Best Cover Songs

Cafe Society
1

Yeah I know - most cover songs are abominations, especially to die-hard fans of the original artists (I’m yet to hear a decent Smiths cover), but there are a few out there that I much like better than the original. Some that spring to mind:

The Bluest Eyes in Texas by Nina Persson (of the Cardigans), originally by Restless Heart, I think.

Don’t Dream It’s Over by Sixpence None The Richer, originally by Crowded House.

More Than This by the 10,000 Maniacs, originally by Roxy Music.

Say a Little Prayer for You by Gene, performed live. Originally by Aretha Franklin IIRC.

So, what are your favorites?

2

Van Halen’s cover of Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman

3

Boys of Summer by the Ataris :smiley:

4

The BareNaked Ladies cover of Bruce Cockburn’s “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”.

5

I won’t count popular standards, since there’s no real “first” version.

Bonzo Dog Band’s version of “Monster Mash” – Truly finds the insanity hidden in the song.

Joe Cocker’s “The Letter” and “Little Help from My Friends”

6

Anything by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is golden by me.

7

The Clash’s version of “I Fought the Law”

Nirvana’s “Do You Love Me?”

Michael Bolton’s “Sitting on the Dock the Bay”
Guess which one I’m kidding about? I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised

8

Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy’s cover of the Dead Kennedys song California Uber Alles

Sonic Youth’s cover of Neil Young’s song Computer Age

9

Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” (orig by Jackie DeShannon)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Higher Ground” (orig by Stevie Wonder)

The Pointer Sisters’ “Fire” (orig recorded by Robert Gordon, written by Bruce Springsteen)

10

Jimi Hendrix’s cover of Bob Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower… there are none greater…
Fozzy’s cover of Iron Maiden’s The Prisoner is pretty good too.

11

I really liked the Smashing Pumpkins’ cover of Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nick’s “Landslide”, but that may just because it’s a damn good song.

Also, in the movie “Walking Tall” there was a cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday”. I have no idea who it’s by though. It sounded really nice.

12

Dead Kennedys - Viva Las Vegas (Elvis)
Sonic Youth - Superstar (The Carpenters)
Camper Van Beethoven - Pictures of Matchstick Men (Status Quo)
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Urge Overkill - Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
Talking Heads - Take Me to the River (Al Green)
Devo - Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones)
Camper Van Beethoven - Wasted (Black Flag)
This Mortal Coil - You and Your Sister (Chris Bell)
Nirvana - The Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie)
The Clash - Police and Thieves (Junior Murvin)
The Clash - I Fought the Law (The Bobby Fuller Four)

Slacker, the best version of “More Than This” is a live one by Robyn Hitchcock. He does a good live version of “The Ghost in You” (The Psychedelic Furs) as well.

13

I like Metallica’s version of Turn the Page better than Bob Seger’s.

14

DEVO’s cover of I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.
Marilyn Manson’s cover of Tainted Love (love the original as well)
And any cover by Lounge Against The Machine

15

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band cover of Blinded by the Light by Bruce Springsteen.

Oh yeah… Fozzy is a HUGE rock star! :cool:

16

Keb’ Mo’ did a great cover of “Big Yellow Taxi” on the album “Big Wide Grin.”

I’ve always been partial to John Mellencamp’s cover of The Drifters’ “Under the Boardwalk.” Also, George Benson’s cover of their “On Broadway.”

17

I’m pretty sure it’s the Butthole Surfers that have a killer version of “Hurdy Gurdy Man” originally done by Donavan.

And that’s saying something, considering Led Zepplin, minus Robert Plant played on the original.

18

Apocalyptica’s version of Unforgiven by Metallica. No singing! :smiley:

19

Ditto “Blinded by the Light”.

“Behind the Lines” - Phil Collins covers his own Genesis tune with a much faster tempo

20

Probably Orgy’s cover. It got a lot of air play a few years ago and basically made them famous. I have to admit that I still like it, no matter how overplayed it was. It’s a heavier and shortened radio-friendly version of an already remarkably catchy song. Not sure I prefer it to the original though.

As for my own contributions, I do like Me First and the Gimme Gimme’s rockin’ cover of “Science Fiction” from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. And Ted Leo did an awesome acoustic version of “Ghosts” by the Jam.