Who Moved My Cheese Metal?

After the end of World War Two a new way of thinking about automobiles came into being in the then sleepy, sunny Southern California. The “Hot Rod” craze was born, started by recently returned American servicemen who fell in love with the small, inexpensive and fast little cars you could find in Europe. When they got back home to the States, nothing like that existed, so…

You take the cheapest car you can get, remove everything that is not needed to make it run and then put the biggest, most powerful engine you can find in it. Quite often starting with a Ford Model A.

I’m talking about “Hot Rod Lincoln” written by Charlie Ryan and W. S. Stevenson. This song has been around since the beginning of rock and roll and has been covered by many artists. Here’s the 1959 version by Charlie Ryan and the Timberline Riders

In 1960 Johnny Bond had the first hit with his version.

By 1972 “Hot Rod Lincoln” had become a rock standard, any bar band with the skills would gladly take this song on.

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen had a hit with it. Their only hit…

Bill Kirchen, Commander Cody’s lead guitarist keeps it going these days with a really cool twist. Kirchen extends the song to over ten minutes by adding parts he plays in the style of other guitarists and bands.

(I wish there were a better video)

Some brillent musicianship. And just good ol’ fun!

OK, I was thinking about cover versions that are better than the originals. It’s not that uncommon for a cover to say something newer and fresher and more exciting than the first artist who took a crack at a song (even if the first artist wrote it).

But I am about to propose that a dopey post-punk American novelty band did a song better — a lot better — than the British glam god who wrote it.

I’m talking, of course, about Ian Hunter’s “Cleveland Rocks.”

I couldn’t find a studio version on YouTube, and live is not what we’re talking about here, so this Lala.com link will have to do (look down for the track list):

Cleveland Rocks original.

OK, now listen to this. (Close your eyes if necessary. In fact, please do.)

Barring the guitar (Mick Ronson) in the intro on the Hunter original, the Presidents of the United States of America’s version, just listened to on its own merits, is better in every particular. It’s sharper, it’s more energetic, it rocks harder, and it’s a hell of a lot more fun. And the vocals don’t compare — Jason Finn’s bigger, younger-sounding American voice just blows Ian’s strained, tentative vocal away.

Yeah, I know, I know … the cover version was used as the theme of an especially stupid ’90s sitcom, and it has the sitcom star shouting at the very end. Doesn’t matter. Just listen — and tell me honestly that the Presidents didn’t do it better.