Like many gyms, mine pumps a beat-happy playlist, with occasional outbursts of pop, both current and retro, also soundtracking the sweat-off. But in the locker rooms, a more subdued set of lounge, downbeat, and other soothing styles are piped in, with a surprising number of covers included on this midtempo mix.

Having declared my love of Rod Stewart’s “Young Turks” here last December, Sexton Blake’s cover caught my ear the other day, revealed thanks to some discreet Shazam action. The now-defunct Portland, Oregon band (here’s their Myspace page) recorded Rod The Bod’s 1981 hit for an all-’80s covers album, 2007’s Sexton Blake Plays The Hits!

Sexton Blake’s take on “Young Turks” is a gentler one, with the under-produced approach working in the song’s favor. As much as I love Stewart’s original, singer-guitarist Josh Hodges’ unadorned, matter-of-fact vocals draw me into the story of teen runaways Billy and Patti like never before. (Today, their 10-pound baby boy would be 30.)

Sexton Blake Plays The Hits! was released on 180-gram clear-gold double vinyl last summer, if you’d like to throw “Young Turks” on the turntable like it was really 1981.

Purchase Sexton Blake – “Young Turks” (Rod Stewart cover) via iTunes, Amazon MP3.