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Today’s Music News: Pet Shop Boys’ Always On My Mind voted best cover song ever

by Staff

October 29, 2014

Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" (originally by Dolly Parton) and Johnny Cash's "Hurt" (originally by Nine Inch Nails) made the top ten, as did two covers of songs by Minnesota artists: Sinead O'Connor's version of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" and Jimi Hendrix's transformative take on Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower." The best cover version of all time, though—according to voters in a BBC poll—is Pet Shop Boys' 1987 cover of "Always On My Mind." The song, written in 1972 by Johnny ChristopherMark James, and Wayne Carson, has been recorded over 300 times by performers including Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley.

Hopefully Pet Shop Boys can take tributes as well as they give them: their song "West End Girls" was just covered by GWAR. (Consequence of Sound)

John Carter Cash, the only son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, was arrested on Tuesday in Deer Lake, Canada, after police responded to reports of a man drunkenly stripping down to his underwear in the airport. Cash was on his way home from a hunting excursion, and was to be released when sober. (CBC) Cash is scheduled to perform at the Dakota Jazz Club on Nov. 16.

"If people want to pass judgment, they're already sinning," Dolly Parton told Billboard, criticizing fellow Christians who condemn gays and lesbians. "I completely love and accept them," Parton said about her many gay fans.

Unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift's album 1989, released on Monday, is going to be big—historically big. The album looks likely to sell over a million copies in its first week of release, making Swift the first-ever artist to have three million-selling weeks. (Billboard) For the occasion, Madame Tussaud's decided it was high time to give Swift her own wax figure. (Billboard)

Dean Wareham announced that Luna will reunite for a tour, ten years after they broke up. Seven shows are currently booked for Spain in 2015, but a New York show and other U.S. dates are expected. (Rolling Stone)

"Don't be jealous of this electrofunk duo," said Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek on Monday night, showing returning champion Bill Albertini a photo of Chromeo. Stumped, Albertini stood in silence until the buzzer sounded. (Consequence of Sound)

"The Monster," "The Real Slim Shady," and "Stan" are among the tracks your youngster can now drift off to: they're among the 12 tracks included on Lullaby Renditions of Eminem. (Consequence of Sound)

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Sting and the cast of his new Broadway musical The Last Ship took to the sidewalk outside the Neil Simon Theatre to sing the Police's "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (with lyrics revised to reference the show and its neighboring show Jersey Boys). (Billboard)

Looking for a holiday gift for that music fan who has everything? How about a copy of The Rolling Stones—a new book of photos depicting, and autographed by, the Rolling Stones? It will run you just $5,000. Or, a standard, non-autographed copy might be lavish enough at $150. The book comes out in December. (Billboard)

Belle and Sebastian released "The Party Line," a new single from their forthcoming (Jan. 20) album Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance. (Pitchfork)

Coldplay's Chris Martin was reportedly dating Jennifer Lawrence. They've now reportedly broken up. (E! News)

Permits were approved last night for a new festival curated by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver to take place next July in Eau Claire. Organizers are preparing for up to 25,000 people to attend each of the three-stage festival's scheduled two days. (Local Current)

Listen to the Morning Show’s music news roundup on the Current every weekday at 9:00 a.m. to hear Jill Riley and Steve Seel discuss the latest music news.

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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.