Yet even more cover songs

[Mr. Blue Sky]

While going through my record collection, I came across some interesting cover (or remakes, if you will) songs. Some are good, some bad, most have never gotten anywhere
near a popular chart, or even a radio station:

1. “L.A. Woman” - Rats of Unusual Size - I found this version of the Doors’ classic on a 99-cent CD of unsigned bands. This was the only song that prevented the CD from
becoming a coaster. These guys just belt out the song full force

2. “Downtown” - Patty Duke - Done at a quicker tempo than the original. Patty Duke has mentioned in her book that, although she liked to sing, she wasn’t very good at it. Ahem... I must say that, what she lacks in talent, she makes up for in enthusiasm.

3. “Yesterday” - Patty Duke - One of over 4000 versions made of Paul’s classic tune. Had Paul heard this version first, he probably would have kept it to himself.

4. “Cool Water” - Fleetwood Mac - The Mac performs an OLD cowboy tune. Not bad.

5. “On Top of Old Smoky” - ABBA - Think about it.

6. “Memory” (from “CATS”) - Big Daddy - This LA vocal group takes “current” hits and reworks them to sound like 50’s & 60’s rock classics. If you’re a big fan of “CATS” and
this song has some sort of emotional value to you, DON’T listen to this version!

7. “Ice Ice Baby” - Big Daddy - Done in the style of “Johnny B. Goode”. Hilarious. And the only way to listen to this “rap” travesty.

8. every song by Dread Zeppelin - Led Zep songs performed by a reggae band with an Elvis impersonator as the lead singer! Is this a great country or what?

9. “Queen of Hearts” - Dave Edmunds - Done a year earlier than Juicy Juice Newton’s hit, Dave puts a rockabilly swing on it.

10. (various) - Tori Amos - The red-headed songtress has a...ummmm...unique way of covering a tune - especially Led Zeppelin.

11. “Viva Las Vegas” - The Dead Kennedys - Aside from some “poetic license” with the lyrics, pretty straight forward considering the source.

[Coldfire]

10. (various) - Tori Amos - The red-headed songtress has a...ummmm...unique way of covering a tune - especially Led Zeppelin.

Amen! I also love her versions of "Purple Rain", "Daniel", "Smells like Teen Spirit", "American Pie" and "I'm on fire".

Also, the Foo Fighters version of "Baker Street" is pretty damn cool. Oh, and the Presidents of the USA doing "Video killed the radio star" is a MUST

[neutron star]

Dammit Coldfire, why are you always sneaking into my head, picking out my favorite songs, and posting them before I get a chance?

Other favorite Tori covers :

Love Song (Cure)
Do it Again (Steely Dan)
Thunder Road (Springsteen)
Little Drummer Boy
Home on the Range - Cherokee version
Amazing Grace

Favorite covers by other artists :

Dynamite Hack - Boys in the Hood (NWA feat. Eazy E)

Rage Against the Machine - Ghost of Tom Joad(Springsteen)

Faith No More - Easy (I forget. Commodores, maybe?)

Pearl Jam - Crazy Mary (Victoria Williams)

Songs that got butchered :

Mellencamp - Wild Night (Van Morrison)

The Band - Like a Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan)

[Coldfire]

Faith No More - Easy (I forget. Commodores, maybe?)

Correct. A bad cover however, IMHO.

[Typo Negative]

For cool covers, you just can't beat the Dickies. The have rendered funny and scorching punk rock versions of:
Eve of destruction
Knights in white satin
Town without pity
She (obscure Monkees tune)
Sounds of silence
Paranoid
Communication breakdown
the Banana Splits theme
Silent night (the christmas classic)

[Revtim]

I'm listening to the Black Crowes and Jimmy Page Live At The Greek as I type this, and they do some fantastic Led Zep tunes. I guess it's debatable whether they can be called "covers" or not since Jimmy Page is helping out.

The Black Crowes guy does a wonderful job with almost all the vocals.

[RealityChuck]

The Bonzo Dog Band did some incredible covers, including:

Monster Mash (the definitive version)
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
The Sound of Music (hilarious)
By a Waterfall (which ends up as both a parody and a tribute)