Song of the Day: The Dirtbombs “Underdog”

If you’re going to record an album full of well known cover songs by Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, George Clinton, Marvin Gaye, Phil Lynott and Curtis Mayfield you better come correct. In 2001, Detroit’s garage rock heroes the Dirtbombs did just that with their all cover (minus one original) album “Ultraglide in Black.” Guitarist and front man Mick Collins (also of the Gories) did the album as an homage to the music he grew up with and every song is a winner.

I had a hard time picking one to feature but in the end went with “Underdog” a song Sly and the Family Stone opened their 1967 album “A Brand New Thing” with and their first single. Like many Sly Stone songs its the perfect meeting point of rock n roll and funk. The Dirtbombs rough it up a bit and make it their own. I’ll include the original which is great in its own right. Enjoy!

The Dirtbombs‘ garage rock cover:

 
The Sly & The Family Stone original: