Plastic Jesus - Recordings, Performances, and Covers

Recordings, Performances, and Covers

Ernie Marrs, along with the "Marrs Family" (friends Kay Cothran and Bud Foote) recorded a version of Plastic Jesus in 1965 that was featured in the motion picture Cool Hand Luke (1967). In the film, Paul Newman also sings the song while playing a banjo.

• 1972 King Earl Boogie Band, formed by Paul King and Colin Earl of Mungo Jerry, on their album Trouble At Mill.

• 1993 The Flaming Lips on their album Transmissions from the Satellite Heart, though on the album the track is titled "*******".

• 1994 Mojo Nixon and Jello Biafra on the Prairie Home Invasion album

• 2001 The Blackeyed Susans on their album Dedicated to the Ones We Love

• 2001 Jack Johnson on the live album Live at Boulder

• 2005 Billy Idol on the album Devil's Playground

• 2011 Snow Patrol on the album Fallen Empires This was a B-Side to a single "this isn't everything you are" released in Germany, it is not on the album.

The Levellers on their Fifteen Years EP, Jack Johnson at some of his gigs and on some bootlegs, Cowpunk band Jackass on their album "Plastic Jesus", and Rocky Votolato on his album A Brief History. The song is also a prominent fixture on the set list of Austin, TX based psychobilly band The Flametrick Subs, in which in the middle of the song they interject a cover of the Todd Snider song, Beer Run. It was featured two Flametrick Subs releases Undead at the Black Cat Lounge and Something in Japanese. Roland Van Campenhout, a Flemish blues singer, covered the song "Plastic Jezus" in 1999 on his album "Waltz".

A version of the song was used as the introduction to the "Billy Sol Hargis" skits on the Imus In The Morning radio program for many years.