Good Cover Version: Murder By Death Does Sam The Sham

Pulp gave the world the song "Bad Cover Version." But seeing as I'm a sonic optimist, I'm of the belief that there's more likely than not more good cover versions floating around than bad ones. Good Cover Version celebrates the good, and leaves all that bad and ugly stuff alone.

It's Halloweek, otherwise known as my favorite week of the year. Which naturally means it's time to talk a little about one of my favorite Halloween-appropriate songs, "Little Red Riding Hood." Given fame by the campy, fabulous version done by the glorious Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs, Murder By Death takes the song and gives it a decidedly American gothic treatment, that somehow remains not really any less camp (complete with wolfy howling). Nothing will ever best the Sam The Sham version, of course, but Murder By Death does it pretty dang proud.