Cover Songs Almost As Good As the Originals (And Sometimes Better)
The birth of rock and the rise of the singer-songwriter meant the death of the standard. Gone are the days when a songwriter would write a melody, a lyricist would add the words, and singers would interpret them. Those were great times, but can you name even one song from the last 40 years that’s become a standard? OK, maybe you can name one or two. But take away Burt Bacharach tunes and I bet you can’t name even one.
Instead, today we have cover songs. And they mostly suck. Here are a few that don’t.
“Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix (1967), covered by Sting (1987). There are few things more pointless than re-doing a song the the same way the original artist did it. “Little Wing” was, and is, one of the great blues-rock love songs of all time. (Jimi’s guitar rocks, but the lyric is just plain pretty: When I’m sad she comes to me/With a thousand smiles she gives to me free.) Sting took “Little Wing” and turned it into a alt-jazz-pop thing. His reed-thin voice could never compete with Jimi’s soulful howls, so Sting didn’t even try. Instead, he made the song his own — and I spent my freshman year at Mizzou wearing out the cassette.
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” by Bauhaus (1979), covered by Nouvelle Vague (2006). This song gave birth to Goth, the milestone for the white & black & purple corseted set. Clocking in at almost ten minutes, it’s dark and twisted and rough. Then along came Nouvelle Vague. If you’ve never heard of these guys, you should. NV is that most evil of creations — the cover band. But they’re too much fun to resist. “Nouvelle Vague” is Portuguese for “New Wave,” and the band hails from Brazil. Their gimmick? They take new wave and alternative tunes from the ’70s and ’80s, and re-do them bossa nova style. So instead of Bauhaus’s industrial guitars, you get something like Stan Getz on acid. Highly recommended.
“Kiss” by Prince (1986), covered by Tom Jones & The Art Of Noise (1988). The original is funk taken down to its barest essentials. The cover is totally over-the-top Tom Jones, plus those weird guys who did that 1986 cover of “The Peter Gunn Theme.” How can you not love that?
“On Broadway” by The Drifters (1963[?]), covered by George Benson (1976). This is one of those cases where the cover is actually better than the original. Maybe not coincidentally, the Benson performance is one of the best live recordings of all time. Listen to him scat. Hear his guitar. This is how composing team Leiber & Stoller must have wanted their song to be played. “On Broadway” is very close to being a modern standard.
Another rare instance of the cover being better than the original — “For Once In My Life.” A Ron Miller song, the first version I can find was recorded by Tony Bennett in 1950. Sinatra tried it out three years later, but it pretty much languished for the next 15 years. Then Stevie Wonder sang it, and “For Once In My Life” became a modern classic. The lyric is selfishly and unashamedly joyous, as is Wonder’s harmonica. Since Stevie’s version, almost everybody with a microphone has a taken a turn. Maybe this one belongs on a list of best-ever standards — but I’m putting here because I want to. Also, “FOIML” is the second-best song you can possibly cover. The best? We’ll get to that in a moment.
A special mention needs to go out to Chaka Khan. Only she could take one of Prince’s worst, most pedestrian early songs (“I Feel For You”), and turn it into a soul classic. Listen to the lousy original (1978), quietly, and then crank up Chaka’s 1984 cover.
Two special categories. The first is The Worst Song to Cover of All Time. And that goes to “Yesterday” by The Beatles. This also happens to be the most-recorded song ever written. Just stop it already.
Finally, the Best Song to Cover of All Time. There’s only one possible choice here: “Spooky” by The Classics IV (1968). The original is a classic rock staple. Then Atlanta Rhythm Section (1976) turned it into the best-ever example of ’70s southern boogie. Actress/singer Christy Baron did “Spooky” as a lounge tune in 2000. In a live KBCO performance from 2001, Joan Osborne flipped the lyric around, stripped down the sound, and “Spooky” became a lesbian folk anthem. A year later, Daniel Ash partially re-flipped the lyric, pumped up the bass, and gave us an electronica tribute to a bonkers bisexual babe and her beaten-down beau. The song has been done — and done well — by everybody from Lydia Lunch to Cal Tjader. If you’ve got a band, do yourself (and the rest of us) a favor, and do a kick-ass cover of “Spooky.”
UPDATE: How could I have left out Johnny Cash’s 2002 cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” (1989)? Maybe the best phone sex song ever, I think Cash was being a little coy when he said, “I don’t know what this song was supposed to be about orginally…” He found it spiritual, instead. Both versions belong in your library.
Have you ever listened to Hayseed Dixie? I’m not a country music person, by any stretch of the imagination, but their cover of Queen’s “Fat Bottom Girls” is classic! They started as an AC/DC cover band and branched out to other classic rock groups and eventually to The Dead.
Also, Brian and the Nightmares version of The Dead’s “Truckin’” is great. They turned a little simple song into speed metal.
I highly recommend this. It will totally screw with your brain, but it’s great fun!!
I also have to add that Al Green’s version of the Bee Gee’s “How can you mend a broken heart” is a keeper too.
I have a million others too, but I’ll keep them for myself right now…
So long as it’s not The Grateful Dead performing “Truckin’,” I’ll give it a listen. But life’s too short for the Dead, as far as I’m concerned. I mean, the best thing they ever did was get Bruce Hornsby out of the recording studio and away from the rest of us.
Hayseed Dixie I haven’t heard of, but I’m about to make a little visit to the iTunes Store…
Re: Al Green. Yep, that should have gone on the list, along with Feist’s cover of the Bee-Gee’s “Inside And Out.”
Al’s cover is a classic, and Feist is just irresistibly catchy.
Steve, the best, absolutely best, version of “Little Wing” is still the Derek and the Dominoes version, featuring some of the most soulful, keening guitar in rock history. It’s on the Layla album, and if you haven’t already heard it, you should run out and get it now.
Pet Shop Boys covering “Always on my Mind” by Willie Nelson. Hi-energy take that works. That’s gotta count for something… when the cover’s almost a different genre and both versions are equally mesmerizing.
Can’t agree on the Pet Shop Boys. I like a lot of their stuff, but that one and “Sexuality” (or is it “Sensuality?”) both leave me cold.
On Little Wing – the best version is Stevie Ray Vaughn, if you ask me. All the versions I’ve heard are good, but Vaughn does something with it even Hendrix didn’t.
Okay… last suggestion…
If you are looking for a great “modern standard”, Elton John’s “Chameleon” off of the album Blue Moves is great. I’m not sure you’d qualify 1978 as “modern”, but give it a listen.
If it’s a standard, then anything more recent than about 1965 would have to be modern.
The last true standard I can think of is “Shadow Of Your Smile,” which was written around that time.
Jeff Healey Band did a great cover of “Stuck in the Middle” which was originally done by Stealer’s Wheels (sp?) He gave it an edge that wasn’t there in the first place, and it added a lot.
Also, I agree with Al that the best cover of “Little Wing” is Stevie Ray Vaughan’s version.
What about Aretha Franklin’s cover of Otis Redding’s ‘Respect?’
Stephen, you should include “I Will Survive” by Cake also. The transformation and what they did with that ghastly 70’s female disco anthem boarders on witchcraft. You can tell the bassist was really having fun with it.
Radio Paradise (a VodkaPundit recommendation for which I am eternally grateful…) plays a lot of interesting and original covers. Bill Goldsmith, who runs the station, also plays a lot of originals to songs that you might not have realized were covers in the first place.
Am I going to hopelessly plebeian if I mention Hendrix’s cover of Dylan’s All along the Watchtower? I mean, it’s got to have one of the most memorable riffs in rock history, and there’s no dispute that it’s better than Dylan’s more folksy original. AATW has to be one of the most covered songs in rock, as well, though I don’t think anyone has come close to Hendrix’s original (and best) rendition.
Also I agree that I love the Pet Shop Boys’ version of Always on my Mind, though I think it comes in second to Elvis’s cover.
Finally, Annie Lennox’s cover of Whiter Shade of Pale remains one of my all-time favorites.
Oh, my god, I can’t believe I forgot Cake’s version of I Will Survive. Good call.
Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt”, covered by Johnny Cash.
Trent Reznor said “that song isn’t mine anymore…”.
And of course, Sad Kermit covered it too…
Dang, I’ve been beaten with Hendrix’s All Along the Watchtower, Stevie Ray Vaugh’s Little Wing and Johnny Cash’s Hurt. That’s the top three right there.
Did SRV write Texas Flood? (don’t have my album* here at work) If not, that’s got to go up there as well. I must especially recommend the live version he did at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
*and by album, I mean vinyl consarnit. Though now I also have the DVD of him at Montreux.
Hayseed Dixie is a rare example of transcendent genius, particularly their original song, “I’m Keepin’ Your Poop.” Check out their live show if you have any opportunity at all.
I’d add Dolly Parton’s cover of “Stairway To Heaven” to the list. No joke. It’ll remind you why that song was such a big deal in the first place.
Well, of course, and the whole first album by Dread Zeppelin. Robert Plant liked it so much that he played it over the PA before shows on his 1991 tour.
“Respect” no longer counts as a cover. As Otis himself reportedly said when he heard Aretha’s recording: “Bitch stole my song!” She made it hers. She owns it. Even Otis said so.
You should check out the Coors’ minimalist cover of “Little Wing.” Outstanding–and they’re not too tough on the eyes, either.
Holly Cole and Jesse Cook’s remake of Sting’s “Fragile”
Jesse’s Flamenco guitar and Holly’s Jazz Vocals will flat out make you weep.
Michael –
That’s another case of the cover being better than the original. Although the fact that I really did wear out my original cassette of “…Nothing Like The Sun” probably caused me to burn out on Sting’s version of Fragile.
And speaking of Elvis, UB40′s cover of Can’t Help Falling in Love is pretty awesome.
Back in the ’80s, the only thought I ever had about UB40 was “cut it out already.” That hasn’t changed — but I think I’m the only one.
Earth Wind and Fire’s “Got to Get You Into My Life” is even better that the original, IMHO.
Well, pop-reggae is not everyone’s cup of tea, I’ll grant you. And I just thought of another one: Lauryn Hill’s cover of Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, though I think Valli’s version will always remain first in my heart.
rbj:
Texas Flood is a cover, originally by Larry Davis. Another great cover by SRV is Taxman, orginally by the Beatles.
Also, check out Chris Cornell’s cover of Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. He completely strips the dance hit into a somber acoustic ballad.
The Foo Fighters’ cover of “Baker Street” is vastly superior to the original song. Gus’s acoustic cover of “Don’t Fear The Reaper” is not, but it is a very nice counterpoint…
I know… I promised I’d cut it out already, but I think I may have misled you on the “modern standard” thing. I get standards confused with “torch songs”. Let me know if you equivocate the two, because if you do, I have a couple more suggestions for modern standards.
Also, in the great covers cat… P. Diddy et al did a cover of “Every Breath You Take” at the MTV VMA’s one year that was stellar. They combined it with an old spiritual “I’ll Fly Away” and made it a beautiful “in memoriam” for that Biggie dude. Don’t know if that counts, though, since Sting actually sang with them.
Thanks, edgeshat. One of the limitations of Google is that it’s hard to find the writer of a song when you just type it in.
Are lyrics required? Because Tito Puente’s 2004 version of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five is awesome.
Tito Puente? Oh, I’ve been listening to him for years, and I think he’s fabulous.
Got a suggestion from a friend that “Sweet Caroline” would qualify as a modern standard. Hadn’t considered that one, but then again, it may predate 1964 because I’m not sure when Neil Diamond actually wrote it. Just found out recently that he wrote it for Caroline Kennedy (ick).
Check out the Railbenders (Denver Band) cover of “Crazy Train”, going off the rails with a country drawl . . .
Cash’s cover of “Hurt” was amazing.
And who knew that Puente’s son Richie was in Foxy? No one, that’s who. And yet, does it get any nastier than “To Get Off”?
My man!
Hazy Shade of Winter, the Bangles cover, blows away Garfunkel and that other guy’s version. Rippin 80s guitar sound, chicks with attitude, etc.
DD
Sammy Hagar and Neal Schon did a blistering cover of “Whiter Shade of Pale” back in the mid-80′s. Not only better than the original song, it’s also better than most of their own original songs.
Last one (for what that’s worth)… A guy named Jonathan Coulton did a cover of Sir Mix-a-lot’s “Baby Got Back” that is a scream. Imagine the whitest guy you can then make him and albino. This song is a classic and I think it can only be found at his website, http://www.jonathancoulton.com then go to music. Well worth it. He has other great songs too, but this one is a winner in my household.
Doc D,
You’re absolutely right on all counts, and it was a huge lapse on my part to leave that out. And that’s not easy to say, ’cause I’m a huge Paul Simon fan. (Art Garfunkel, less so. He was the 1960′s Andrew Ridgeley.)
As to Sammy… I haven’t heard that one, Will. But it sure sounds like one I’d like. Back to iTunes for me.
Stephen,
Thanks for the nod (btw love your blog, the political coverage makes me cry with laughter, and the DW must endure my reading of it out loud during the debates). From that era, I am also partial to U2′s cover of the Beatles Helter Skelter, but it’s not as much of a slam dunk as Susanna Hoffs & co.
Best,
DD
Speaking of latin jazz, I recently saw Arturo Sandoval and his big band play here in San Francisco, and it was near to being a religious experience. That guy’s got chops.
How ’bout the Guns N’ Roses cover of Live and Let Die? Or the Jeff Buckley cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.
Dolly did a cover of a Collective Soul song called Shine that was pretty good. Turned an alt-rock tune into a pretty good Bluegrass song.
The Highwayman’s cover of Robert Earl Keen’s The Road Goes On Forever is worth it, in my book, just hear one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists sung by three legends.
And Kris Kristofferson is in there somewhere, but few things are perfect.
I humbly submit Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” as sung by the Lemonheads for the soundtrack to Wayne’s World. You can argue about whether or not it’s better (in my opinion it is), but either way, it is an excellent cover that stands out from the original.
Well, if you look at The Blues, there’s mountains of great covers.
Crossroads is perhaps the best known. Dunno what Robert Johnson would have done with a Stratocaster and a Marshall stack, but I think Cream’s cover is the modern definitive version.
Bleck Betty was covered a lot. Attributed to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, the most well-known cover is by Ram Jam. IMHO, Spiderbait does it better, and, surprisingly, Tom Jones’ cover is decent. (Find them all on YouTube.)
Speaking of Tito Puente, do you think Santana’s cover of Oye Como Va is better? I like ‘em both.
I’ll also nominate Patti Smith’s cover of Springsteen’s Because the Night. No, Natalie Merchant doesn’t hold a candle to Patti on this one.
Finally, Luther Wright and the Wrongs covered the entire Wall album. No, I can’t actually argue that they did it better than Pink Floyd, but it’s well worth listening to. I can’t even say the two are comparable.
p.s. Oogashaka Ooga Ooga
Jed –
There’s so much good stuff in the blues, that it deserves a post all its own. But you know what? I’m not sure I want to know what Johnson would have done with a Strat. Listening to what he recorded playing stuff he found in somebody’s kitchen is just so… authentic. Perfect as-is, you know?
With you on Oye, and it should have made the list. I left out a lot of stuff, being in a rush and having a (woefully) incomplete music collection. Maybe we’ll have to play this game again sometime.
As for Patti Smith, Natalie Merchant doesn’t deserve to smell her farts. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with 10,000 Maniacs, but I don’t live in a dorm and smoke a bunch of pot anymore, either.
Cheers!
This is not precisely a cover, but has anyone ever seen that CMT show Crossroads? The latest episode features Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, who recently paired up to released the sublime Raising Sand. Anyway, the Plant and Krauss Crossroads appearance contained a stripped down and frankly astounding version of Zeppelin’s Black Dog that I wish I could get on CD, but CMT doesn’t even release this excellent concert series on DVD, which SUCKS.
The Jeff Beck/Seal cover of Manic Depression rules. Period, dot.
Will,
I don’t think I even know who originally recorded Manic Depression. It’s not in my library, and the name doesn’t ring any bells.
Steve, thanks for that visual.
Richa, speaking of Zep covers, Heart did a nice job on Black Dog and Misty Mountain Hop. And let’s not forget Dred Zeppelin.
I thought of Jeff Healey, who recently passed away. I don’t know how many of his recorded tracks are covers — I think quite a few. For example, Confidence Man and Angel Eyes, by John Hiatt. And Blue Jean Blues (ZZ Top)
Speaking of Hiatt, Riding With the King was covered by Clapton and B.B. King, but I like the original better.
ELP does a good cover of Fire. Also, Jerusalem, but is that really a rock cover?
Also perhaps stretching the limits of the definition of “rock”, Sarah Brightman covered Queen’s Who Wants to Live Forever, and did it very well. I didn’t care much for her rendition of Whiter Shade of Pale.
Okay, 1 more. Judas Priest doing Green Manalishi.
Manic Depression was written by Jimi Hendrix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv2W-8BRBjQ
How the hell did I miss a Hendrix tune? I thought I owned his whole catalogue. I am filled with shame.
A little obscure perhabps but..
Romeo & Juliet (Aka: Love Struck Romeo) by the Indigo Girls. I know its sacrelige but way better than the Dire Straits version… And I’m a hedro male.
Also These Memories Can’t wait by Living Color is way way way better than the Talking Heads version.
and yes I know these are a bit off the wall but a few of my favorites… so sue me.
@Steve: Totally with you on the Indigo Girls’ Romeo & Juliet cover. I’ve got the Dire Straits version too, and it’s just not as good, probably because Mark Knopfler is not as good a singer as Amy Ray (yes, I am a big IG fan).
Indigo Girls also did a few great covers on their live double album, 1200 Curfews, including Neil Young’s Down by the River, All along the Watchtower, another Dylan favorite, Tangled up in Blue, and Midnight Train to Georgia, among others.
Oh my bad: the IG cover of AATW is not on 1200 Curfews, but on Live: Back on the bus, y’all, their earlier live album. Yes, I have them all.
Ry Cooder did a great cover of All Shook Up on his CD “Jazz”.
Tori Amos singing “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
Made this hetero girl, um, think twice.
WORST covers of all time maybe?
My personal favorite: Whitney Houston’s wretched cover of Dolly Parton’s “I will always love you.”
how about Fine Young Cannibals’ cover of “Suspicious Minds” ? Totally agree re: The Lemonheads’ version of “Mrs. Robinson”
I’m a little late here, but Dude, another cover which I’d argue is better than its great original is “Room Full of Mirrors”. First done by the great Hendrix, I am listening to Chrissie Hynde’s version as I type this.
I think my head is about to explode!
Late to this thread, and several of my ideas have been mentioned already. Cash’s “Hurt” preeminent.
Let me add as another great one, Sonic Youth’s cover of The Carpenter’s “Superstar.” It has every bit of the dark edge that song deserved but sweet Karen couldn’t possibly provide.
Worst cover – hands down, “Free Bird/Baby I Love Your Way” by Will to Power. Nietzsche is rolling in his grave.
Worst cover – hands down, “Free Bird/Baby I Love Your Way” by Will to Power. Nietzsche is rolling in his grave.
GAAAH. Twenty years had almost expunged my memory of that abomination.
Thanks. Thanks a lot.
Will, I assume that I’m grateful to not have that memory.
However, since people seem to be insisting on bringing things such as this up, I give you …
Pat Boone: In a Metal Mood
I cannot testify as to how bad this might be, as I have no intention of ever listening to it.
Gotta admit, I’m a huge fan of covers, both strange and straightforward.
Best version of ‘Little Wing’ is the Corrs version. They also do a haunting & brilliant version of REM’s ‘Everybody Hurts’.
Guns’N'Roses have done a number of superb covers, Live and Let Die being the best, but their version of ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ is also excellent.
Joss Stone does a surprisingly awesome soul version of The White Stripes ‘Fell in Love with a Girl’, gender-bended to be ‘Fell in Love with a Boy’.
Disturbed’s cover of ‘Land of Confusion’ is fairly straight, but easily outdoes the original.
The Electric Hellfire Club’s cover of Shout at the Devil turns utter 80′s cheese into excellent Goth Metal.
Nine Inch Nails of course has done quite a number of covers. Two that stand out are their version of Queen’s ‘Get Down, Make Love’ and Joy Division’s ‘Dead Souls’. In the latter case few are aware that it even as a cover.
The Finnish Opera/Metal band Nightwish did a superb cover of Gary Moore’s ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’ that’s well worth a listen.
Godhead does a strange yet good cover of the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby’. One of the better Beatles covers out there.
The Headstones have made their version of ‘Tweeter and the Monkey Man’ pretty much the stanard here in Canada. Rather more rockin’ than the original.
Johnny Cash covered a number of songs on his ‘American’ albums. Hurt is of course the standout, but the rest are excellent as well.
I also recommend checking out the cover band Me First & The Gimme Gimmes. Their stuff is stellar, especially their take on R. Kelly’s ‘I Believe I Can Fly’. Of course, if you like standards, The Dropkick Murphy’s put their indelible boston Irish punk stamp on many classics.
Alright, if we’re going to venture into the strange, then I have to bring up Girl From Ipanema by Kompressor.
If that isn’t enough strange for you, then I can only direct you to April Winchell’s audio page.
“Hurt” from NIN to Cash, because even Reznor says Cash did a better job of it. When you consider that “Hurt” was the denouement of “The Downward Spiral”, this comment should mean something.
“Dead Souls” from Joy Division to NIN, partly because Reznor needs a consolation prize for having his best work taken from him, but also because this particular cover really was that powerful.
Speaking of JD, Nouvelle Vague lose points for ruining “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. It’s *possible* to cover JD but unless you know EXACTLY what you’re doing… don’t.
(Britney & Paris, you two are not allowed anywhere near “She’s Lost Control”.)
Adam Maas did me pwnag3, i see…
Classic cover of indisputable value: Devo’s cover of “Satisfaction”. Let’s face it: No one believes Mick Jagger has problems getting “girlie action”. No one believes Mark Mothersbaugh can POSSIBLY get same.
Horrible cover by same group: “Are You Experienced?”. I don’t knwo what the boys were smoking, but the Hendrix estate (wisely) spiked any republishing of the Devo cover after the initial album release. It’s that bad.
@Sulizano: I gotta say, I hated the Tori cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit. It’s on my list of worst covers evar.
And I can’t believe I forgot to mention this one before, but Alien Antfarm’s cover of Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal rocks.
Definitively worst cover of all time: Pat Boone – Little Richard’s Tutti frutti.
Covers better than original: Joe Cocker – With A Little Help From My Friends, Santana – Black Magic Woman, Soft Cell – Tainted Love, Hendrix – All Along Watch Tower
Other good covers: J Beck & Rod Stewart – People Get Ready, Devo – Satisfaction, Zappa – Purple Haze
Oops.. forgot great cover: UB40/C Hynde – I got you babe
Well, if we’re going to devolve into the strange, then I have to bring up Girl from Ipanema, by Kompressor.
And if that isn’t strange enough for you, try April Winchell’s Audio.
Don’t make me bring up William Shatner. I will. I’m warnin’ ya!
Interesting. I must be running afoul of the comment filtering somehow.
Ah well, you’ll just have to live without my dastardly latest contributions.
I figure that Guns & Roses deserve a little love for “Knocking on Heaven’s Door”.
“My Favorite Things” by John Coltrane is my pick for the best cover of all time. Profoundly great…a masterpiece. Listening to that song while drinking a glass of Glenlivet with my favorite man = perfection in life.
Stephen’s pick of Sting’s “Little Wing” is a close second with me. I just love the lyric he references. It is truly wonderful when something so simple (and pretty) conveys such clarity.
You know you have a personal link to Spooky. But otherwise I’ll agree with you, especally Johnny Cash.
I echo previous comments about Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Little Wing. Don’t know if it beats the original but it is a personal fave.
And I bow to no one for my love of GnR but their “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” was darn near a war crime. Easily the worst song off the Use Your Illusion double album.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned one that I thought was obvious. At the risk of all of New Jersey trying to reenact the Sherman’s march to the sea just to find me, but might I humbly suggest that Manfred Mann’s “Blinded by the Light” is more of a classic than Springsteen’s original? It has a sound that fits in better with the era while Springsteen’s has the feel of Springsteen still trying to figure out how to be Springsteen.
Lastly, I think Jimmy Buffett’s “Southern Cross” sounds more like a classic Buffett song that just happened to be originally performed by Crosby et al.
Artist: Gary Jules
Song: Mad World
Album: Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets
this just was played on Radio Paradise. I for got to add it to my list of great covers.
I like this version better than Tears For Fears’ version.
http://www.radioparadise.com
great stuff
More nominees:
“Signs” by Tesla (I know, their version was a live recording, but it still beats the original Five Man Electrical Band version in my book.)
“Pictures Of Matchstick Men” by Camper van Beethoven (original by Status Quo)
Another interesting “cover” of sorts is “Fort Hood” by Mike Doughty. He basically took the “Let the sunshine in” refrain from The Fifth Dimension’s “Aquarius” and built an otherwise entirely new song around it.
Might as well add “songs that haven’t been covered but should be” to this list. I have no idea why Buffett hasn’t covered Lyle Lovett’s “If I Had A Boat.” Ditto to Metallica never covering Rush’s “Anthem.”
Oh, c’mon. Just imagine Hetfield growling out, “A funeral DIRRRRGE for eyes gone blind!”
Not sure I want to hear any Rush covers. Triumph would do a better job of the sort of cover that Metallica would do.
There are types of covers: parody, mimicry, homage, reinterpretation, extension. For example ELO’s Roll Over Beethoven is a great extension of, and better than, Chuck Berry’s original. Metallica would do either a mimic or homage to Rush, and without Lee’s vocals, it wouldn’t come off as well. I recently watched them do Iron Man on Youtube. Good execution, but not quite up to Sabbath in overall effect. I think they’d improve upon something like Du Hast, because of Hetfield’s better vocals.
I’d rather hear a very good reinterpretation. Imagine Annie Lennox doing Tears, maybe.
For some reason, I just thought of Tuck and Patti doing Castles in the Sand / Little Wing.
As for Buffet, I don’t think his style is suited to covering Lovett. Well, maybe the more light-hearted stuff. I can more easily hear Buffet asking, “Please, if it’s not too late, make it a cheeseburger.”
Hey, how about the Charlatans UK covering The One Thing (INXS)? Might be just dissimilar enough to work.
I think the best covers come about when someone totally unexpected makes something work. Like if K.D. Lange did an AC/DC tune. (Okay, maybe that wouldn’t be totally unexpected?
)
There are a number of covers I hadn’t known of here. I mean, Richard Thompson covering “Oops, I did it again.” Really?
Wheels, that is just so wrong.
But it does remind me of another great tune.
Maria McKee doing “Breathe”. Not a cover tune, but Thompson on guitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy5j2xNSHBE
So, has anyone covered Springsteen’s “Cover Me”?
Although known for doing their own material,how about the Beatles cover of the Iseley Brothers’ “Twist and Shout”
Run DMC “walk this way” brought Aerosmith back from obscurity.
Manfred Mann tapped Springsteen 3 times, ” Blinded by the Light”, “Spirits in the Night”, I came for You”
Harry Nilsson tokk a cover of a Badfinger song to no 1 “Without you”
George Thoroughgoods cover of “Who do you Love” out rocks the original.
How about David Bowie’s cover of Iggy Pop’s “China Girl”? … Oh yeah, it doesn’t count, because Bowie screwed it up. ;^)
The “Mad World” cover was good, yes.
Marilyn Manson did a few covers of iconic New Wave, which clearly had influenced his work before he covered ‘em: “Sweet Dreams” and “Tainted Love”. “Tainted Love” was the better one, better even than Soft Cell.
Stevie Wonder, “We Can Work It Out”.
Richard Cheese makes “Rape Me” so wrong it’s hilarious.
Best… cover… EVER.
Now, see, if you talk about COVER SONGS, I will comment. Shall I say something snarky about Hillary on my site for you in exchange?
Your first is on my list, too. You’ll forgive the unscrupulous linkage, won’t you? It’s not every day I get to say, “Hey, Steve, we TOTALLY agree on something.”
Cover Bands need beware.
Sweet home alabama, Mustang sally, proud marry, Jumpin Jack Flash, Rocky mountain way, hold on loosely, white room, etc….
…are used up and over covered. Whether you play in the south or California, People will not make a special trip to come and see you if you insist on these typical, over done songs. Sure, they are easy to play, but your potential audience just heard all these songs by last weeks band, and the week before that.
Being typical doesn’t draw audiences. being creative and different does. There is a pile of Classic rock songs that audiences will remember that you can play them without forcing the same stuff last weeks band fed them.
good luck