MARCH OF THE COVERS: Johnny Cash, "Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails)

Let's wrap things up with one of the greatest covers in recent memory...

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" (Judy Garland/Louis Armstrong)

Beautiful.

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, "Rocket Man" (Elton John)

Happy Birthday, Maura.  This is pretty rollicking... but not quite as much as your version :)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: The Hollies, "The Air That I Breathe" (Albert Hammond)

Until recently, I had no idea this was a cover... written by none other than Albert Hammond, father of the Strokes' guitarist.

MARCH OF THE COVERS! MILESTONE! WOO-HOO! The White Stripes, "Death Letter Blues" (Son House)

It has now officially become a Tuna Year!  One year ago, we kicked things off with Son House, and today we mark our first anniversary with the White Stripes' homage to Mr. House (with his original posted again below for posterity).  Thanks for checking in from time to time... hope to see you again in another year!  Enjoy.

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Playing for Change, "Stand by Me" (Ben E. King)

This is so incredibly awesome and uplifting. I can't get enough.

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY / MARCH OF THE COVERS: Guns 'n Roses, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan)

Via Brendan, who tried to convince me that since he grew up with the GnR version, the Dylan classic was really the cover for him.  I'm not buying it.  Enjoy!

MARCH OF THE COVERS: The Pointer Sisters, "Fire" (Bruce Springsteen)

Written and recorded by The Boss, it was actually first released by Robert Gordon, and then the Pointer Sisters (both in 1978).  While Springsteen performed the song live in the intervening years, his original version wasn't released until 1986.  Enjoy the stage presence in both versions... hams (in a good way) all around.  Thank you to Maura for the find(s)... :)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Otis Redding, "Try a Little Tenderness" (Bing Crosby)

Quite possibly the greatest cover of all time.

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Seu Jorge, "Life on Mars?" (David Bowie)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Lissie, "Bad Romance" (Lady Gaga)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Ryan Adams, "Wonderwall" (Oasis)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Saul Williams, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (U2)

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY / MARCH OF THE COVERS: Gillian Welch, "White Rabbit" (Jefferson Airplane)

Sara pointed Tuna Day to this fantastic cover of the haunting Jefferson Airplane classic, recorded live at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.  What you should know is that Sara herself has knocked out a mean rendition Live at Montero's (release date TBD).  Enjoy!

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Cake, "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" (Osvaldo Farrés)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" (The Ramones)

Another chance to post some YYYs? Sure!

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Aretha Franklin, "The Weight" (The Band)

This is the way a great cover is done, folks.  I love the blues guitar intro that sets the stage for the funk to drop.  And the full-throttle gospel of the chorus.  And the horns.  And the kick drum's dum da-dum.. dum da-dum... dum da-dum... during the "a-a-a-and..."  OK.  I admit... I love everything about it.  And I also love the original.  And the Last Waltz version (below), which features The Staple Singers!

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Lemonheads, "Mrs. Robinson" (Simon and Garfunkel)

From 1992's It's a Shame about Ray, and recorded to celebrate the video release of The Graduate.  Enjoy!

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Patti Smith, "When Doves Cry" (Prince)

- When Doves Cry by tressage

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Rodrigo y Gabriela, "Oogie Boogie's Song" (Danny Elfman)

Originally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, here's a wonderful FLAMENCO (!) acoustic rendition...

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY / MARCH OF THE COVERS: Chris Cornell, "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton)

Mari pointed me to this tribute done last month in San Francisco at a fundraiser for President Obama... it already has nearly 2 million YouTube hits (perhaps unsurprisingly). Enjoy the cover of the cover!

MARCH OF THE COVERS: The Postal Service, "Against All Odds" (Phil Collins)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Oak Ridge Boys, "Seven Nation Army" (The White Stripes)

They've come a long way since "Elvira" (but not too far).  Here are the boys w/ a White Stripes twist.  Enjoy!

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Gnarls Barkley, "Reckoner" (Radiohead)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Emmylou Harris, "C'est La Vie" (Chuck Berry)

Here's a young Emmylou Harris and her Hot Band with a rockin' country take on Chuck Berry, from 1977's Luxury Liner.

MARCH OF THE COVERS: TV on the Radio, "Mr. Grieves" (Pixies)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Ray Charles, "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles)

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY / MARCH OF THE COVERS: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, "Friday" (Rebecca Black)

Thank you, Maura :)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Keith Richards, "You Win Again" (Hank Williams)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: Cat Power, "Sea of Love" (Phil Phillips)

MARCH OF THE COVERS: The Monkees, "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" (Paul Revere & the Raiders)

To take a page out of the playbook of the good people (person) over at A Good Song Is Hard to Find... Tuna Day unveils a month-long marathon of cover songs.  Of course these will be punctuated by Open Request Sundays--also featuring great covers!   Upon seeing this news, I pushed back the initial lead-off hitter to pay tribute to Davy Jones.  Enjoy.