Dwight mixes country classics like Wichita lineman (Glen Campbell), T for Texas (Jimmie Rodgers) and North to Alaska (Johnny Horton) with sixties pop classics like Things we said today (Beatles), The last time (Rolling stones), Tired of waiting for you (Kinks) and Here comes the night (Them).

Baby don't go was an early Sonny and Cher hit, which Dwight sings as a duet with Sheryl Crow. Claudette was written in the fifties by Roy Orbison but is generally associated with the Everly brothers. Perhaps the most surprising selection is Train in vain, a cover of a song by punk rockers The Clash. Despite its origin, it sits comfortably among the other tracks here.

If you enjoy Dwight's other music and you don't object to cover versions, you will surely enjoy this.


Remarkable demonstration of Dwight's artistic breadth!   November 29, 1998
gmack@io.com (Austin, Texas)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Dwight Yoakam's album Under the Covers is in effect a direct parallel with Anne Lennox's album Medussa. Of course, Dwight has a Country background, so that's the spin he puts on this collection of these favorites from the past. Dwight really goes "out of his box" by trying, and succeeding in doing his interpretations of these oldy-goldies.

The song Tired Of Waiting For You, written by Ray Davies, actually comes off as a very hip Frank Sinatra-style big-band rendition, complete with a full horn section! Dwight also creates masterful, melodic versions of Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues, Wichita Lineman, Here Comes The Night, and Things We Said Today, which have no Country sounds in them. For the Country-sounding selections, Claudette by Roy Orbison, sounds like came right off of Dwight's Guitars, Cadillacs album! Playboy is rich with country fiddles and a great dance beat, as does The Last Time.

The song Baby Don't Go, written by Sonny Bono, is a duet with Sheryl Crow is a masterful version of a sing-along classic. This is my favorite song on the entire album! Dwight appropriately wraps-up the project with the song North To Alaska, which is different from all the others.

Even though it is different than all of the others on THIS album, it comes off sounding as if Dwight wrote the song, and incorporates a tremendous amount of things within a song that make it sound like many other Dwight songs!

If you are looking for a "traditional" Dwight Yoakam country album, this is not the one to get. However, if you want to discover just how varied and wide Dwight's talents are, this one is a MUST. I play this one when friends come over to visit, and it amazes everyone who actually listens to it!


Nice Set, Interesting   May 8, 2002
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Dwight Yoakam's 1997 album of cover songs, cleverly titled UNDER THE COVERS, is often harped on, but if you give it a few listens it will truly grow on you. Dwight takes each song and makes it his own, distinct, yet not taking away the original beauty or intent of the originals. COVERS features his take on songs by the likes of Roy Orbison, the Beatles, Ray Davies, Rolling Stones, The Clash, Johnny Horton and more. Quite the diverse list there. One definate highlight is the duet with Sheryl Crow on "Baby Don't Go". Other highlights include "Train in Vain", "Claudette", "Playboy", "Witchita Lineman", "Things We Said Today" and "North To Alaska". Overall an interesting collection, definately a grower, takes a few listens to sink in. Fans and admirers alike should be pleased.


A darn good album of covers   June 15, 2000
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Many people have come down on Dwight Yoakam for doing an album of covers like this. While it does lack a little bit of focus, Dwight manages to take each song and make it his own. Even though some might argue that he wasn't using his creativity by doing a covers album, I actually think he shows his creativity off really well on this disc. Who else but Dwight could do a bluegrass version of "Train in Vain" or a big band version of "Tired of Waiting for You". Whether you love those interpretations or hate them, you have to give him credit for taking a few risks. Although it's not his best work, it's a lot of fun to listen to. Most country artists do covers of tired old Merle Haggard songs, Willie Nelson, and all the other obligatory artists that a country artist "should" cover. There is maybe one truly "country" song on this disc...way to broaden country's horizons Dwight!


Cover Up!   August 10, 2001
Meathook Williams (Warwick, Massachusetts)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

He's diverse alright. Dwight Yoakum sings, plays and acts.He's been one of the constants in the world of modern country with a rock solid catalogue that is usually fairly traditional but often contains suprises.Recently,in a true subversion of justice, he was denied an Oscar for his superb performance in last year's "Slingblade". Such are the politics of Hollywood. But not one to dwell on failures, Yoakum has been back in the studio doing what he does best. This time, the result is "Under the Covers", a tour de force of covers that's sure to please. Can you picture a bluegrass version of the Clash's "Train in Vain" featuring Ralph Stanley on Banjo?Believe it folks, and it really rocks! There's a lounge lizard take on the old Kinks' tune "Tired of waiting with hip/schlocky horns and a twangy cover of Sonny and Cher's "Baby Don't Go" with Sheryl Crow. His band is one of the tightest units recording today and seem comfortable playing in any genre. Pete Anderson's guitar solo in "Witchita Lineman" makes this my favorite version of a song I did'nt really care for when Glen Campbell recorded it in the sixties. As always, Scott Joss fiddles to a fare thee well throughout the album. The one cut that doesn't come across well here is "Here Comes the Night" (the old Them hit) with a rather annoying slip beat. But it's quickly followed with a hillbilly version of the Stone's "The Last Time" and the Beatles "Things We Said Today"done here somewhat like the theme from an old spy movie and featuring another great guitar solo. Other highlights include Roy Orbison's "Claudette", Danny O'Keefe's "Goodtime Charlie's Got The Blues", and a take on "North to Alaska" that gives Johnny Horton a run for his money. And to throw in a little mystery, the disc ends with a cover of Jimmie Rodgers' "T For Texas" that appears neither in the booklet or on the jewel box. All in all, a very enjoyable release that suffers only from the aforementioned "Here Comes the Night" and it's short legnth,an unfortunate practice widely used in the industry today.