The usefulness of an opinion is itself matter of opinion.

SO the other day I promised a close up of the mountain. Here you go, with bonus cloud!

In the the spirit of "running short of time and ideas", I've introduced a new theme for Sundays, the WORLD FAMOUS Sunday Top Five!

This week I start with off the top of my head a meticulously researched list of my Top Five Cover Songs:

1. The Gourds bluegrass interpretation of Snoop Doggy Dogg's Gin and Juice manages to turn a turgid mess into a stoke of genius.


2. A generous helping of banjo sees Marah's version of Streets of Philadelphia liven up Bruce Springsteen's laid back original.


3. Although Marvin Gaye improved on Gladys Knight (and the Pips) I Heard It Through the Grapevine, I think that Creedence Clearwater Revival have to take a bow for taking it in a whole different direction.


4. Love her or hate her, you have to admit that Sinead O'Connor manages to make a pretty decent single out of an ordinary Prince album track with Nothing Compares 2 U.


5. The last spot I'm giving to Saint Etienne, for crafting a dreamy version of Only Love Can Break Your Heart, rescuing it from warbling cat in heat, Neil Young.

Just failing to crack the five, I recommend Cat Power's take on (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Linda Ronstadt's You're No Good, The Flying Burrito Brothers almost immediate improvement on Wild Horses, the much maligned Carpenter's expansion on the already spacey Klaatu's Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft; with a final nod to Mary Lou Lord's feminine angel on Springsteen's Born to Run.

Now, I am sure you're all dying to tell me what I've missed. As the owner of a ridiculously expanding iTunes playlist, I'm happy to add more. Fire away in the comments and I'll tell you why your wrong!
Born To Run, Mary Lou Lord, Bruce Springsteen