Possibly a cover version even more bizarre than IQU’s theremin based version of “Loving You” is Dion “Why Must I Be A Teenager In Love?” Di Mucci covering Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze.

While Dion is probably most famous for his solo single, “The Wanderer”, his group, Dion and the Belmonts was the most successful white doo wop group of all. And while his biggest solo hit was The Wanderer, he also scored big with other familiar songs like Ruby Baby, covering The Drifters and Donna the Primadonna, among others. Late in 1968, he scored again with a more politically motivated tune, the familiar “Abraham, Martin and John”. Purple Haze was the follow-up and was a commercial disaster, despite its current legendary cult status.

I got a copy of this 45, on Dion’s classic Laurie imprint, from my good friend RRRon Lessard, of RRRecords up in Lowell. He is The Man for experimental sounds in the US with his shop being a major presence in downtown Lowell for over 20 years. He comes through with these bonuses now and then…

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Listen here:
[audio:http://www.paulcollegio.net/juke/juke0706/cover.mp3]

What makes you scream??