EPISODE 88 of Z-GR! Radio
July 10, 2026
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The Swing Dolls / – Goody Two Shoes – Electro Swing Version
Originally written and recorded by Adam Ant, our opener cover was released in 1982 as the lead single from his debut solo album, Friend or Foe. It became one of Ant’s biggest international successes, reaching No. 1 in the UK, No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and earning heavy rotation during the early days of MTV.
We kick off our third all-covers edition of Z-GR! Radio with the only new artist making their debut on the show this week. The Swing Dolls take Adam Ant’s 1982 chart-topper Goody Two Shoes and give it an energetic electro-swing makeover, blending vintage jazz, big-band flair, and modern electronic beats into a fresh take on a New Wave classic.
The Swing Dolls
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Atom Smith
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Bart & Baker – Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Paris electro-swing duo Bart & Baker close the electro-swing intro for the show – The song was written in 1953 to mark the 500th anniversary of the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and the city’s longstanding modern name Istanbul. it was written by Jimmy Kennedy and Nat Simon, recorded first by the Four Lads in 1953 and again famously by They Might Be Giants in 1990 – I’ve been digging the electro-swing thing lately and this is a really fun take on ‘Istanbul (Not Constantinople)’.
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Zero-G Racetrack – Bad Romance
It’s no secret that I am the lead vocalist for Silicon Valley’s Zero-G Racetrack, and we never expected but are always completely humbled by the positive response we continue to receive for our take on Lady Gaga’s monster hit ‘Bad Romance’. We did get a bit lucky; we released the track just as the PR machine for Gaga’s ‘House of Gucci’ kicked into gear, and the cover has been well received by Gaga’s fanbase.
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Parralox – Lucretia, My Reflection
When I first found Ruel Smith’s Synthwave Covers playlist, I tripped right over Parralox’ cover of the Sisters of Mercy’s ‘Lucretia My Reflection’. Hiding in the shadow of the Sisters’ ‘This Corrosion’, ‘Lucretia’ is the gem of the Floodland record for its infectiously droning bass line supporting Eldrich’s baritone vocal. Parralox nails the vibe in the transition to synthwave; the vocal may lack Eldrich’s darkness, but it’s more than adequate, especially when the rest of the track is so good. Parralox, out of Australia has an interesting history detailed on Wiki, and it’s worth checking out.
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The Kernow Mafia – Misty Mountain Hop
Led Zeppelin’s unnamed 4th album has some of the greatest classic rock songs ever recorded, and this cover is a track that’s been historically overshadowed by the Legendary Stairway to Heaven’ – this snapshot of the late 60’s UK counterculture was only released as a single in the U.S., where it hit #12 on the charts – over time, however, it’s becoming an enduring Led Zeppelin fan favorite.
The Kernow Mafia were a band of Cornwall, UK teenagers managed by Chris Turner, a former who had previously worked with members of The Beatles. Their version of ‘Misty Mountain Hop’ expands on John Paul Jones’s keyboard groove, taking the track into a modern electronic/indie-pop aesthetic and it’s fantastic.
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Deco – Bitter Sweet Symphony
If you know anything about the history of the Verve’s ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ you know that it the centerpiece of one of the nastiest songwriting credit disputes on record – fortunately, things went the Verve’s way back in 2019 which is well deserved – simply put, the track is amazing, and Deco’s take on the song from back on Episode 22 is really, really fantastic.
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Hooten Hallers – The Rubberband Man
This cover is a 1976 release that became one of The Spinners’ most recognizable crossover hits, bridging their R&B dominance with mainstream pop success during the height of the Philly Soul era. “The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard R&B chart, becoming one of the defining and memorable hits of the 1970s. And one of The Spinners’ signature recordings.
The Hooten Hallers are a Columbia, Missouri trio known for their raw blend of blues rock, garage punk, and swampy Americana. Their version of “The Rubberband Man” brings a completely different energy to the classic, turning the Philly Soul favorite into a wild, high-powered performance that is equal parts gritty, fun, and unpredictable.
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Evol Walks – Spirit in the Sky
‘Spirit in the Sky’ was written by Norman Greenbaum and was released in 1969 – the song blew up in 1970 and has become one of Rock’s enduring classics – upon release, ‘Spirit in the Sky’. went to #1 in the UK, #3 in the U.S.and is one of the most licensed songs in films, TV and commercials.
Evol Walks 2017 version reinterprets the song through a modern hard-rock lens. Their instrumentation is heavier, with more aggressive guitar tones and The vocal delivery (by lead singer Leah Martin‑Brown) carries more attitude and grit than Greenbaum’s laid-back original – it really is great.
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Vibravoid – Incense and Peppermints
Strawberry Alarm Clock’s “Incense and Peppermints” is one of the most iconic songs of the psychedelic rock era. Released in 1967, it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November of that year, and the song became a counterculture anthem, appearing in films and countless psychedelic compilations.
Vibravoid formed in Düsseldorf in 1990 and have released an enormous body of work: they have over 22 studio albums, countless EPs, live records, and rare covers including 2008’s imagining of ‘Incense and Peppermints’ – their version stays true to the original vibe while leaning into thicker guitar distortion, droning synths, extended psychedelic jams, and analog soundscapes. It’s a darker take for sure, but fantastic just the same.
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Gunship – Eleanor Rigby
I’ve had a lot of really, really great covers on the show, but this cover of the Beatles’ classic ‘Eleanor Rigby’ ranks among the absolute best of the best, as they’ve managed to move the track into the synthwave genre while maintaining the emotional and sonic integrity of the original. This track is a great example of why Gunship has a massive and well deserved following.
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Charlie Tyler – Wuthering Heights
This went to Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1978, and secured Kate Bush a permanent spot in music history. Covering an avant-garde masterpiece is always a massive gamble, but London duo Charlie Tyler has the vocal power to pull it off – Fronted by the amazing vocalist Charlie Tyler and backed by producer/multi-instrumentalist Russell James Williams, their reimagining of Kate Bush’s legendary, 1978 masterpiece “Wuthering Heights” is fantastic.
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Jorn – Killer Queen
This song was a breakthrough hit for Queen back in 1974, and is found on their ‘Sheer Heart Attack’ record – the song’s a tongue in cheek take on the life and style of a high-class callgirl…the song hit #2 in the UK and laid the foundations for the mid 70’s glam rock movement.
Working the cover is Norway’s Jorn Lande, who is one of the most respected voices in modern hard rock and power metal and is often compared to legends like Ronnie James Dio and David Coverdale. Now, I don’t know about all that, but I do know that this is a FANTASTIC cover of Queen’s seminal hit ‘Killer Queen’.
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Invadr76 / Animator – Hungry Like the Wolf
Originally released in 1982 by Duran Duran, this track became one of the defining songs of the new wave era. The track reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US (1983) and helped launch Duran Duran as part of the Second British Invasion driven by MTV.
INVADR76 and Animator bring the classic into the present with a really different, really cool take on the track – I didn’t even recognize it at first – this modern reinterpretation adds a contemporary indie edge yet manages to keep the spirit of the original alive. Here’s INVADR76 and Animator with their take on Duran Duran’s Hungry Like the Wolf.
Invadr76
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Glow Wave / T3my – We Might Be Falling In Love
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