Project 43: Cover a Song from 1976
50 years ago was the America’s bicentennial. Jimmy Carter defeated incumbent Gerald Ford. Richard Nixon was disbarred. The Ramones released their first album, and Apple Computers was founded. A handful of Basement Sketches contributors were born. Politics were and culture were shifting amid a backdrop of patriotism. New ideas were being born. New and old ideas were at a turning point. Seemed like a fitting year for Basement Sketches to revisit at the start of 2026. Here are our takes at music from the exciting year of 1976.
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
by Tom and Jason DeMars
This song has always affected me so, even though it should never be covered, I did it anyway. There are so many verses...
Legend says that Gord and the band recorded this while setting levels in the studio preparing to record an album and despite going back and trying to record it ""for real" later, they never captured the same magic they did that first day. I didn't suffer the same fate as the magic never appeared. We did it loose and first or second take though to honor the same spirit. This is the second Lightfoot song I've done for BS. I guess I grew up too close to the Manitoba border.
Big Balls: AC/DC
by Neil and Tom
Both Neil and I had the same idea for the same song on the same day so we did it together. What are fancy big balls? The answer, sadly, died with Bon.
Do You Love Me: KISS
Live Wire: AC/DC
by Grant Eull
In doing research on this project I came across two bands that I listened to extensively as a kid. Both accomplished the crazy task of releasing two Albums in 76 full of songs I loved. This made it incredibly difficult to choose songs. As a child Ace and Angus were the most influential guitarists for me to pick up the instrument and to this day I still can't get enough of their tasteful licks. However, I ultimately decided on choosing songs that I liked lyrically. Both were a huge challenge to sing; even tuned down a half step, but I had a blast belting out lyrics and giving them a go. I hope my voice isn't too difficult to listen to. Thanks for the challenge. I am looking forward to hearing what others decided on for 76… lots of great options!
Dancing Queen: ABBA
by Jacob Sharff
ABBA's dancing queen has been described as a timeless pop masterpiece. It was the bands biggest hit, and topped charts in over a dozen countries worldwide. It is widely considered their signature song and is said to most accurately define the bands style and sound. Delivered through the format of an upbeat dance anthem, the song tells the bittersweet tale of the Dancing Queen, attempting to relive the halcyon of her youth. For a brief moment, she experiences the pure exhilaration of feeling invincible, glamorous, young and carefree, but ultimately there is a feeling that it won't last. Beneath the glossy euphoric surface, Dancing Queen feels like it is about nostalgia, the loss of youth, and a reminder of the fleeting nature of time.
I had a rough idea of how I wanted to approach this song, and it did not go quite as planned, but the basic idea was to slow it down and attempt to accentuate the undercurrent of sadness and loneliness. I've always liked that the song starts with the chorus, but I decided to remove that and start with the verse instead. It just seemed to work better with this slower version.
A few fun facts: Dancing Queen was the only ABBA song to reach #1 in the United States. The beat of Dancing Queen was apparently heavily influenced by the drumming on Dr. John's 1972 album "Gumbo", MGMT admitted that they followed the tempo of Dancing Queen for their breakthrough hit "Time to Pretend", and Chris Stein has said that Blondie's 1979 hit "Dreaming" is basically just a rip-off of Dancing Queen.
Alright, thats all. Hope you enjoy.
"You can dance, Your can jive, having the time of your life..."
AC/DC Ride On
by Colby Heston
When we were putting together a playlist for Neal's 50th Birthday party, I had suggested that we do a version of For Those About to Rock. We quickly discovered that no one was going to be able to sing that and do it justice, so I then suggested that we do Ride On.
Since I had already learned it, I was happy to discover that it was released in 1976. I was surprised at how difficult it was to get the "swing" feel. Turns out that the time signature is 12/8.
Anyway, hope that you enjoy it!
Kraftwerk: RadioActivity
by Mike Bettison
This was a really fun challenge. Even tho the album was released in 1975, the single was released in 1976 so I figured it was fair game. :-) I struggled to get a fun vibe going here but am pretty happy with how it turned out! I enlisted the help of my long-time collaborator Felicia H from Fiverr and she gave me a bunch of different harmony options. I was only able to use a fraction of them. I tried to focus on a secondary melody that came out in the Francois Kervorkian remix.
Geek stuff: Abelton, prodigious use of the Flesh plug-in from Native instruments to create a bloopy beat! Also leaned heavily on Butch Vig Drum samples and patterns. I used Glue Compressor and Ozone 11 to master.
Fly Like and Eagle: Steve Miller Band
byAndrew Charon and Titus Kennedy featuring Bob Weir and Lucy Reverie
This was a fun one, I met Titus through a work project and ask to collaborate not knowing anything about anything. Turns out he’s a gem of a musician, super creative and a great Basement Sketches addition. We just picked this song and ran with it having no idea of any other plan. We decided on two sessions, one to come up with ideas and the second to hone in on details. I probably ran with it too much and brought in Lucy for vocals. Bob Weir died during the time we worked on this and Titus had listed to this interview with him and decided to incorporate some of it into the song as a tribute.
For me, I’ve been thinking of my process of manufacturing songs, I stared really doing this when Barrett and I did the Nico cover. Sometimes I enjoy recording myself, other times it’s nice to have others create and piece things together as I just can’t do what I’m feeling needs to be done.
Enjoy!
-Andrew
Ramones: I Wanna be Your Boyfriend
by David Cox
It took longer than usual to get rolling on this one, but I got there. For song choice, I went with the Ramones’ I Wanna be Your Boyfriend from their debut album, which came out in 1976. For the lead in, I took some inspiration from Dave S.’s recent enthusiasm for the building opening of I’m A Man. Thanks, Dave. And, as usual, thanks to Neil for rounding everything out with bass. It just sounds fuller in all the right ways.
Kiss: Hard Luck Woman
by The Dirtpops
This is one of those songs from my childhood of which I never tire. It's also kinda wild to me that they released both Rock and Roll Over and Destroyer in 1976. What a year! Now it seems like most bands/artists will take 3, 4, or 5 years in between albums (unless your Jesse Wells). Not so in the 70's!
We recorded in Logic. I played midi drums which I've been working at improving of late. The 12 string is a Takamine. Vocals were recored using our new Slate Digital modeling microphone, still learining how to best harness this thing.
England Dan & John Ford Coley: I'd Really Love to See You Tonight
by Kelly Duclos
Featuring a vibra-slap, the latest addition to my instrument collection. Thanks, Henry!
Saturday Night: Bay City Rollers
Fly Like and Eagle: Steve Miller Band
That’s The Way (I Like It) KC and Sunshine Band
by Bill Frickie
1976 is the year when roller skating became a big deal in my neighborhood. We got a new skate center, Cheep Skate not too far from my house.
Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
This was a big one on the floor. This and KC and the Sunshine Band. I also watched their Saturday morning show. This is just a rocked up version ala a bar band covering the song.
Fly Like and Eagle. - Steve Miller Band
This was on the radio all the time. I love the spooky organ and synth sounds.
This came about from finding a disco like drum beat that reminded me of afro beat music and it went from there. You have to have the horns, big vocals, synths and percussion. Wished I could have had more time to do better vocals, but life got busy.
That’s The Way (I Like It) - KC and Sunshine Band
Since we had an extension, I had to honor KC as well. Tried a ska version and it sort of worked, but then saw a video about electronic bands from 1979-82 like Cabaret Voltaire, and that was in inspiration for this darker take on a fun song.
Serenade: Steve Miller Band
by Ian Royal
Here is my cover of Steve Miller Band's "Serenade" from his 1976 album Fly Like An Eagle.
My fave SMB song, first heard on the Plan B skate-vid Virtual Reality in 1993. This is my attempt at a shitty black metal cover version. A little faster, distorted and awful. LOL.
Rock'n Me: Steve Miller Band
by Kellly Duclos, Mike Dvorak, Joe Woods, Jon Teske
Featuring my first bandmates from Litchfield who were also born in 1976. Mike Dvorak plays guitar. Joe Woods plays bass and sings. Jon Teske plays electric Hammond organ and also sings. It was a lot of fun expanding the magic of a long distance recording project with these guys. Mike is in Denver, Joe is in Seattle and Jon is out in Wisconsin near Madison. Thanks for joining in, boys! The Steve Miller Band was huge for us in junior high. Mr. Gustafson had the poster of the greatest hits album in the junior high band room - very inspiring!