I was getting out of a rather grumpy mood until I became aware that Crosby Loggins covered “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” and, like a dumb teenager in a horror movie, had to investigate. Crosby Loggins is the son of Kenny.
Young Loggins (Twiggins, as I can’t help thinking of him) murdered the song in the first week of the MTV show Rock the Cradle. He went on to win, the other finalists being Jesse Money and A’Keiba Burrell-Hammer. Perhaps they should form a trio: Twiggins MoneyHammer.
Twiggins’ is the fourth-best version of the song I have heard. (You shouldn’t have to ask how many versions I have heard). Seek it out if you must. It is described on the show’s site as an “Elvis Costello tune.” Well, in a way it is, but surely someone should have pointed out that it was written by Nick Lowe.
For second place, it’s a close thing between Nick Lowe himself and Bill Murray’s karaoke in Lost in Translation. Bill’s version is dreadful, and brilliantly so.
In first place is the great Elvis. In the video, he is such a desperate nerd that I wonder why I didn’t identify with him more closely at the time.
So what’s your favorite cover by EC?
I’m a sucker for Eisenhower Blues. Also love Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down and I Stand Accused. While I love EC and country music I don’t much care for Almost Blue, the album.
My fave cover of EC remains Girls Talk by Dave Edmunds, followed by Chet Baker’s Almost Blue (the song — which I think is brilliant).
Favorite cover by EC is a close thing between (WSFB)PLU and My Funny Valentine.
Favorite cover *of* EC is Robert Wyatt’s Shipbuilding. But like (WSFB)PLU, one could argue that’s so much the definitive version that it’s not really a cover.