"HOTEL CALIFORNIA" GIPSY KINGS (1990)

This month, I’m jumping into the #APlaceInTheSong challenge from @JukeboxJohnny2. Great songs have that special ability to describe places in a way that makes us feel like we’re right there. Each day, I’ll pick a track that I think accomplishes that feat.

One of my all-time favorite cover songs hails from one of the my all-time favorite movies. The Big Lebowski was never short on great music, epic story arcs, fascinating character development and comedic moments. And the Gipsy Kings’ cover of The Eagles hit “Hotel California” seemed to be somehow dropped down on the dusty intersection of all these elements.

John Turturro’s “Enter Jesus” moment at the bowling alley is one of the most unforgettable Big Lebowski moments. And the scene is queued up with this song. It’s an ironic choice because The Dude throughout the film makes it clear how much he hates The Eagles. In a cruel twist of fate, his bowling nemesis seems to arrive with his own personal soundtrack, flaunting The Eagles’ biggest hit on a bed of heartfelt flamenco. While I don’t care much for The Eagles, I love what the Gipsy Kings did with this mega hit. “Hotel California” was no longer just a place. It became a state of mind.

“Bienvenido al Hotel California, Such a lovely place.”

"HOTEL CALIFORNIA" GIPSY KINGS (1990)

Cover songs can be many things. They can be lazy album filler. They can be ho-hum recordings that do nothing to advance a band’s catalog. But, once in a while, they can be truly epic. For my next five entries, I’m highlighting five of my favorite cover songs of all time. Each of these tracks, in my opinion, have reinvented and, in many ways, exceeded the original recordings.

One of my all-time favorite cover songs hails from one of the my all-time favorite movies. The Big Lebowski was never short on great music, epic story arcs, fascinating character development and comedic moments. And the Gipsy Kings’ cover of The Eagles hit “Hotel California” seemed to be somehow dropped down on the dusty intersection of all these elements.

John Turturro’s “Enter Jesus” moment at the bowling alley is one of the most unforgettable Big Lebowski moments. And the scene is queued up with this song. It’s an ironic choice because The Dude throughout the film makes it clear how much he hates The Eagles. In a cruel twist of fate, his bowling nemesis seems to arrive with his own personal soundtrack, flaunting The Eagles’ biggest hit on a bed of heartfelt flamenco. While I don’t care much for The Eagles, I love what the Gipsy Kings did with this mega hit. “Hotel California” was no longer just a place. It became a state of mind.

“Ella de lo lejos. Una luz centela. La idea se mezclan. Se evaporan las noches.”

"ARMANDO'S RHUMBA" CHICK COREA (1976)

My friend, jazz aficionado and the immensely talented artist Jonathan Glass is contributing today’s Mental Jukebox pick from Chick Corea—in honor of a true legend’s passing last week. Not only is Jonathan intimately familiar with Chick Corea’s catalog and live performances, he also gifted one of his signature ink sketches to the legendary jazz pianist.

As pianist Renee Rosnes put it best, "It's hardest to think of Chick Corea in the past because no other musician was as ‘present’ as he". It’s hard to overlook Corea’s vast stylings, especially with the electronic fusion band, Return to Forever. But I choose a song that I first heard pianist virtuoso Helen Sung play at Smalls, "Armando's Rhumba", a song dedicated to Chick Corea's dad, Armando, (it should also be noted that Chick's full name is ARmando Anthony "Chick" Corea).

This song has elements of flamenco mixed with jazz as many of his "Spanish" albums do. Hearing Helen's version felt definitive, but I later heard Chick Corea play this song at Jazz At Lincoln Center with another pianist virtuoso, Chucho Valdes, as a duo concert. While Helen Sung's version felt like a tightly woven composition, Chick offered some gorgeous soloing. "Armando's Rhumba" is decidedly a jazz standard while proving once again that Chick's writing and playing had an openness to all styles of music.