Favorite Tribute Albums?

Opps.......lol

Peter Wolf "Sleepless "

Encomium-A Tribute To Led Zeppelin(Atlantic 82731-2 1995). My only complaint is only 12 tracks!

Lou Reed to Doc Pomus "Magic and Loss"

Lou Reed and John Cale to Andy Warhol "Songs for Drella"

Sleepless Nights: The Traditional Country Soul Of Patti Loveless. This is Patti’s homage to 14 classic Country & Western songs. Nominated for a Grammy for it’s original release on CD in 2008, the album finally comes out on vinyl on July 4th.

20 years ago I had several of the tribute CDs' that were mentioned here but at some point I realized I wasn't listening to them very much so I used them to barter with one of the few used LP/CD stores in my area.

The only one I kept was Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye (A Tribute To Roky Erickson) the former front man of the legendary 13th Floor Elevators.  Intriguing interpretations by a very diverse group of artists & musicians, to say the least.  19 songs & imho nearly every one hits the bullseye.  Highly recommended!

Tribute to Bruce Springsteen;

• [1996] The Bruce Springsteen Songbook
• [1997] One Step Up - Two steps back; The songs of Bruce Springsteen
• [2014] A Musicares Tribute to Bruce Springsteen

Tribute to Beatles:

• [1996] Tropical Tribute to the Beatles
• [2007] Stax does the Beatles
• [2007] Across The Universe (Deluxe Edition)

Tribute to Buckingham, Nicks:

• [2024] Cunningham Bird

Tribute to Doc Pomus:

• [1991] Johnny Adams Sings Doc Pomus: The Real Me

Tribute to Domenico Modugno:

• [2008] Uomini in frac - Omaggio a Domenico Modugno

Tribute to Pink Floyd:

• [1999] Archive - Take My Head (this is a personal feeling about this album because all songs are original and written by Archive)
• [2019] Rodrigo y Gabriela - Mettavolution (stunning version of Echoes)

Tribute to Pergolesi (Bach version of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater)

• [2009] Kirkby, Taylor - Sonata al Santo Sepolcro, Stabat Mater,Salve Regina

Mixed Tributes (Covers):

• [1993] Spin 1ne 2wo
• [1974] The Best Of José Feliciano

@charlespearcw 

My personal favorite performance from Way To Blue: I love the gospel flavored arrangement highlighted by the vocals of Krystle Warren and Jazz pianist Zoey Rahman. 

I can see how hard-core Drake fans might find it diverges too much from the original but the soulful quality is one I very much relate to: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzkzQ8J_dyg

Keith James — The Songs of Nick Drake

Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake — Various Artists

Since davidchampa likes " poet a tribute to Townes Van Zandt " ( my favorite of all tributes ) I thought of the Steve Earle album , there are 2 versions ! the one in my collection is the basics Steve's voice and guitar and the other is a version where other musicians were added . 

Not a tribute album per se, but......A Tribute To Jack Johnson, by the master, Miles Davis, is a wonderful and energetic composition....it is my favorite Miles recording, and there are many favorites of his. As mentioned earlier, someone above stated Jimi Hendrix - Stone Free... A great tribute album. Many excellent mentions here. My best to all, MrD.

@immatthewj 

Glad you enjoyed Aretha’s version. 

Given that her arrangement is so different from the original, perhaps it doesn’t  make sense to compare them. Perhaps Paul might say they're "chalk and cheese". 

@onhwy61 

I will have to look for Brother Ray’s version!  

@ezwind 

I’ve enjoyed Garcia’s Dylan covers as well.  

One of Dylan’s best rhymes:
 

Señor, señor, can you tell me where we're headin'
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon
Seems like I been down this way before
Is there any truth in that, señor

I vaguely remember the Street Legal 8-track, @ezwind .  I think I remember reading that it wasn't a great commercial success, but I rather liked it.

If we're now including covers of individual songs, I really love Dylan's Senor, but Garcia's versions with the JGB knock it out of the park. Jerry was born to sing that song.

Two Rooms Elton John/Bernie Taupin for sure 

. . . and I would really like to hear the Lucinda Williams cover of Born In The USA. . . .

I remember when the Cowboy Junkies sarted performing a cover of Thunder Road (I think that would have been in '01) and I almost that I like the CJ cover better than the original.  Although the original is great.

Ray Charles does a marvelous "Eleanor Rigby"

Have you heard Aretha Franklin’s cover of Eleanor Rigby?  

Not until just a few minutes ago, @stuartk , and it is playing agin as I type.  I also played it as performed by the Beatles, and I honestly have to say that  I prefer the Aretha Franklin cover.  But with that typed, The Beatles do not do for me what they do for most others, so that probably doesn't mean much.

I did find a youtube of live Bruce in '95 doing knocking On Heaven's Door in Germany, and as interesting as it was, I much prefer Bob Dylan on that one.  But it could be due to it being performed live.

@wncrob 

I always thought NG had written "More Than A Whisper". 

I especially enjoy this version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd79mrNr9oM

@unreceivedogma 

Note I said "not that often". I didn’t say "never".  

@stuartk 

”How often does a cover truly equal an original performance, let alone surpass it?  Not that often, to my ears.”

Well, Sting would disagree with you. He claims that Eva Cassidy’s “Fields of Gold” is far superior to his. 

Same with Dylan, who claims that Bruce Springsteen’s version of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” is by far the best he has heard. 

I would give Eva Cassidy the nod for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” which has made me completely forget the original by Judy Garland. 

I have three tribute records, to 

- Karen Dalton, on vinyl

- Gram Parsons, on CD

- Laura Nyro, on CD

I find it odd that Bette Midler does not appear on the Laura Nyro CD. Bette was good friends with Laura and got verklempt when she introduced Laura at Laura’s posthumous induction into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. Same goes for Tod Rundgren, who sorta famously said that when he first heard her music that he “stopped writing songs like the Who and started writing songs like Laura”.

@stuartk If you like that game, try these:

I Say A Little Prayer: Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin

Fire: Robert Gordon, The Pointer Sisters

Teardrops Will Fall: Dicky Doo and the Don'ts, Wilson Pickett, Ry Cooder

@densely 

It’s often enjoyable to hear a different approach to a song without judging whether it surpasses another performance in some way.

Sure. But afterwards, for better or for worse, it’s my nature to compare and contrast. 

@immatthewj 

I’d agree there are instances where a cover version becomes the definitive interpretation. Poor Poor Pitiful Me and Blue Bayou are good examples.  

If memory serves, Willie Nelson did an album of Kris Kristofferson covers that was pretty good.  Have you heard Aretha Franklin’s cover of Eleanor Rigby?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8NQ8YJj8N8

OK. the more I think about it, the more examples of individual tracks are coming to mind.

Bonnie Raitt;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpuzE6t7_Js

Taj Mahal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp0lTFsolcQ

Ry Cooder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Mx9npkNlI&list=OLAK5uy_l7BVY9DP7fNU0KhCbuSY-GDTNURidBUX8

Whether these are definitive is open to interpretation. They're ones that I happen to like. 

How often does a cover truly equal an original performance, let alone surpass it?  Not that often, to my ears.

I can respect that point of view, @stuartk , and to some extent, although I find covers of songs I am familiar with to be interesting, I share it.  For me the notable exceptions include The Cowboy Junkies cover of Sweet Jane (and possibly Mr. State Trooper) and also Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson’s cover of Pancho And Lefty (you already mentioned Emmylou, and she also did a cover of that also that is simply beautiful).  I’d probably add Lucinda’s cover of Return Of The Grievous Angel.  I have read that many, including Bob Dylan himself, prefer the Jimmi Hendrix cover of All  Along The Watchtower, but I don’t feel that way about that one.  On a quick edit, I think that I might prefer Sinead O'Connor's cover of All Apologies to the original.  

As far as Linda Ronstadt, I bought the Simple Dreams 8-track shortly after I had graduated high school, and since radio stations were severely limited where I grew up, I grew up actually thinking that she was the original artist on most of those songs.  But now that my musical horizons have been expanded, I think that I still prefer her interpretations on many of the tracks.  Poor Poor Pitiful Me and Carmelita and Blue Bayou come to my mind immediately.  

I’m relatively new here and this topic caught my eye. I’m not really into tribute albums but last week I came across a tribute to the 1967 album that featured Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

This 2017 release is downloadable from Pro Studio Masters in 96-24 features Jobim’s grandson (who sings and it sounds a lot like his grandfather) and John Pizzarelli. The album is called Sinatra and Jobim @ 50. The tracks sound fantastic on my system. If you love Jobim’s work this is definitely worth checking out

It's often enjoyable to hear a different approach to a song without judging whether it surpasses another performance in some way.

I like "Not Fade Away (Remembering Buddy Holly)". Notably the Los Lobos version of "Midnight Shift", which is deliciously ominous and completely different from the original.

@immatthewj 

Linda Ronstadt?

 

Can’t argue with that!

And of course, L.R. and Emmylou have been long-time friends and recording/performing partners.  

Bob Dylan "The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration"

Bought the vinyl when released. A good selection of artists performing live.

Cinnamon Girl, a recording supporting breast cancer education featured women artists covering Neil Young. My favorite track is a poignant one now–Jill Sobule, who just died, does a very cool version of "Down by the River" with John Doe of X. https://tidal.com/browse/track/6689048?u 

How often does a cover truly equal an original performance, let alone surpass it?  Not that often, to my ears. Emmy Lou Harris is pretty consistently satisfying in this regard but I can’t think of anyone else, off-hand. 

@stuartk , Linda Ronstadt?

Just Because I’m a Woman

Dolly Parton tribute, just excellent 

How about:

Big Band of Brothers, (Jazz versions of Allman Bros tunes)

Moody Bluegrass, Vol 1 and 2

Great Ceasar's Ghost:  What's Done is Done (mostly Allman Bros covers)

Jazz is Dead, any of their albums

Quiet About It: Tribute to Jesse Winchester

Art Garfunkel, Watermark (largely songs of Jimmy Webb)

James Lee Stanley

    All Wood and Doors (with Cliff Eberhardt)

    All Wood and Stones (with John Batdorf)

    All Wood and Stones II (with John Batdorf)

If you are a Stephen Sondheim fan, like I am, there are a number of terrific tribute albums-

The "Sondheim: A Musical Tribute" 1973 concert featured a star-studded cast, including Angela Lansbury, Larry Blyden, Alexis Smith, Chita Rivera, Jack Cassidy, and Donna McKechnie, among others. The concert was a benefit for the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and the National Hemophilia Foundation. It was later released on record, showcasing highlights of the event. Members of the original companies--including Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, Dorothy Collins, Alexis Smith, and Donna McKechnie, just to name a few--as well as Sondheim himself singing "Anyone Can Whistle" from the piano (From Amazon).

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends is a tribute revue honoring musical theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim devised and produced by Cameron Mackintosh. Originally designed as a one-night performance, the revue premiered at the Sondheim Theatre in London on 3 May 2022. The line-up included Michael Ball, Petula Clark, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Bonnie Langford, Damian Lewis, Julia McKenzie, Bernadette Peters, Clive Rowe and Imelda Staunton (Wikipedia).

Here's a favorite of mine in each category

Petty Country - A country music celebration of Tom Petty

Ryan Adam's cover of Taylor Swift's 1989 album

Sweet Home Alabama - The Country Music Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd

Gretchen Peters - The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury

@ezwind 

Don’t believe anyone has mentioned the Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert recording. 

 

I liked this one especially:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_dHVf4KH1I

I have to say, though, that as a rule I find the Tribute genre pretty uninspiring. How often does a cover truly equal an original performance, let alone surpass it?  Not that often, to my ears. Emmy Lou Harris is pretty consistently satisfying in this regard but I can’t think of anyone else, off-hand. 

The "Stay Awake" Wharfy mentions is quite good.

Here’s a YT link to the album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ObPekx0h0M&list=OLAK5uy_lwTX-NAivlTR5ZRgM-xEa7zr7zWAbUSGU

DeKay

Being a huge fan of JJ Cale the album The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale by Eric Clapton and friends including John Mayer, Mark Knopfler, Tom Petty and Willie Nelson. The album released in 2014 a year after he passed covers some amazing songs (see below) and is very much worth a listen. Well recorded too!

Hal Wilner, who tragically died of Covid the day after his 64th birthday, made a living producing tribute albums. This is a list culled from Wikipedia-

• Amarcord Nino Rota (1981) Willner’s first tribute album of the music Nino Rota did for Fellini movies. The Marsalis brothers, Debbie Harry, and others perform interpretations of Rota’s compositions.
• That’s The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute to Thelonious Monk (1984) features pop and jazz musicians including NRBQ, Steve Lacy, Dr. John, John Zorn, Donald Fagen, and Peter Frampton.
• Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill (1985) features musicians ranging from Sting to Charlie Haden.
• Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films (1988) features performances of songs from Walt Disney movies by a large cast of artists ranging from Sun Ra to NRBQ, Michael Stipe, Ringo Starr, Yma Sumac and Ken Nordine.
• Weird Nightmare: Meditations on Mingus (1992) is a tribute to Charles Mingus. Performers include Bill Frisell, Vernon Reid, Henry Rollins, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Don Byron, Henry Threadgill, Gary Lucas, Bobby Previte, Robert Quine, Leonard Cohen, Diamanda Galás, Chuck D, Francis Thumm, and Elvis Costello.
• Stormy Weather: The Music of Harold Arlen (2003)-The CD includes performances by Rufus Wainwright, Debbie Harry, David Johansen, Eric Mingus and Sandra Bernhard.
• Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man (2006) soundtrack for Lian Lunson’s documentary film about Willner’s Leonard Cohen tribute event. 
• Came So Far for BeautyAngelHeaded Hipster : The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex (2020) is a compilation album that pays tribute to Marc Bolan and his group T. Rex.  Performances by Kesha, Nick Cave, Joan Jett, Devendra Banhart, Lucinda Williams, Peaches, BORNS, Beth Orton, King Khan, Gaby Moreno, U2 and Elton John, John Cameron Mitchell, Emily Haines, Father John Misty, Perry Farrell, Elysian Fields, Gavin Friday, Nena, Marc Almond, Helga Davis, Todd Rundgren, Jesse Harris, Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl, Victoria Williams and Julian Lennon, David Johanson, and Maria McKee, with vocal contributions from Richard Barone, Jenni Muldaur, and Rolan Bolan.

The Breeze - tribute to JJ Cale with Clapton (of course), Mark Knofler and orhers

Great list so far - wasn’t aware of many of these 

“That's the one win which Sinead O'Connor got heckled and booed? ”

Yes. It was right after she tore up the Pope’s picture on SNL. 

The Music is You A Tribute to John Denver

I just recently listened to this.  Poor John got dissed a lot but made real music that plainly meant a great deal to listeners.  Lucinda Williams is named in about every posting on this thread.  She performs This Old Guitar beautifully!  Some of my favorite YMCA Camp Dudley campfire tunes are Johns creations.  Leaving on a jet plane puts tears in my eyes every time...

Mary Lee's Covette, in 2002, recorded Blood on the Tracks: Recorded Live at Arlene Grocery which a song-by-song tribute. Great.

Thanks, @rettrussell , I've been interested in that for a while now.  I may have to pull the trigger.

Don't believe anyone has mentioned the Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert recording. Many great versions, including:

I forgot about that one, @ezwind .  If it's the same one I am thinking of, I bought it way back when on two VHS tapes.  That's the one win which Sinead O'Connor got heckled and booed?  

I like the Two Rooms Elton John tribute album also. The Who doing Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting), Clapton doing Border Song and Bruce Hornsby doing Madman Across The Water are some of my favorite tracks. 

Deadicated with various artists doing Dead covers.

Gary plays Jimi.  Gary Moore playing Jimi Hendrix live.