It’s too bad Ryan Adams turned out to be such a shitty person because that really got in the way of one of the most interesting and diverse careers in the music business.
Who else would record a song-by-song cover of Taylor Swift’s 1989, giving each pop song on the record his own melancholy folk-rock twist? His 1989, released in 2015 a year after the original, is the sort of project I’d love to see attempted again.
Phoebe Bridgers tackles AC/DC’s Back in Black, Ben Folds does a solo piano version of Springsteen’s Born to Run, Taylor Swift returns the favor and recreates Adams’ Heartbreaker.
What albums would you like to see covered, and by whom?
Looking at it now
It all seems so simple
We were lying on your couch
I remember
You took a Polaroid of us
Then discovered (Then discovered)
The rest of the world was black and white
But we were in screaming color
And I remember thinking
[Chorus]
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good
(Are we out of the woods?)
[Verse 2]
Looking at it now
Last December (Last December)
We were built to fall apart
Then fall back together (Back together)
Ooh, your necklace hanging from my neck
The night we couldn’t quite forget
When we decided, we decided
To move the furniture so we could dance
Baby, like we stood a chance
Two paper airplanes flying, flying, flying
And I remember thinking
[Chorus]
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet? (Oh) Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good
(Are we out of the woods?)
[Bridge]
Remember when you hit the brakes too soon?
Twenty stitches in the hospital room
When you started crying, baby, I did too
But when the sun came up, I was looking at you
Remember when we couldn’t take the heat?
I walked out, I said, “I’m setting you free”
But the monsters turned out to be just trees
When the sun came up, you were looking at me
You were looking at me, ooh
You were looking at me
(Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet?)
(Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?)
I remember
(Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?)
(Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good)
Oh, I remember
[Chorus]
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet? (Yeah, yeah)
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet? (Say, are we?)
Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet? (Yeah) Are we in the clear yet? (Yeah)
Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good (Clear yet? Good)
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good (Do you remember?)
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet? Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet? Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet, in the clear yet? Good
Meet Me In Montauk 
As you might recall from my turn as guest blogger, I adore a good cover. Typically Al album of covers takes on multiple songs from across the career of an artist (such as the 16 tracks on Two Rooms, which cover some of Elton John’s and Bernie Taupin’s greatest songs, if not biggest hits)
Having recently focused on the art of the album in an era of playlists, I’ve been rediscovering the pleasure of a well-crafted album. I’ve always loved a stripped down version of a song, so I’d likely want something like that. Shawn Colvin does such a fine job with The Police’s “Every Little Thing” that perhaps she could take on the whole album. Various country artists beautifully stepped up to the plate to perform Paul Simon’s songs at his recent celebration, so maybe a genre twisting album… Rhythm of the Saints as performed by country’s greatest artists?
I think I’d have Hozier cover something… it’d be fun to hear him take on Broadway, so maybe The Waitress album. I’d be happy to keep Sara Bareilles around and hear those two pop off with harmonies.
Hmmm…maybe Harry Styles or Ed Sheerhan covering a Randy Newman album like Sail Away?
I share your sentiments abt Ryan Adams’ fall from grace. He has written some truly beautiful songs that continually motivate me to become a better songwriter. I vividly remember hearing “Oh My Sweet Carolina” for the first time and thinking “how do I emulate this?”. I attribute dissecting that song with its deceptively simple yet potent lyric and structure as quite a formative experience towards finding my own voice. Too bad as you said he is “such a shitty person”.
As to your question, I would love to see some Michael Jackson albums covered by some of my favorite artists that share his high vocal range. Perhaps, a Bruno Mars/Silk Sonic cover of Thriller. Justin Timberlake doing “Bad”? The Weeknd would absolutely destroy a cover of “Off The Wall”.