selection of the band's hits to actual bluesmen. Highlights include Luther Allison’s “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” Taj Mahal’s “Honky Tonk Women,” and Lucky Peterson’s “Under My Thumb.”
WOODY GUTHRIE
Billy Bragg and Wilco: Mermaid Ave
A tribute mostly in name, the collaborators on this set took a bunch of forgotten Guthrie lyrics and set them to original music. It’s impossible to say for sure, but we're thinking Guthrie would have been pretty happy with the playful and pretty tunes that accompanied his words on tracks like “California Stars” and “Ingrid Bergman.”