Janda and Christian talk Classic Rock Cover Songs, Part 2!

Summary

Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles - Episode Summary

Title: Janda and Christian Talk Classic Rock Cover Songs, Part 2!
Host/Author: Gamut Podcast Network
Release Date: July 9, 2025

In this engaging bonus episode of Behind The Song: Classic Rock Chronicles, hosts Janda and Christian Lane delve deep into the world of classic rock cover songs. Focusing primarily on notable covers from the 1978 film Sergeant Pepper's Only Hearts Club Band On Tour and the influential works of songwriter J.J. Kale, the duo offers listeners a comprehensive exploration of how these covers have shaped and been shaped by the classic rock era.

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I. Introduction to Classic Rock Cover Songs

Janda opens the conversation by highlighting the enduring appeal of cover songs in classic rock, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion on specific notable covers and their impact on the genre.

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II. Sergeant Pepper's Only Hearts Club Band On Tour (1978) and Its Cover Songs

A. Overview of the Movie and Soundtrack

Christian Lane provides a nostalgic overview of the 1978 movie Sergeant Pepper's Only Hearts Club Band On Tour, a high-budget, psychedelic rock opera orchestrated by Robert Stigwood of RSO Records fame. He explains how Stigwood, known for his successes with Grease and Saturday Night Fever, leveraged the popularity of the Bee Gees to produce the film. The movie features an ensemble cast with cameo appearances from numerous rock legends, including John Lennon, Peter Frampton, Aerosmith, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Alice Cooper.

Notable Quote:
Christian Lane [01:29]: “It's a fun and wild disaster.”

B. Notable Covers Discussed

1. Aerosmith's "Come Together"

   • Christian praises Aerosmith's rendition of The Beatles' "Come Together," describing it as "muscular" and staying true to the original while adding their signature rock edge.

   Notable Quote:
   Christian Lane [04:34]: “Aerosmith's cover of Come Together is one of the best cover songs in classic rock.”

2. Earth, Wind & Fire's "Got to Get You Into My Life"

   • Janda and Christian commend Earth, Wind & Fire's unique and funky take on Paul McCartney's song, noting its Grammy-winning performance and its success on the charts.

   Notable Quote:
   Christian Lane [10:24]: “Earth, Wind and Fire's version is really a unique and wonderful take.”

3. Alice Cooper's "Sun King"

   • Christian highlights Alice Cooper's creepy and sarcastic interpretation of "Sun King," adding a distinct flavor to the soundtrack.

   Notable Quote:
   Christian Lane [14:31]: “Alice Cooper has this very creepy cameo... it's just great.”

4. Additional Cameos

   • The hosts briefly mention other notable artists featured in the movie's soundtrack, including Frankie Valli, Bonnie Raitt, Curtis Mayfield, Etta James, Tina Turner, Dr. John, and Jose Feliciano.

   Notable Quote:
   Christian Lane [16:18]: “Etta James, Olive Hart, Tina Turner... it’s just a mix of legends.”

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III. J.J. Kale and His Influence on Classic Rock Cover Songs

A. J.J. Kale's Background

Janda introduces J.J. Kale, a talented songwriter and guitarist from Oklahoma, who collaborated with Leon Russell during their teenage years. Kale's move to Los Angeles led to his significant contributions to rock music through his songwriting.

B. Eric Clapton's Covers of "After Midnight" and "Cocaine"

• After Midnight:

  Janda recounts how Eric Clapton's 1970 cover of J.J. Kale's "After Midnight" skyrocketed the song to number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, unbeknownst to Kale until he heard it on the radio.

  Notable Quote:
  Janda [07:00]: “JJ Kale had no idea Clapton was covering his song until he heard it on the radio.”

• Cocaine:

  The 1977 cover of "Cocaine" also achieved Top 40 status, further cementing Clapton's appreciation for Kale's songwriting prowess.

  Notable Quote:
  Janda [09:34]: “Cocaine is just an amazing cover of this song.”

C. Tribute to J.J. Kale by Various Artists

Janda mentions a tribute album titled The Breeze: An Appreciation of J.J. Kale, featuring covers by Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, Willie Nelson, and others, reflecting Clapton's deep respect for Kale.

D. Other Notable Covers of J.J. Kale's Songs

1. Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Call Me the Breeze"

   • Christian highlights Lynyrd Skynyrd's high-energy and urgent rendition of Kale's "Call Me the Breeze," contrasting it with Kale's original.

   Notable Quote:
   Christian Lane [13:05]: “There's an urgency to it that J.J. Kale just never has in any of his music.”

2. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Call Me the Breeze"

   • Janda discusses Tom Petty's live cover recorded at the Fillmore, emphasizing the Oklahoma connection between Petty and Kale.

   Notable Quote:
   Janda [14:22]: “There's a connection to J.J. Kale with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers through Oklahoma.”

3. Poco's "Magnolia"

   • Janda praises Poco's 1973 cover of Kale's "Magnolia" from their Crazy Eyes album, calling it a beautiful rendition that resonates with fans.

   Notable Quote:
   Janda [18:14]: “Poco's version also sounds great. Well done, Poco.”

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IV. Additional Covers and Insights

Christian briefly touches upon other covers from the Sergeant Pepper soundtrack, noting that while many cameos were interesting, only a few stands out as essential. He reflects on George Martin's role as producer and his approval of Earth, Wind & Fire's unique interpretations over more Beatles-faithful covers.

Notable Quote:
Christian Lane [12:10]: “George Martin signed off and it went to number one soul single... it was just a monster.”

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V. Conclusions and Final Thoughts

Janda and Christian wrap up the episode by reflecting on the discussed cover songs and the eclectic nature of the Sergeant Pepper movie soundtrack. They express appreciation for the standout covers and acknowledge the sometimes chaotic and campy nature of the 1970s film industry, which allowed for such diverse musical interpretations.

Janda’s Final Takeaway:

Notable Quote:
Janda [17:04]: “My takeaway is a couple of great covers... it's just a completely implausible and only could happen in the 70s kind of movie making event filled with everybody that you can think of.”

Christian echoes the sentiment, highlighting the unique and wild aspects of the movie, and both hosts encourage listeners to share their thoughts and continue exploring classic rock covers.

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This episode offers classic rock enthusiasts a nostalgic journey through some of the most memorable cover songs of the 1970s, enriched with personal anecdotes and expert insights from Janda and Christian. Whether revisiting the eclectic soundtrack of a cult classic movie or celebrating the timeless songwriting of J.J. Kale, listeners gain a deeper appreciation for the art of the cover in rock history.

Transcript

[Adam Reeder]

Hey, Adam Reeder, professor of Rock here, and I'm celebrating the launch of my new professor of Rock podcast with a really cool prize you can win. It's a Fender guitar autographed by rock icon and Rock and Roll hall of Famer Alice Cooper. Here's how to register to win over the next few weeks. Listen for a special code in each of my podcasts. Every time you hear a code, I'll give you the number to text to win. Boom, you're registered. Get the dates and full Contest [e-mail] the new Professor Rock podcast from Gamma Podcast Network is available right now. Wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the behind the Song podcast, taking you deeper into classic rock's most timeless tunes. Here's your host, Janda.

[Janda]

I'm Janda, back for another bonus episode of the behind the Song podcast, joined once again by Christian Lane.

[Christian Lane]

Hello.

[Janda]

We thought we would delve more into cover songs, classic rock cover songs, and we're gonna get real specific on this bonus episode. Christian, you want to kick it off?

[Christian Lane]

I will kick it off. I decided to give myself a degree of difficulty. We were talking about this the other night about COVID songs and doing some more, and I jokingly kind of said, I'll do all Sgt. Pepper cover songs from the movie. From the movie. From the crazy movie, you know, because I remember it fondly from when I was 8. And, you know, I probably haven't really spent a lot of time with it since then. So anyway, that's what I'm picking from. Just a quick setup. I think I should probably set up the movie, just briefly.

[Janda]

Sure. I mean, the movie itself is a fun and wild story.

[Christian Lane]

It's a fun and wild disaster. So basically what happened was Robert Stigwood, RSO Records, he was the Bee Gees guy. He put together Grease. He put together Saturday Night Fever, put the Bee Gees with these properties and made them huge. And he also bought the rights to use Sgt. Pepper and most of Abbey Road to do something fun with it. And they landed on a sort of off Broadway show called sergeant Pepper's Only Hearts Club Band on Tour. And that's roughly where they got the story from. It didn't last long, although John Lennon was actually involved and in the Broadway production. In the Broadway production, he came down and gave a few notes. He was going out with May Pang at the time, and there's actually footage of them outside in a couple different videos that you can see on YouTube. Whatever gets you through the night video features him pointing up to the marquee of this play. You know, it was a rock opera and it was a loose story. Billy Shears is the lead character, of course. He is best friends with the Hendersons from being for the benefit of Mr. Kite. They have a rock band. They are from Heartland. There's musical instruments that belong to the town that the original Sgt. Pepper's band has bequeathed. It's a really convoluted story about the pitfalls of fame and the music business and the machinations. It's crazy. It's psychedelic. They had a enormous budget. They. You know, after Grease and Saturday Night Fever, Sky's the Limit. So they had an enormous budget. They put Peter Frampton in the lead with the Bee Gees, and basically it's just cameo after cameo of craziness. So one of my favorite cameos is Aerosmith, and I'm going to go with their cover of the Beatles Come Together. It's pretty true to the original, although it's more muscular. You know, it's. It's what you'd think of. They had previously covered Helter Skelter live, so it wasn't a big jump. It's perfect. In the movie, the tentacles of darkness are going after the innocent, and it's perfectly embodied in Steven Tyler.

[Janda]

Right.

[Christian Lane]

His portrayal of the song.

[Janda]

Right. Especially at this time. When was this movie made again? 70.

[Christian Lane]

78.

[Janda]

78.

[Christian Lane]

Made in 78.

[Adam Reeder]

So they.

[Janda]

Yeah, yeah.

[Christian Lane]

I mean, they were toxic twins at that point, you know, and I kind of doubt they remember being in it. And I'm sure part of their toxic state had to do with just agreeing to do some of the crazy, campy stuff they did for the movie. But at any rate, the version itself is still very popular.

[Janda]

The version itself is totally awesome. In my mind, Aerosmith's cover of Come Together is one of the best cover songs in classic rock. I mean, it definitely has held up. And I like how you put it. It's muscular. It is a muscular cover. I agree with that.

[Christian Lane]

Yeah, it's like a Chevy. So, anyway, that's my first pick. Come Together by Aerosmith.

[Janda]

Yeah. I mean, really, this whole movie, when you set it up like that and you understand that it was just the producer director coming off a bunch of money and a bunch of successes from his previous work with the Bee Gees, that helped me understand how this thing ever got made to begin with, because it is just hard. It's always hard to watch, you know.

[Christian Lane]

It really is. And, you know, Robin Williams has this great line about how cocaine is God's way of Telling you you have too much money. And I think this movie is Robert Stigwood's reply. It's like, no, I will show you. So Stigwood's folly. What do you got, Janda?

[Janda]

Okay, but we're going to come back to sergeant Peppers, right? Like, you got more from that. Okay. Okay.

[Christian Lane]

Yeah.

[Janda]

All right. All right. I thought I would talk about the many J.J. kale songs that have been covered by other artists. All of them great or most of them great. Certainly the ones that I'm gonna talk about. As we all know, Eric Clapton famously covered both Cocaine, Speaking of Cocaine, and After Midnight, Both written by J.J. kale. So J.J. kahle came up out of the dirt in Oklahoma, the same area as Leon Russell. And, I mean, they were in bands together, Leon Russell and JJ Kale, as teenagers. Um, and then Leon went to la, and basically JJ Kale went to Los Angeles after Leon Russell did, ostensibly to be an engineer in Leon Russell's home studio in Los Angeles. That's how he got out there. I can't say enough great things about Leon Russell. We've talked about him in bonus episodes before. And same with JJ Kale. Great songwriter, great guitar player. And that was not unnoticed by one Eric Clapton, who very early on got a hold of after midnight by J.J. kale.

[Christian Lane]

After midnight. We're gonna let it all hang out now.

[Janda]

J.J. kale released that song After Midnight in, like, 66, but it didn't go anywhere until Eric Clapton decided to grab it and cover it in 1970. And when Clapton did it, it went up to number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. And here's the funny thing about that particular cover. The first time that Eric Clapton covered one of his songs, JJ Kale had no idea that that was even happening. He found out about it when he heard Clapton's version on the radio. That's how he found out that. That Eric Clapton had decided to cover his song. And then it was a great big hit. So, yeah, man, after midnight, the J.J. kahle version, amazing. The Eric Clapton version is the one that got it on the charts and the one that you still hear today. So that is one of the covers, and I'm gonna go directly into the COVID JJ Kale by Eric Clapton, Cocaine. And this again was another hit for Eric Clapton, not so much for J.J. kale. Clapton covered it in 77, and it went to the top 40. I mean, and it's. It's just an amazing cover of this song. It did really, really well for him, both of these covers. And on The Clapton note, I will mention that his love for J.J. kale ran so deep, and maybe by this point, he was just grateful, you know, that he'd had these hit songs with JJ Kale's material, that he went ahead and put together a whole tribute album in, like, 2014 with Tom Petty and Mark Knopfler and Willie Nelson covering JJ Kale's songs. It's a really great tribute compilation. It's called the Breeze. And appreciation of JJ Kale. And of course, Clapton did an album with JJ Kale, too. It's also pretty great. It's called the Road to Escondido. That came out in the early 2000s. And, I mean, that thing had Billy Preston and Taj Mahal and just a whole bunch of really, really great players on it. So. So, yeah, I mean, Eric Clapton's appreciation for JJ Kale has continued through the years, which is nice.

[Christian Lane]

It's cool. I think the thing with artists like covering J.J. kale, it's interesting. You know, his versions are often done with even just, like, some rudimentary drum machine. They're done really simple. They're. They sound like they're almost like they were done in his living room. They probably were. So, you know, part of the COVID thing is you want a reason? There should be a reason that I'm covering this song. And part of the reason is, well, I'm going to do a full band version of it and bring it more to life. And I think that's one thing I think artists pick up on, aside from his just stellar songwriting. Just really great, simple songs.

[Janda]

Yeah, I think that's it. As a guitarist, you would love the guitar playing, but you would also love the spaces around the music to kind of do your thing and put your stamp on it. I would imagine so, yeah. All right, back to you with sergeant Peppers.

[Christian Lane]

I'm gonna go with an unimpeachable cover here because it actually won a Grammy off this dogpile of a mov. It is Earth, Wind and Fire's really unique and cool and funky take on Got to get you into my life. Paul McCartney song got to get you into my life. Maurice White vocal, he's just so smooth.

[Janda]

And his voice.

[Christian Lane]

He produced it, of course. Incredibly talented, incredible arranger. You almost don't know at some points in it that it's the Beatles song. And it's a good thing. You know, it's like, whereas the Aerosmith's version is very faithful, this one is not. And it works wonderfully. A little note on this. George Martin produced all the songs on the soundtrack, except for the Aerosmith and Earth Wind Fire songs.

[Janda]

The most covers.

[Christian Lane]

Yeah. You know, but to his credit, when he heard Earth Wind and Fire's version, he said, oh, perhaps this is how we should have done the whole record. Just let the bands reinterpret, because this is really a unique and wonderful take. So it's. You know, George Martin signed off on, won a Grammy. It went to. It was the number one soul single, and it went to number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. So it was just a monster, I would imagine. Summer of 78, it was hard to get away. It was on Soul Train and Dick Clark's Top five or whatever. So.

[Janda]

Right. American Bandstand.

[Christian Lane]

American Bandstand, yeah.

[Janda]

Yeah. It's. It's interesting about George Martin. He was probably so used to producing the Beatles music in. In a specific way that he probably realized, oh, if I just get out of the way of some of these bands, they are not the Beatles. So of course they will have a different take on it. And then here's what happened. And really interesting that it was the. It was actually the biggest hit from that particular film.

[Christian Lane]

And also, just a quick note, they put themselves in the movie because they're playing at a benefit for Heartland, so they're the only band that actually just kind of played themselves. What's next on your JJ Kale a thon?

[Janda]

Well, if I didn't mention Skynyrd's cover of Call Me the Breeze, then I would be probably thrown out of town.

[Christian Lane]

Call me the Breeze.

[Janda]

Skynyrd took that song Call Me the Breeze and absolutely flipped it on its head, and I'm gonna use your term from earlier. Made it muscular, Made it dangerous.

[Christian Lane]

There's an urgency to it that J.J. kale just never has in any of his music. You know, like, as awesome and great and well written as his songs are, they're not played with any amount of urgency. There's something about the attack that Skinner version has. It's just. It's. It's a crunchy and stellar.

[Janda]

Yeah, crunchy and stellar indeed. And while we're talking about that song, I also have to mention Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers covered Call Me the Breeze too. That was recorded live at the Fillmore when they did a residency in the Fillmore in, like, the mid-90s. You know, obviously Tom Petty has an affinity and Mike Campbell and would have an affinity for a guy like JJ Kale also being somewhat Southern, him being from Oklahoma. And then there is a Tulsa connection with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Anyway, because they spent their early years.

[Christian Lane]

That's right.

[Janda]

Making records in Tulsa, you know, before they didn't anymore and the whole MCA thing happened and all that kind of stuff. That's for a different podcast episode. Yeah. But there is a connection to J.J. kah with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers through Oklahoma. J.J. kale's home state. All right, so. So what else is on your list from the Sgt. Peppers movie?

[Christian Lane]

The rest of the soundtrack, spotty. I mean, even the Bee Gees, Peter Frampton songs, as cool as they are, they're. They're not crucial. They're not necessary. Basically, everything else is cameos. But Alice Cooper has this very creepy cameo. He plays the Sun King, which his name was sunk and the K falls off. So he becomes. It's a whole thing. It's crazy. But he does. Because the very lush and orchestrated. Because very similar background harmonies and he does this really creepy reading over the top of it. It's almost worth checking out just because of how sarcastic he is in it. And it's just great. Finally, I just like to say about sergeant Pepper, at the end, they do the sergeant Pepper's reprise, and it's a whole bigger cast on stage or wherever in Heartland than was ever in the movie. And that's because they just. It seems like they're just giving people. Hey, anybody want to come? So some names that stood out to me in the chorus at the end. Frankie Valli. This is just random. Now, remember, this is the crazy 70s movie. Frankie Valli. Wilson Pickett.

[Janda]

What?

[Christian Lane]

Bonnie Raitt. Bonnie Raitt. Curtis Mayfield. Etta James.

[Janda]

What? Etta James.

[Christian Lane]

Etta James. All of Hart. Olive Hart. Olive hart. Tina Turner. Dr. John Donovan. Yeah. Jose Feliciano.

[Janda]

Okay, this is all right now.

[Christian Lane]

I'm going to the other side. I'm going to leave you with that. Oh, one more. I'm going to leave you with this to think on. Hank Williams Jr. Stop it. Get out of here. Bo Cephas. Bo Cephas was in the house.

[Janda]

Okay.

[Christian Lane]

All right. That's all I got. That's all I got today.

[Janda]

You left it all on the dance floor, man.

[Christian Lane]

Left it all out there. Just like they did at the end of this movie. It's crazy. It's. That's so crazy. I'm not kidding, you guys.

[Janda]

It makes me want to watch it a little bit. Yeah.

[Christian Lane]

So.

[Janda]

Yes, definitely. Well, thank you for that, Christian.

[Christian Lane]

You're very welcome.

[Janda]

My takeaway is a couple of great covers. The rest, not so much a completely implausible and only could happen in the 70s. Kind of movie making event filled with everybody that you can think of in the kitchen sink and in the audience too, I guess. Amazing.

[Christian Lane]

No particular reason, right?

[Janda]

No rhyme or reason. Just like the 70s. All right, well, on the J.J. kale tip, I will just leave one last note. And I must mention this. It's not like magnolia by J.J. kale was, you know, a major, major hit. But it is a fan favorite for J.J. kale fans. And those fans include many, many artists, obviously. And I will say that I think one of the best covers of JJ Kale's Magnolia is by the band Poco on their Crazy eyes album in 1973. That is a beautiful cover. They did a beautiful job with a. With a beautiful song. I love the JJ Kale version.

[Christian Lane]

Magnolia. Yes. Sweet.

[Janda]

And the Poco version also sounds great.

[Christian Lane]

Magnolia, you sweet things.

[Janda]

Well done.

[Christian Lane]

Well done, guys.

[Janda]

Good job, Poco.

[Christian Lane]

Good job, Poco.

[Janda]

So there you go. There's a batch of COVID songs for you and a pretty terrible movie to think about too. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Christian, thanks for joining me. This has been a really fun chat. Appreciate it as always. It's always fun and on the way. Much more classic rock and roll.