45 Comments so far ↓

• Tim Friedman // Feb 8, 2010 at 10:38 am

  On the Portland compilation “Bridging The Distance,” they cover Fleetwood Mac’s “Think About Me.”

• Malacandra // Feb 8, 2010 at 1:18 pm

  “Nothing to Hold On To” was later released as a large part of the song “Sleepless”, which is part of the “Dark is the Night” benefit compilation album released about a year ago.

  It’s not a cover: it’s an original composition.

• Matt // Feb 8, 2010 at 2:07 pm

  Oops! Forgot to delete that off there. Thanks for the catch :)

• brian // Feb 8, 2010 at 5:54 pm

  There’s a killer cover of Eno’s “I’ll Come Running” from Sounds Eclectic bouncing around the internet somewheres. I’d argue that it tops the original.

• amanda // Feb 8, 2010 at 6:05 pm

  omg. seriously. is it Christmas? i think so! amazing. thank you for making my day by posting this.

• Freshy // Feb 8, 2010 at 7:31 pm

  ♥

• Alex // Feb 8, 2010 at 7:31 pm

  Colin just tweeted this! nice. :)

• Liz // Feb 8, 2010 at 7:37 pm

  I’ve got the cover of “I’ll Come Running”, and I also have them doing a fantastic cover of The Velvet Underground’s “What Goes On.”

• F.A.R. // Feb 8, 2010 at 7:42 pm

  This is stellar!Hold on, though; do you really mean to tell me that the Decemberists have never covered Freebird?

• tom // Feb 8, 2010 at 7:59 pm

  The NYCTaper site also has a great cover of REM’s Begin the Begin that features Peter Buck playing with Colin and co.

• seamus // Feb 8, 2010 at 8:07 pm

  Colin has done a nice cover of “Southern Girls” by Cheap Trick at a few live shows. Dunno if it’s been recorded though.

• Sara B. // Feb 8, 2010 at 8:07 pm

  The Decemberists’ cover of Joanna Newsom’s “Bridges and Balloons” on the compilation that came with The Believer 2005 music issue is really great. There are many on here that I haven’t heard, and I’m looking forward to it. Thank you for putting this together!

• Matt // Feb 8, 2010 at 8:20 pm

  Man, I can’t believe I forgot the Newsom cover! That’s one of my favorites. I need to check my other HD. Thanks for the reminder!

• Caleb // Feb 8, 2010 at 9:00 pm

  There is a cover of Neutral Milk Hotel’s King Of Carrot Flowers. Granted, in the only version that I’ve been able to find Colin doesn’t remember all of the words. Haha. :D

• Leanna // Feb 8, 2010 at 9:47 pm

  I don’t think I can listen to Colin Meloy singing “The Weight” — my heart might just burst.

  That said, my favorite cover I’ve ever heard them do was the song that goes “When I was a baby, I looked like a pig…” by the Donner Party (and also covered at one point by the New Pornographers), but I don’t have a recording of that. That was in Madison, WI, in 200…6?

• fede // Feb 8, 2010 at 10:20 pm

  the bridges & balloons cover is quite nice.

• Nick Peters // Feb 8, 2010 at 10:28 pm

  On their Australian tour last month they played The Go-Betweens ‘Bye Bye Pride’ at least at both their Sydney dates, don’t have a recording myself but would love one.

• Vanccce // Feb 8, 2010 at 10:49 pm

  i love this!

• Amy // Feb 8, 2010 at 11:45 pm

  “Feel Like Makin’ Love” is Bad Company, not Cheap Trick, but I love the collevtion!

• Amy // Feb 8, 2010 at 11:46 pm

  collection*

• Gonzo // Feb 9, 2010 at 12:12 am

  I have a random recording of the D’s playing “Let’s Go” by The Feelies. And does Colin’s segue into Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” at the end on “Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect” on his solo Live album count?

  Also, this music player is probs the best web player I’ve ever seen.

• bobby // Feb 9, 2010 at 1:36 am

  i find it interesting that the person who recommended me this was Colin Meloy on twitter. I would not have expected that.

• mistercam // Feb 9, 2010 at 9:13 am

  Thanks so much for this collection! And thanks to everyone who continue to send in more covers.

• Emily // Feb 9, 2010 at 12:43 pm

  Which member of The Decemberists sings the lead on “Your Love” by The Outfield? It clearly isn’t Colin… Love the list!

• Hayden // Feb 9, 2010 at 4:06 pm

  I have a better version/recording of them doing Crazy on You in Denver over the summer. It’s a bit more balanced than the version on here — a.k.a. you can hear the singing better instead of just the guitar being really loud. Is this something you’d like?

• Shyster // Feb 10, 2010 at 12:35 am

  Not sure why Summertime is listed as a Sam Cooke song. Shouldn’t it be Gershwin?

• alice // Feb 10, 2010 at 3:36 am

  @Emily: That is Chris Funk, their lead guitarist.

  Some others I have (probably all from the Live Music Archive [which says not to distribute in mp3]): The Night they Drove Ole Dixie Down, What Goes On, The Slinky commerical jingle, and a version of Your Love where they also covered Don’t Stop Believing and Jesse’s Girl. If you want any of these, let me know.

• scruss // Feb 10, 2010 at 6:32 pm

  If yer gettin’ all Colin, don’t forget his cover of Airscape by Robyn Hitchcock &The Egyptians from his Happy Cactus days. It’s on Glass Flesh.

• Ike Arumba // Feb 10, 2010 at 6:54 pm

  Everyone-
  If you have covers that are not on here, just zip them up and send them to Matt (matt @ youaintnopicasso.com). He’s not going to say “no” to anyone who has something not yet posted. :-)

• Matt // Feb 10, 2010 at 6:59 pm

  Haha. You’re so right, Ike. Except that sending via mediafire / rapidshare / yousendit would be better.

• Jess // Feb 10, 2010 at 8:49 pm

  here’s the cover of eno’s “i’ll come running” https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=MVNmUWV0OW5lM1FLSkE9PQ

  and also here’s a cover of the feelies ‘”let’s go” https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=MVNmUWV0OW5UME5MWEE9PQ

  enjoy!

• Malachi // Feb 11, 2010 at 12:50 pm

  Here’s The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down:

  http://www.letssexyfighting.com/media/olddixiecover.mp3

  Great compilation!

• Court // Feb 12, 2010 at 9:29 am

  They covered Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” last July at Edgefield Winery in Troutdale. Can’t seem to find a video of it though.

• Kimberley // Feb 14, 2010 at 3:36 pm

  thank you so much for hosting these! I host a a weekly show on covers on our local co-op station, and it’s people like you who help me find music to play! Thanks again!

  Kimberley

• Fridge // Feb 16, 2010 at 7:06 am

  They covered Fisherman’s Blues by the Waterboys (with Mike Scott making an appearance on guitar) at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in 2007… I don’t have a copy but I’d love to hear it again.

• Jason // Feb 16, 2010 at 11:02 pm

  They also played ‘Take It to the Limit” by the Eagles a few years ago at the Electric Factory in Philly with Becky Stark. Wish there was a copy of that somewhere.

• Katy // Feb 26, 2010 at 11:53 am

  This is phenomenal.

• Greg // Mar 4, 2010 at 8:02 am

  Little Boxes is a Pete Seeger song.

• Faith // Mar 15, 2010 at 1:34 pm

  My husband and kids and I saw the Decemberists on November 7, 2008 at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. While we were waiting in line outside we heard them do a cover of “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd. Sure wish I could hear that again, it was magic.

  Also, don’t forget that the Decemberists covered “My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist” by Tarkio. ;o)

• Greg // Mar 17, 2011 at 6:43 am

  Don’t know if you’re still keeping this up to date, which I hope you will, but you could add the great covers of the Dead’s “Row Jimmy” and R.E.M.’s “Cuyahoga.”

• Matt // Mar 17, 2011 at 3:35 pm

  Greg: I know; I’m a bit behind. I’ll add those very soon! Thanks for reminding me, though.

• mike // Sep 9, 2011 at 1:42 am

  Thanks for the list! I have Cuyahoga if you want it. It’s tops! Other songs I’ve got: “If I Could Only Win Your Love” by Emmylou Harris… duet with the awesome Sara Watkins from their Portland, ME set at Bullmoose Music; in addition to their iTunes released version, I have “When U Love Somebody” by Fruit Bats when they played in CO this summer; a partial cover of “Black Water” by Doobie Brothers as the intro to 16 Military Wives from this summer. Cheers!

• Ed // Oct 4, 2011 at 8:00 pm

  Wonderful! Thankyou very much indeed! :D

• Jessie Rumore // Jun 22, 2012 at 3:28 am

  Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you ever been running a blog for? you made running a blog glance easy. The total look of your site is wonderful, let alone the content material!

• Daniela // Mar 13, 2013 at 9:19 pm

  My name is Daniela. I am from Argentina. I am a student of graphic design at the University of Buenos Aires (Fadu- U.B.A). I really like the decemberists, the songs. That is why I was inspired to do a university project ( cd luxury edition ). I look forward for your reply.
  All the best,
  Daniela

  http://www.behance.net/gallery/DISENO1-CD-DELEUXE-THE-DECEMBERISTS/6543859