The Reason For The Season

I was just reading a Washington Times article* about how most Americans view Christmas today. According to the piece, nine out of ten Americans participate in Christmas. And out of those people, three quarters believe in the biblical account of Jesus' birth. But most surprising is that only half of these people regard Christmas a religious holiday. Really?

After I think about it, I guess I shouldn't be that surprised. After all, commercialism has all but bastardized what's left of the traditional American Christmas. The celebration of Christ's birth has been dwarfed by the celebration and worship of the latest X-Box. In a traditional time of "giving", it seems that, ironically, we're becoming more and more greedy. And the worst part is that we're passing these materialistic attitudes onto our kids. I'll bet if you ask almost any 10-year old about the meaning of Christmas, he/she will likely say something like, "It's when Santa brings me lots of toys."

Hey look, I'm not trying to be the Grinch here. I acknowledge that the whole Santa Claus thing is a rite of passage. Who doesn't love the look of a child's face when they discover their presents on Christmas morning? But shouldn't they at least learn the meaning behind Christmas?

But it's almost gotten to the point where you can't even utter the word Christmas anymore. Especially in places of business, people are now terrified of using the "C" word. When did this happen? "Happy Holidays" has replaced "Merry Christmas" as the all-encompassing, family-friendly greeting.

If you happen to be a follower of another faith or no faith at all, I respect that. If you don't want to participate in Christmas celebrations, then don't participate. But why ruin it for the roughly 220 million Americans who do. Where's all of that tolerance that we about so much?

I believe that all of this politically correct bullshit is the reason why so many people ignore the religious significance in Christmas. Are we celebrating the birth of Santa Claus? Of course, not. We're supposed to be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ (but you've got to promise not to tell anyone). Pretty soon, a black stripe will probably be required to cover the first six letters in Christmas. We will sending each other ------mas cards. Remember when Mayor Burgermeister Miesterburger outlawed toys in "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"? Of course, that could never happen today because spoiled kids everywhere would unite and fight back with high-pitched whines and temper tantrums. But how long before Christmas itself is outlawed? It might sound crazy but it's already gotten to the point where Christ isn't even allowed into the party. How crazy is that?

The reason for the season is becoming less significant with each passing year.......

kw

* http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/18/half-of-america-strips-religion-from-christmas/

Blown Out But Still Breathing

As game time approached yesterday, I actually thought that the Ravens would give the Patriots a run for their money. Boy, was I mistaken! The highly anticipated grudge-match was one of the worst displays of game execution that I've seen in a long, long time. Last week, the Ravens relied on six field goals from Justin Tucker to squeak out a win against the Lions. This week, they could barely get the ball on their side of the 50-yard line. Baltimore's lone touchdown didn't come until the 4th quarter. After scoring three 4th quarter TD's against Minnesota a couple of weeks ago, they went on a seven quarter TD drought. You never know what you're going to get with this team.

Speaking of which......What was up with Justin Tucker yesterday? The guy just came off of the best kicking performance in Ravens history and then he misses a chip shot? Did someone kidnap Tucker and send Billy Cundiff out in his place? That was just crazy.

As I watched the game from a pub table at the local Greene Turtle, I got more and more frustrated with every Raven's mishap. The team not only looked flat, but they didn't seem to have any fire in their belly. At times, I was on the verge of throwing my beer mug across the bar. But I really didn't want to compound my football frustrations with a trip to the police station.

I've watched a few games at the Greene Turtle. It usually attracts a diverse football crowd. Yesterday, about half of the crowd were Raven fans. But also saw fans for the Packers, Redskins, Cowboys, Colts and Steelers. Watching the terrible towels come out after every Pittsburgh score had me on the verge of coming unglued. Thank God there were no Patriots fans in attendance. That would have been enough to push me over the edge!

Now, I'll say two nice things about Tom Brady: He's a really good quarterback and he's got a really hot wife. However, I really hate him. And I should feel really bad for the terrible things that I wished on him yesterday. But I don't. Trying to find something salvageable after the Patriots picked off a pass and returned it for a TD, I took joy in watching Brady walk around the sideline trying to give someone an high-five. Unfortunately, for Brady, there didn't seem to be any takers. Apparently, he's such a dick that his own teammates won't even high-five him. How cool is that?

The officiating in yesterday's game was pretty bad. I think the Ravens were called for some bullshit penalties. But you could make an argument that the Pats got their share petty flags and no-calls as well. It wouldn't have made much of a difference anyway. The Patriots straight up whooped Baltimore's ass. To add salt to the wound, I had to endure the wrath of several anti-Raven Facebook friends as they delivered their predictable jabs. Hey, if I'm going to give it out when the Ravens are winning, I've got to be prepared to take my lumps when things go the other way. It's part of the game.

What I have to keep reminding myself is that this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Six months ago, I had the Ravens pegged to finish at 8-8. Regardless of what happens this Sunday, my prediction will ring close enough. However, the good news is that Baltimore is somehow still in the playoff hunt. If they win on Sunday and either Miami or San Diego loses, the Ravens go to the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. Strangely enough, the Ravens could actually lose on Sunday and still make the playoffs. Yes, that's right. If Miami, San Diego and Pittsburgh all lose, the Ravens move on regardless. But don't expect that to happen.

It's the last week of the season and we still have a shot. That's not so bad when you think about it........

kw

Christmas Shopping In The 'Dena

Last week, Tina & I decided to finish up our Christmas shopping. For the most part, we give out money cards to the kids and gift cards for the adults. We like to support the local businesses, so we headed up to the local Pasadena shopping center.

Our first stop was the Greene Turtle. Although our primary goal was to pick up gift cards, we felt obligated to stop off at the bar and have a beer. I'm a member of the Mug Club, so I personally wanted to make sure that no dust had collected on my mug. As we tipped backed our beers, a woman cozies up to the bar next to me to order a drink. She's wearing a Redskins shirt, so we strike up a conversation about football. I introduce to her to Tina. At some point, she asks, "Are you guys married? I don't see any wedding rings." I tell her that we are indeed married. Although feeling a little awkward, my ego starts to inflate because I assume that the woman is flirting with me.

Anyway, the woman then tells us that she's gay and introduces us to her partner. This leaves me feeling a bit dejected as it's more likely that she was actually flirting with Tina. She tells us that she likes coming to the Greene Turtle because people are accepting of her lifestyle and tend not to judge. I tell her that I have no issue with gay people. Hell, if Hillary gets elected in 2016, we'll have our first lesbian President. She starts to laugh. So, I say, "What's so funny? You really don't think that Hillary can win?"

Then, going back to football, I ask her, "If you must play for the other team, does it really have to be the Redskins?" Acknowledging my lame attempt at humor, she just shakes her head and laughs. I buy her a beer and we exchange a few more stories and laughs. A very cool woman who we hope to run into again.

We leave the Greene Turtle and then head over to the Lake Shore Shopping Center. We stop off at Two Rivers to pick up more gift cards. We purchase the cards and head down the strip mall for more shopping. Since I need to pick up a special sized lightbulb for Tina's china cabinet, we head into Ace Hardware. We were greeted by a red-vested employee at every turn. I picked up the lightbulb and to the checkout line where I noticed a display of Duck Dynasty Chia Pets. I find it funny and impulsively blurt out, "Do people really buy these things?" This prompted at least three people to turn around and stare at me. I quickly realized that we were in the 'Dena and people probably do buy these things.

We make our way back outside to the covered walkway. Tina decides she wants to check out cat food in the pet store. As we walk in, we're quickly greeted by a young man who has an uncanny resemblance to comedian and Katy Perry's ex-husband, Russell Brandt. Tina asks him a question about cat food. This sets him off on a 20-minute deep-dive into everything you ever possibly wanted to know about feline energy sources. I have never seen anyone so enthused about cat food. It was like watching one of those old Richard Simmons exercise videos. I almost felt like ripping a bag open and eating it myself!
When the guy eventually finished his seminar, I felt the urge to applaud. The guy gave us some free samples of the world's best cat food and we continued on our way.

Tina needed to pick up some of those money card/holders. So, she talked me into going into the Dollar General store. As soon as we entered the store, it knew it was going to be a mistake. The place was packed. It reminded me of the Star Wars bar scene. I saw one guy talking to himself and another one having a loud, obnoxious conversation on his cell phone. There was a woman with several small children in one of the aisles. The kids were pulling random toys off of the shelves and screaming, "I want this one! Buy me this one!" The mother would answer every demand with, "Put it back now. I'm not telling you again!" And then, she would tell them again. And again.....

As I turn down another aisle, I see a strange looking guy staring at the razor blade display. If Slingblade had a son.....

As Tina gathers up her things, she says, "Come on, I want to get out of here."

I reply, "You want to get out of here? I never wanted to come in here in the first place!"

"Just shut up and get in line with me", she says. Yes, I just love this time of year.

We get in line behind four other people. The cashier is about as fast as a turtle with a broken leg. The line quickly builds to the point where it's about 20-people deep and snaking down the far aisle. The cashier yells for her lone co-worker to open up another register. The new cashier says, "I can help the next person in line."

The woman in front of us, who was actually the third person in line, bolts to the newly opened register. Since no one else joins her at the new register, Tina and I move in behind her. At this point, the original line starts flowing like the Niagra Falls. Meanwhile the woman in front of us is having issues. She swipes three different credit cards and they all show declined. She's got about $29 worth of merchandise on the counter. She then starts to pull out various gift cards. With each one, she says to the cashier, "I think I've got five or six dollars on this one, can you check it?" At first, I was really annoyed. Then I thought about it. This woman might have been trying to buy gifts for her kids or grandkids. We almost offered to pay for her stuff. But she was attracting enough attention and we didn't want to embarrass her any further. So, we jumped over to the original line.

Now, after already waiting for twenty minutes, we were back where we started. At this point, the beer from the Greene Turtle was putting a hurting on our kidneys. So, Tina says, "Ken, I really gotta pee."

I remind her that it was her idea to come in here. She responds, "Ok, whatever, Let's just put the stuff down and go. I can pick it up later."

I point out that we've already been waiting in line for a half hour and I'm determined to see this thing through. Then, she hands all of her miscellaneous items to me. And like an idiot I take them from her. I ask, "What are you doing?"

As she starts towards the exit, she says, "I'm going up to Two Rivers to use the bathroom. Meet me in the bar when you're done and I'll have a cold beer waiting for you."

The other people in line react with laughter and high-fives. One guy says, "Your wife has the right idea!" And then another says, "Man, that's cool. I wish my wife was more like that!"

I remind these delusional fools that she just left me stranded in the line at the Dollar General store. There is nothing right or cool about that. If it isn't already bad enough that I'm literally left holding the bag, now I've got to deal with Tina's fan club.

I finally see light at the end of the tunnel as I make it up the cash register. The young cashier laughs as I drop my items onto the counter. She tells me that I'm funny. I have an uncontrollable urge to go into the Joe Pesci "Good Fellas" rant..."You think I'm funny? Funny how? Like a clown? Do I amuse you.....?"
But I just smile and let it go..

I finally make it outside and walk a few stores up to Two Rivers. I stroll in with my Dollar General bag and see Tina sitting at the end of the bar. As soon as she sees me, she starts laughing. I tell her,"I'm really not finding a whole lot of humor in any of this." This only makes her laugh even harder.

Sometimes, it's easier to just shop online........

kw

Erv's 80th Birthday

(This was my roast/speech from my Dad's 80th birthday party on 12/15/2013)


Thank all of you for coming out today to help us celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday. Most of you here know my father and I'm sure you have had your own unique and memorable experiences. If anyone wants to share any stories or say a few words, I'm sure our friendly DJ would be happy to lend you the microphone. In the meantime, I'll tell you a few of my stories....

Since we're celebrating his birthday today, I'll start right here. Through the years, finding a birthday gift for my Dad was always an adventure. He's one of those guys who "never needs anything". I would always do my best to find the perfect gift but somehow, I always seemed to miss the mark. One time, I bought him a nice North Carolina Tarheels hat. I figured, he's from Carolina, it makes sense.....Anyway, after a couple of weeks, I notice that he's not wearing the cap anymore. I asked him what happened to it. He said, "I took it off because I got tired of people asking me who won the game. How the hell do I know who won the game? I don't even watch basketball!"

Another time, I bought him one of those expensive Polo shirts. But I eventually wound up taking it back NOT because it was the wrong size or color, but because it didn't have a pocket.You see, years ago, my Dad used to smoke. And he liked to store his pack of Winstons in his shirt pocket. If you look at some old family photos, my Dad is easy to find. He's the guy with the rectangular nipple...

When Dad finally gave up smoking, we were all happy. But I was especially happy. You see, I used to work with my Dad. And we would usually ride to work together. On our daily commute, Dad would smoke what seemed like half the tobacco in North Carolina. As the cab of the truck filled with smoke, I would hang my head halfway out of the window. Even though it was sometimes 10 degrees outside, I didn't care. I would often get strange looks from other drivers as they saw my frostbitten nose hanging out of the passenger side window. Eventually, my Dad would tell me to wind up the window because I was letting all of the heat out. By the time we got to the job site, I would stumble out of the truck, gasping for breath and rubbing my bloodshot eyes. Then, my Dad would look at me and say, "You know, you shouldn't go out partying when you've gotta work the next day."

There were other adventures too. One time, we were building a deck. We reached a point where we needed more wood, so I took the pick-up truck and headed up to the lumber store. I loaded up the bed with a stack of pressure treated wood. Now, the wood was 10 or 12 feet long, so I had to put the tailgate down. Keep in mind that my Dad's truck had one of those hard plastic bed liners. Well, I leave the lumber yard and start to make a left turn onto Crain Hwy. As I begin to accelerate, the lumber slips out of the truck bed and spills across both lanes of the highway. I get out of the truck and start to pick up the scattered boards and load them back into the truck. Luckily, some of the other stranded motorists got out and helped me. I guess they didn't have much of a choice since I had the whole highway shutdown. When I finally get back to the job site, my Dad says, "What the hell took you so long."

I just told him that there was a traffic jam.........I knew if I told him the truth, I would get an earful. You see, my Dad was way too smart these type of things happen to him.

Well, not long afterwards, (and I wasn't there this time), Dad tells me that he himself spilled a load of lumber all over the road. Trying my best to keep a straight face, I said, "Are you serious? How does something like that happen?" Then, I told him about my experience and we both laughed about it.

Back in the day, one of my Dad's favorite weekend activities has dabbling in flea markets and yard sales. When I was a kid, he used to take me along. I was always impressed with the way he would wheel and deal with the different vendors. He would always get things for the lowest possible price. He taught me that everything is negotiable. So, one day I walk into the 7-11 and the lady rings up my Big Gulp and Snickers bar, She tells me that it's going to be $1.49. I rub my chin and tell her, "I'll tell you what. Make it an even dollar, and we've got a deal!" Needless to say, I didn't inherit my dad's negotiating skills.....

In recent years, Dad had pretty much shelved his flea market activities to focus more time on building his lawn mower empire. On any given day, you can catch my father in his garage tweaking carburetors and breathing new life new into old lawn mowers. In the spring time, people are constantly stopping by to see the Lawnmower Man. One time, I stopped by to visit my parents and my Dad wasn't home. There was a knock at the front door, so I went to answer it. I greeted the two men standing in the front yard. They said, "We're here to see the Lawnmower Man." It reminded my of the scene where Dorothy and the gang finally arrive in Oz and they ask to see the Wizard.

Anyway, I explained that he wasn't home. They asked if I was his son. I said that I was. The next thing I know these guys are shaking my hand and telling me about the famous Lawnmower Man. It turns out that my Dad is Brooklyn's biggest celebrity since the $99 Dollar Down Man. Who knew?

Sometimes, my parents will have a house full of people and the door bell will ring. My Dad will shake his head and say, "I'll bet it's somebody wanting a damn lawnmower. I can't get a minute's worth of peace!" You think your life is tough? Try living the life of a lawnmower man.......

Now, if you've ever had an argument with my father, you know that you can't possibly win. I remember having an argument one time. I think we were talking about who we thought was the best baseball player. We went back and forth arguing our points. And as my Dad's blood reached a boiling point, I said, "It's just my opinion." He told me that I was entitled to my opinion. But I was still wrong. You see what I mean?

We probably have a lot of Baltimore Ravens fans in here. Well, my Dad's not one of them. If you want to get him fired up, just mention how awesome the Ravens are. Or if you want to watch him turn red and see steam come out of his ears, just mention Ray Lewis. This will usually result in him storming into the kitchen where he'll grab his canister full of news clippings. He'll hand you each clipping and say, "Here, go ahead and read this and tell me what you think."

One time, I said, "Dad, this is an opinion piece." He replied, "It doesn't matter, it's the truth!" Like I said, you're not winning any arguments with him.

Let me give you this piece of advice......If you ever get into an argument with my father and you feel that you're backed into a corner, just start talking about lawn mowers.

..............................................................................................................................

On a serious note......

As a young man, my Dad left the tobacco farms of North Carolina for the city life of Baltimore. He began a career as a carpenter and he soon discovered that he a natural talent for the trade. I worked with him on many projects through the years. And I was always amazed at his ability to transform a stack of lumber into an impressive looking deck or a beautiful house. He took pride in what he did and it always showed in his work.

Through the years, I learned a lot of things from my father. He taught me the normal father-son things but he also taught me many life lessons. He taught me the value of a dollar and how to step up and take responsibility. He also taught me respect and ultimately how to be a good father myself. In a nutshell, he taught me how to be a decent man. For that, I will always be grateful.

Dad, you're a good man. And all of the people here today should show you how fondly you're thought of.. We all love you and wish you many more happy years. Happy birthday......

Christmas Albums - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

This is the time of year when I like to take a much needed break from my usual talk-radio shows. So, I proceed to blow the dust off of my favorite Christmas CD's and transport them out to my car. As I prepare to listen to the holiday tunes, I sometimes have to punch the CD button on the car stereo several times. I assume that since it's been stuck on the AM stations for so long, it has a difficult time understanding exactly what a CD is...

There are many good Christmas albums out there, but I have a few that rank as my personal favorites. They include:

• Christmas Eve & Other Stories by Trans-Siberian Orchestra - An absolutely brilliant album where the TSO takes you on a spirited Christmas journey.  If there is a such thing as a "kick-ass" Christmas record, this is certainly it.
• A Very Special Christmas by Various Artists - This album was produced in 1987 to raise money for the Special Olympics. It features artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Stevie Nicks and Whitney Houston doing their renditions of their favorite Christmas classics.
• White Christmas by Bing Crosby - If you are having a rough day, let Bing Crosby take you away to a more relaxing place. The legendary crooner always delivers the perfect Christmas song.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas by The Vince Guaraldi Trio - This Christmas album always takes me back to my childhood when my biggest concern was getting to bed before Santa made his rounds.
• Elvis' Christmas Album - Elvis could make any song sound great. This collection of Christmas classics is a great example.
• The Coolest Christmas by Various Artists - This album features some of the best versions of Christmas classics. It includes the Bing Crosby/David Bowie version of The Little Drummer Boy, a cover version by The Alarm of John Lennon's classic "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)", Dean Martin's "Let It Snow" and Brenda Lee's yuletide favorite "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree". Another great Christmas CD to add to your collection.

I have to mention that I just picked up Kelly Clarkson's Christmas CD ("Wrapped In Red") and I give it an enthusiastic two thumbs up. Yes, I might be the only heterosexual male over the age of 21 who has every Kelly Clarkson CD. And yes, my friends often bust my balls about it. But anyone who thinks that the girl can't sing is either tone-deaf or delusional. 

Now, along with the good Christmas collections, there are also the not so good recordings. For instance, I recently saw an ad for "Duck The Halls" by the Robinson Brothers (aka the Duck Dynasty guys). To be fair, I don't know how bad it is because I never listened to it. And I don't intend to anytime soon....

After seeing the Duck Dynasty ad, I did a little research and found several other Christmas albums that will never get the opportunity to penetrate my ear canals. As crazy as it may seem, here are a few unconventional Christmas records that do indeed exist:

• Ho Ho Ho by Rupaul - Nothing gets you into the Christmas spirit quite like a 6-foot transvestite.
• Hung For The Holidays by William Hung - Yep, even an American Idol audition reject can make a Christmas album.
• Christmas On Death Row by Various "Artists" - A collection of uplifting holidays tunes from a bunch of gangsta rappers. It's all fun and games until someone busts a cap in Santa's ass.
• The Regis Philbin Christmas Album - I can think of a million other things that I'd rather do than listen to Regis sing anything.
• A Very Larry Christmas by Larry The Cable Guy - I imagine the same people who bought this CD also have a talking bass hanging on their living room wall. I'm sure this is a hot seller at the local Walmart but I think I'm gonna pass.
• A Twisted Christmas by Twisted Sister - If Santa had an evil twin brother, he would probably resemble Dee Snider. No, I don't think this is going to work.
• Christmas In The Heart by Bob Dylan - Listening to Bob mumble the lyrics to Winter Wonderland will have you reaching for the Scotch bottle long before he heads to the meadow to build a snow man.
• Christmas Time Again by Lynyrd Skynyrd - I had no idea Skynryd released a Christmas album back in 2000. Times must have been tight.
• Merry Christmas From The Brady Bunch - Sure, growing up, we all lived vicariously thorough the All-American sextet. But does anyone really want to hear them sing?
• The Star Wars Christmas Album - In space, no one can hear you scream. Hopefully, they can't hear you sing either.
• Yuletide Disco - This is just downright sacrilegious.

What's next?? A Big Ass Christmas Album by Kim Kardashian? Chugging With Santa Claus by Lindsey Lohan? Twerkin' Around The Christmas Tree by Miley Cyrus? Exposing My North Pole by Anthony Wiener?

When it comes to Christmas records, some are good, some are bad and some can be downright ugly........

kw

An Incredible Ravens Finish

Even after a full night of sleep, my heart is still beating extra fast after the crazy finish to the Ravens/Vikings game yesterday. Thinking of all the adjectives that I could use to describe it, "Wow!" probably sums it up best. With a just a few ticks before the two-minute warning, the Vikings were up 12-7. As hard is it is the comprehend, the game ended with the Ravens winning 29-26.

First off, I feel kind of sorry for the Minnesota Vikings and their fans. They fought just as hard as the Ravens in the end. Unfortunately, for them, the sand in the hourglass ran out on them. 

Secondly, I feel really bad for any Raven's fan who either left the game early or turned the game off in the fourth quarter. They missed what are some already calling the best two minutes in NFL history! It was certainly the best finishes that I can ever remember watching.

The thing that made yesterday's dramatic finish even more impressive was that the snow and freezing rain had turned the field into a giant ice rink. However, the poor playing conditions could not put a damper on either team's desire to win.

As much criticism as Joe Flacco takes from some of the fans, you can not deny his ability to stay calm in the most trying of circumstances. For him to march the team downfield in the final seconds and score the game winning TD proved to me that he is indeed a special quarterback. This doesn't mean that I won't criticize Joe at times. But I can't deny that the guy is a winner.

Speaking of winners, Dennis Pitta played his first game of the season yesterday. Although he's been injured most of the year, he came into the game looking as healthy as ever. He had six catches including a highlight-reel grab in which his body was parallel with the frozen tundra below. He also had a key TD catch that helped secure the Raven's victory.

And what can you say about Jacoby Jones? I don't even know why teams kick the ball to this guy anymore. He's pure dynamite when he gets his hands on a kick-off. When head coaches try to trip him on the sidelines, you know how dangerous he is. Hey Tomlin, this TD's for you!

Last year's playoff game between Denver and Baltimore is one of the best football games that I've ever watched. Yesterday, the Ravens gave their fans a two-minute condensed version of that excitement. It was the most heart-pounding two minutes of football that I've ever seen.

With yesterday's incredible victory, the Ravens stay in the playoff race for another week. The game against Detroit next Monday night will be huge. And of course, the following week the Ravens will play the Patriots. No doubt, both of the games will be tough, but they are certainly winnable, in my opinion. With any luck, the Ravens and Bengals will both have a lot at stake in the final regular season match-up on December 29.

No matter what pans out for the rest of the season, it sure feels good to be Ravens fan this morning....

kw

Great Cover Tunes

So, last night I got together with a bunch of friends to cheer on our good buddy, Lathan, as he filled in on drums for a local cover band. Live music is always a treat, especially when you know the guys behind the music. With that being said, most cover bands try to replicate the original song as closely as possible. Although there's nothing wrong with that, there's an added element of interest when a band puts their personal touch on a song. The band that we saw last night, Major Company, did exactly that. They were interesting, enjoyable and downright good.

After having a day to digest this, I got to thinking about cover tunes in general. Some bands record covers that fail to measure up to the original. In other cases, the cover sounds identical to the original. So, what's point? However, in a few rare cases, the cover blows away the original. Everyone will have their their own ideas of a great cover. Here are just a few that popped into my head:

• All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix - No doubt, Bob Dylan is a brilliant songwriter. However, I was never a big fan of his performance. Hendrix's classic guitar riffs and passionate vocals capture the mood of the song.
• Black Magic Woman by Santana - A song that was originally done by Fleetwood Mac (during the Peter Green days). Santana's Latin vibe added the key ingredient to make this song great.
• Green Manalishi by Judas Priest - Although this is one of Judas Priest's most well know songs, many people don't know that Fleetwood Mac did the original. The original version was a bit psychedelic and spooky. Judas Priest's cover delivered the powerful vocals and an updated guitar sound that the song needed.
• Hurt by Johnny Cash - I know Johnny Cash isn't considered "rock" by today's standards, but his cover of the Nine Inch Nails song is downright epic. The fact that Cash recorded the song shortly before he passed away makes it that much more amazing.
• Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson - Everyone is familiar with the original version by the Eurythmics. But Marilyn Manson adds a disturbing twist that makes the song even more memorable.
• Higher Ground by The Red Hot Chili Peppers - I really like Stevie Wonder's original version. But the Chili Peppers turned up the heat and made a great song even better.
• Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin - The original version done by Kris Kristofferson was dwarfed by Joplin's much more passionate version.
• You Really Got Me by Van Halen -  The song that put Van Halen on the map. Their cover version blows the doors off of the Kink's original.
• With A Little Help From My Friends by Joe Cocker - While there's certainly nothing wrong wit the Beatles version, the soulful rendition from Joe Cocker is one of my all-time favorite cover tunes.
• Diamonds and Rust by Judas Priest - The original version by Joan Baez sounds like elevator music compared the the kick-ass version by Priest.
• Summertime Blues by The Who - The original 1958 version by Eddie Cochran is clearly outdone The Who's classic performance.
• Proud Mary by Ike & Tina Turner - Tina Turner tuned this classic CCR song into her own.
• Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley - No offense to Carl Perkins, but if Elvis does your song, people are going to forget the original.

There are many other great cover tunes that I failed to mention. Maybe you can add a few to the list.....

kw