Top "covers"


Not talking about album artwork. I'm talking about when one artist records a song previously recorded by another artist. The second artist gives the song his or her own special style and often it turns out better (or more popular) than the original. To keep this manageable, let's limit it to pop/rock (jazz and classical have too many songs that are recorded by many, many performers) and, in keeping with the "top 40" nature of the topic, let's limit it to the last 40 years or so. Here's my list to get the juices flowing:

1. Jimi Hendrix version of Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower"
2. The Who version of Eddie Cochrane's "Summertime Blues"
3. The Beatles version of the Isley Brothers'"Twist and Shout" (though I believe the IB version may have been a cover, too)
4. Patricia Barber version of Doors' "Light My Fire"
5. The Eagles version of Tom Waits' "Ol' '55"
6. Diana Krall version of Joni Mitchell's "Case of You"
7. CSN&Y version of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock"
8. The Sundays version Rolling Stone's "Wild Horses"
9. The Corrs version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" (from their "Unplugged" CD)
10. Many songs by Eva Cassidy, but especially Marvin Gaye's "People Get Ready" (at least I think the original was MG)

I'm looking forward to reading/hearing others' ideas!
dawgfish

Showing 1 response by cincy_bob

Speaking of "Sweet Jane" by The Velvet Underground, how about the cover of that same tune by the Cowboy Junkies? I doubt that most Cowboy Junkies fans know the provenance of this tune.

Going one step beyond "cover songs" and into the realm of "cover albums" you gotta love George Benson's cover of The Beatles' "Abbey Road." That was back in Benson's jazz days. About two years later, in his album "White Rabbit," Benson did some great covers of "White Rabbit" (originally by Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane) and "California Dreamin'" (originally by John and Michele Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas).