Root Down in the Shadow

One of my favorite series here @ Root Down in the Shadow by McGurkMusic is the Cover Song of the Week. Most of the posts recently have been recent covers, with a rare archive look.  In this week's installment, we're going to take a quick look at covers of a contemporary, with an obscure and obvious selection. At least in my opinion the first selection is obscure. In 1995, the year I graduated high school. I was musically very far a way from an adult contemporary solo guitar album by Bruce Springsteen , instead listening to Punk, Alternative, Metal, Ska and some Pop! RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE cover of 'Ghost of Tom Joad' original by Bruce Springsteen EDITOR NOTE: I know this video didn't link properly, go watch it on YouTube, it's a pretty sweet unoffical video.. The song begins just after the minute mark When "It Band" Rage Against The Machine  covered 'Ghost of Tom Joad' I had never heard the original. In fact, I wouldn't hav

In '95 during my freshman year of college, back at IUP, I had a visit from a great childhood friend Jim.  He came to watch the Clarks play live, and to see what trouble we might get our selves into.  Before the show, we did what any self respecting concertgoer would do.  We hung out in my dorm room and listened to the Clarks.  This was the first time I had heard the Clarks in captivity.  I had heard them once or twice on the Pittsburgh classic rock radio station 'DVE 102.5, but I had no idea it was new or local.  Little did I know that most of the band had hailed years prior from the same University, and while I was in college would rise to new heights of popularity.  I can still to this day remember the first time I listened to 'Penny on the Floor'. I have lots of memories associated with music, but rarely do you remember hearing a song for the first time.  The only other such recollection I can muster at this time, was the first time hearing Dave Matthews Band Unde