Best rock cover songs, list your favorites

There are zillions of great covers out there, but here's one quirky acoustic choice for you.

Todd Rundgren wrote a song called "Pretending to Care" that has been covered a number of times by a number of really talented singers- including Jennifer Warnes who is, in my book, about as good a pop music interpreter as there is. It's a really beautiful ballad, but it just never registered with me. I guess that no version, including Warnes' take and including the original track, ever struck me as special.

Then I heard a stunning vocal take on the tune by a guy called Fred Froom (who might or might not be related to the well-known record producer Mitchell Froom). The "quirky part"?

Google "Fred Froom" and the only thing that comes up is this one track. Evidently it's the only thing he ever recorded.

Marty

Here are a few more of my favorite choices on the "That's a cover?" list.

"Money Changes Everything" was recorded by The Brains before Cyndi Lauper hit with it and "Patches" (best worst song ever?) was written by Norman "General" Johnson (of both The Showmen and The Chairmen of The Board) before Clarence Carter's take on the song charted. However, my favorite is probably "(You've Tied Me Down with) Battleship Chains" covered by the Georgia Satellites.

It was written by Terry Anderson of The Woods. The song was on a Woods record that sold almost zero copies (I've got one!) so most people know the tune as a Satellites song. BTW, my wife refused to let the band play the song as the recessional at our wedding, despite the fact that it is lyrically perfect for that purpose.

Marty

Larry,

I wouldn't pull my hair out looking for the original - and you'd probably have to jump thru a bunch of hoops to find it. Outside of the addition of some foghorns (presumably for nautical effect), it hews pretty close to the Satellites' version. However, IMHO, there is another version that is worth looking for. Hindu Love Gods (basically REM with Warren Zevon handling the vocals in place of Michael Stipe) did a great take on the song.

Marty

Loomis,

Yes, "Billy Don't Be A Hero".. ah, the memories. While that may appear to be another thread entirely.............IT'S NOT!

Let's not forget that Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods actually COVERED that thing (or was it Paper Lace that covered The Bo Donalson song?)

Either way, it's a cover worth cherishing and avoiding like the plague at the same time.

Marty

A coupla oddball additions worth hearing:

Richard Thompson (monster guitarist) covering Britney Spears' "Oops, I did it Again".

Marshall Crenshaw (indie singer/songwriter) covering ABBA's "Knowing Me, Knowing You".

On a different note, I just picked up Todd Rundgren's Johnson - a CD of Robert Johnson covers. I saw him do this live and thought it worked pretty well. I was surprised to find that I like the CD even more than the live show. Definitely worth checking out if you like hard, crunching, electric blues guitar as channeled thru a player with a tremendous innate melodic gift.