After a few artistic failures,"Judy and the Dream of Horses" was the first song successfully recorded by Dan & the Tobins. Originally performed by Belle and Sebastian, this D & the T's version is the only song recorded in 2006, back before they knew how to properly use GarageBand.
An early track on Aerosmith's debut album, "Somebody" is the most faithful cover on this album. Seriously, except for the drumbeat and a couple of "Last Child" harmonies, they really didn't kill themselves trying to reinvent this one. I mean, they even copied the freakin' guitar solo.
"My Ass Fell Off" is one of the last songs Dan Tobin wrote, back in 1995 when he identified the Barenaked Ladies ashis favorite band. (Oof.) That this is probably not his stupidest song explains why nobody was too sad whenhe retired from songwriting.
Few people cover Young MC songs, and if so, they cover one of the hits. So "I Come Off" here has a legitimate shot at becoming the greatest cover version ever recorded, if only for lack of competition.
Most people know "Thank You for Being a Friend" as the opening theme to Golden Girls, but before that it was '70s AM radio hit. This was a potential cover with the LA band, but given that everyone else was suggesting Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie covers, you can maybe see why these dulcet tones remaind untouched by the time D & the T's emerged.
"Nasty Dan" has been one of Dan's favorite songs since he first heard Johnny Cash singing it with Oscar the Grouch on a Sesame Street record. The best part of that version is at the end when Oscar asks, "Hey, aren't you Johnny Trash?" and the man in black corrects him, then gives a stupendous exit line: "Have a rotten day."
The other original on this album, "Nastasha '07" is an update of the only song Dan ever wrote worth playing again. The lyrics are pretty stupid (See, the guitar's named Natasha, get it? It's a love song to the guitar!) but when it's competing with "My Ass Fell Off" and a song whose chorus is "Love me, want me, clip my toenails," this was the cream of the crop. And why most of this album is covers.
Known to some as Dan's entrance music to the Organic Comedy stand-up show at Karma Coffeehouse, The Feelies' "Decide" is a particular favorite of the last several years. Again, just by its relative obscurity, this has a good shot at being one of the best cover versions ever recorded of this song.
To paraphrase Bill Cosby, this album has eight songs and the reason it has eight songs is that we did not want to make you listen to nine. So, you're welcome.