Sheena Is a – Shining Star

Come on up, come on up now …

"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker," The Ramones
"Sheep," Housemartins
"The Sheik of Araby," The Beatles
"Shell Shock," New Order
"Shelter," The Alarm
"Shelter," Lone Justice
"Shelter from the Storm," Cassandra Wilson
"Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn," Hellogoodbye
"Shine a Light," Allison Crowe
"Shine a Light," The Rolling Stones
"Shine Like It Does," INXS
"Shine on You Crazy Diamond," PoZitive Orchestra
"Shining Eyes," James McMurtry
"Shining Star," Earth Wind & Fire

Feel free to disagree, but I like that Allison Crowe version of "Shine a Light" even better than the original. She dials up the Gospel influence, letting her throw herself into the vocal more than Mick does. "Blues on the verses, Gospel on the chorus," Springsteen says, but sometimes Gospel on the verses and Gospel on the chorus works too.

Odd that I have that strange PoZitive Orchestra cover but not the Pink Floyd original of "Shine on You Crazy Diamond." I sold off most of my vinyl Floyd before getting the USB turntable. (If you have: A) iTunes, and B) a stack of vinyl LPs that you never listen to anymore because most of your music-listening occurs via iTunes, then I strongly suggest getting one of these. Or talking a friend into getting one and then borrowing it for a month or so. Heck, if you're in the Philly area, you can borrow mine — it's been in the attic ever since I finished my three-month orgy of vinyl-to-.mp3 conversion after getting the thing for Christmas a few years ago.)