Pravda's sequel to their first compilation of K-Tel cover songs has, like its predecessor, as many hits as misses. To be sure, some of the songs weren't all that great to begin with -- how could any artist hope to transform Donny and Marie Osmond's "A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock & Roll" into something more substantial? Well, John Wesley Harding and Kelly Hogan give it a shot, but there's only so much they can do (including changing a few of the lyrics). The stronger numbers, however -- particularly those that have been covered with some degree of respect -- seem to fare the best. The Posies' "O-o-h Child" (the Five Stairsteps), for instance, is quite faithful to the original. If a bit less soulful, it still glows with the Beatle-esque harmonies that have long distinguished the careers of Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. The Smithereens' take on Ringo Starr's "It Don't Come Easy" is another good fit between song and performer. Neither cover is better than the original, but no matter. On the other end of the spectrum, the Dayglo Abortions cover Barry Manilow's "I Write the Songs" in an off-hand (and off-key) punk rock style that adds little to the mawkish original. Most of the rest of the contributions, from the likes of King Missile, Wilco, the Fastbacks, etc., fall between the two extremes. ~ Kathleen C. Fennessy, All Music Guide
Dave Guinn (Drums), Steve Gerlach (Vocals), Cretin (Producer), Marcus Fuller (Laughs), Michael Miller (Drums), Charles Peterson (Photography), Enormous Richard (Performer), M.B. (Vocals (Background)), Jay Farrar (Vocals), Day Glo Abortions (Performer), Conrad Uno (Producer), Debbie Gidley (Vocals), Chris Buessem (Vocals), Rachel Rodham (Guitar), Pat DiNizio (Vocals), Fastbacks (Performer), Randell Kirsch (Percussion), Chris Bess (Vibraslap), Javelin Boot (Performer), Doug Roberson (Mandolin), Tom Hendrickson, Jr. (Lap Steel Guitar), Milo Binder (Performer), Jim Viner (Drums), Trip Shakespeare (?), Pat DiNizio (Harmonica), The Coal Porters (?), Chris King (Vocals), Gretchen Phillips (Vocals (Background)), Milo Binder (Guitar (Acoustic)), Kim (Vocals), The Frampton Brothers (Performer), King Missile (?), The Smithereens (Performer), Susan Voelz (Violin), Billy Block (Percussion), Terry Witt (Photography), Roger Murdock (Drums), Dan Wilson (Vocals), Coffee Creek (Producer), Rachel Rodham (Vocals), Poi Dog Pondering (Performer), Dash Rip Rock (Producer), Rick Mosher (Executive Producer), Milo Binder (Vocals (Background)), Uncle Tupelo (Performer), Chris Bess (Piano), John Wesley Harding (Vocals), Dave Rick (Guitar), Fred Remmert (Keyboards), Ruth Leitman (Photography), John Wesley Harding (Guitar), Matt Fuller (Drums), Daren Hess (Drums), Ping Tallendyk (Guitar), Mike Musburger (Drums), Sid Griffin (Vocals), Bill Haller (Drums), Jim "Shorty" Currie (Guitar (Rhythm)), Brian Henneman (Vocals), Frank Mundo (Programming), Jon Auer (Guitar), John Nelson (Percussion), Sean Lally (Guitar), Ian Thomson (Bass), David Mider (Drums), Ted Cho (Guitar), Steve Gerlach (Guitar), Jay Farrar (Guitar), Sid Griffin (Guitar), Brian Henneman (Guitar), Randell Kirsch (Harmonica), Rob Morgan (Engineer), Denise Sullivan (Photography), Bruce Hughes (Vocals), Kelly Hogan (Wind Chimes), Rob Morgan (Vocals), Tom Gracyk (Photography), David Conklin (Photography), Detroit Philharmonic Orchestra (Strings), John H.R. Mills (Saxophone), Tom Gerlach (Vocals), Kim Warnick (Bass), Kim (Bass), David Mider (Vocals), Bill Davis (Vocals), Joey Kline (Vocals), Conrad Uno (Mixing), Debbie Gidley (Vibraslap), Randell Kirsch (Producer), John Carpender (Drums), J. Levine (?), Michelle Andonian (Photography), Kurt Bloch (Engineer), Bruce Hughes (Bass), Goober & the Peas (Performer), Head Candy (?), Mark Nichols (Vocals), Tim Fowler (Vocals), Matt Wilson (Guitar), Phantom Helmsmen (Performer), Joey Kline (Guitar), Craig Ferguson (Bass), Tom Gerlach (Bass), Matt Wilson (Vocals), Dave Vandervoort (Bass), Jay Lauterwasser (Bass), Cretin (Vocals), Dan O'Neill (Vocals), LuAnn Olson (Vocals (Background)), Kim Warnick (Vocals), Mike Sangster (Vocals), Phil Bonnet (Editing), Danielle Jewell (Vocals), Jim Currie (Guitar (Rhythm)), Danielle Jewell (Bass), David Vetterman (Assistant Engineer), Spud (Bass), Billy Block (Drums), Day Glo Abortions (?), John Munson (Bass), The Coal Porters (Performer), Lulu (Guitar), Matt Fuller (Vocals (Background)), King Missile (Performer), Ken Stringfellow (Vocals), Chris "Lucky Dog" Luckette (Vocals), Jim Hill (Mixing), Jim Babjak (Vocals), Bill Davis (Guitar), Jim Vallet (Bass), Uncle Tupelo (?), Jeff Tweedy (Vocals), The Squirrels (Performer), Sean Lally (Vocals (Background)), Head Candy (Performer), Rich Skubish (Vocals (Background)), Randell Kirsch (Bass), John Wesley Harding (Performer), Kurt Bloch (Producer), The Posies (Performer), Hoaky Hickel (Guitar), Mike Mesaros (Vocals), Goober Miller (Vocals), Ken Stringfellow (Guitar), Jimmy Thomas (Guitar), Taylor Joy (Vocals (Background)), Jay Lauterwasser (Vocals (Background)), Gwen Dracus (Drums), Blake Patterson (Vocals), Sid Griffin (Producer), Chris "Lucky Dog" Luckette (Drums), Frank Mundo (Vocals), Enormous Richard (?), Rusty (Drums), Frank Orrall (Vocals), The Smithereens (?), Conrad Uno (Engineer), Scott Mathews (Band), Jimmy Thomas (Engineer), Ken Stringfellow (Bass), Damian Lang (Drums), Susan Voeltz (Violin), Hoaky Hickel (Vocals), Fastbacks (?), Roderick Dillon (Piano), Randell Kirsch (Engineer), Dan Wilson (Guitar), Bonehead (Drums), Jack Petracek (Producer), Jimmy Thomas (Vocals), Dave Crawford (Trumpet), Detroit Symphony Strings (Strings), Sheila Sachs (Design), Bill Larsen (Photography), John Schmidt (Vocals), Frank Mundo (Guitar), Frank Mundo (Bass), Blake Patterson (Bass), Tim Fowler (Guitar), Chris Bess (Vocals (Background)), Tim Fowler (Bass), Ed Masley (Guitar), Lulu (Vocals), Gwendolen Cates (Photography), Randell Kirsch (Vocals (Background)), John Mills (Saxophone), Conrad Uno (Vocals (Background)), Michael Heidorn (Drums), Ken Stringfellow (Piano), 2 Nice Girls (Performer), John S. Hall (Vocals), Cretin (Guitar), Scott Roeuer (Guitar (Electric)), Sportsman Smith (Voices), John Munson (Vocals), Kenn Goodman (Executive Producer), Sportsman Smith (Vocals), Scott McCaughey (Vocals (Background)), Dash Rip Rock (Performer), Fred Remmert (Engineer), Jim E. Hill (Mixing), Rusty (Drums), Dennis Diken (Drums), Dennis Diken (Vocals), Phil Bonnet (Engineer), Jon Auer (Mixing), Jon Blondell (Trombone), Jeff Tweedy (Bass), Sportsman Smith (Drums), Doug Roberson (Guitar), Randell Kirsch (Recorder), Jim Babjak (Guitar), RK (Vocals (Background)), Phantom Helmsmen (?), Mary Anne Merrick Mundo (Flute), Jon Auer (Engineer), Chris Xefos (Keyboards), Rich Skubish (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jimmy Thomas (Impersonations), Bon Phillips (Producer), Beth Herzhaft (Photography), Mike Sangster (Guitar), Milo Binder (Vocals), Jay Lauterwasser (Laughs), Mike Mayeax (Producer), Jon Auer (Vocals), Adam Sultan (Guitar), Dave Crawford (Organ), Mary Anne Merrick Mundo (Recorder), The Frampton Brothers (Group), Scott Mathews (Multi Instruments), Kelly Hogan (Vocals), Elaine Harris (Drums), The Posies (Producer), Mark Nichols (Keyboards), Goober & the Peas (?), Rob Morgan (Voices), Scott McCaughey (Mixing), Andy Kaulkin (Keyboards), Kelly Hogan (Chimes), Ian Thomson (Vocals), Javelin Boot (Producer), Pat DiNizio (Guitar), Chris Bess (Accordion), Chris Buessem (Guitar), Dewey Nicks (Photography), Tom Hendrickson, Jr. (Guitar), Kelly Hogan (Performer), Rob Morgan (Dialogue), Dan O'Neill (Guitar), Kurt Bloch (Guitar), Michael "Hoss" Miller (Bass), Sally Zuckerman (Keyboards), Mary Anne Merrick Mundo (Vocals), Tim Fowler (Keyboards), Frank Mundo (Keyboards), Dave Feeny (Engineer), Mike Mesaros (Bass), Detroit Symphony Strings (Vocals (Background)), Trip Shakespeare (Performer), The Squirrels (Producer), J. Levine (Performer), Cathy Korniloff (Vocals (Background)), Scott Mathews (Producer), Randell Kirsch (Organ), Kurt (Guitar), Chris Xefos (Bass), Ed Masley (Vocals)
