I’ll agree that most of Me First and the Gimme Gimme’s covers are really good, provided you like their sound. Obviously, if you don’t like any form of pubk, you won’t like the covers. (Not that they’re “real” punk, they’re “pop” punk, but at least they know it and don’t take themselves too seriously )
I also like a lot of Guster’s covers. They rarely play a concert without playing a cover song of some sort, and they generally do a good job with them. I have a copy of them doing “Like a Prayer,” and I like it 5x more than the original.
If you go to www.archive.org/audio and search for guster, you can actually download and listen to many of their live recordings, since they have an open policy on them. Don’t, however, change the file format on the audio files or share them on any file sharing network, that’s where they draw the line. But if you want others to hear it, just tell them about the damn site!
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Jeff Buckley - Lilac Wine (Nina Simone)
Actually, any covers Jeff Buckley does are fantastic. He has a great one of Led Zeppelin’s Night Flight on the Live at Sin-e Legacy Edition cd.
M. Ward - Let’s Dance (David Bowie)
Ryan Adams - Wonderwall (Oasis)
The Gallagher brothers have said they’re going start doing this song like Ryan Adams.
Angie Aparo - Man In The Box (Alice In Chains)
The Sundays - Wild Horses (Rolling Stones).
This one sounds great sung by a woman.
Gary Jules - Mad World (Tears For Fears)
Johnny Cash - Hurt
I’ll second someone above’s suggestion of Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon - Urge Overkill (Neil Diamond)
I’ve heard a cover of “This Charming Man” by both Stars and Death Cab for Cutie. Pretty cool.
I like “Ice Ice Baby” by Ben Kweller, “Mrs. Jackson” by the Vines, and “The Thong Song” by Kleenex Girl Wonder. Hell, I just like rap songs covers that aren’t done as raps.
A few years ago Vonda Shephard covered some Beatles songs (and eventually moved on to other bands) that pretty much everyone who was anyone thought were fantastic. I remember tuning in just to listen to her show Paul, John, George and Ringo how it was done…
Very true. But Dylan should have never recorded it to begin with. He should have just passed it right on to Jimi.
I’ll add:
Star Spangled Banner, Jimi Hendrix (traditional; F Scott Key) After the Goldrush, Prelude (Neil Young) - beautiful a capella version Demolition Man, Grace Jones (orb, The Police) My Way, Sid Vicious (Frank Sinatra) Steppin’ Stone, Minor Threat or The Untouchables (Monkees) Jump, Jive and Wail, Brian Setzer Orchestra (Louis Prima) Just a Gigolo, David Lee Roth (Louis Prima) - not better but still good Hazy Shade Of Winter, Bangles (Simon & Garfunkel) Proud Mary, Ike and Tina Turner (Creedence Clearwater Revival) - Tina, wow! Hard To Handle, Black Crowes (Otis Redding) Respect, Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding) Obviously, it’s really Aretha’s song! Move It On Over, George Thorogood (Hank Williams) Many Rivers to Cross, UB40 (Jimmy Cliff) Tears of a Clown, English Beat (Smokey Robinson) American Woman, Lenny Kravitz (The Guess Who) not as good, though IMO
Radiohead “Nobody Does It Better”(Carly Simon)
the Dirtbombs “Underdog” (Sly and the Family Stone)
Flaming Lips “After the Gold Rush” (Neil Young)
Mr. Bungle “Workin’ for the Weekend” (Loverboy)
Col. Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” (Pink Floyd)
Ween “Band On The Run” (Wings)
The Replicants “Just What I Needed” (The Cars)
Stevie Ray Vaughn “Little Wing” (Jimi Hendrix)
Phish “Communication Breakdown” (Led Zeppelin)
Johnny Cash “Down By The Train” (Tom Waits)
Jane’s Addiction “Sympathy For the Devil” (Rolling Stones)
Gov’t Mule “War Pigs” (Black Sabbath)
The Sonics Roll Over Beethoven
Teengenerate * Just Head*
The Devil Dogs Ball Me Out
The Lazy Cowgirls You’re Gonna Miss Me
The Makers Inside Lookin Out *
The DirtbombsLivin For the City *
The New Bomb Turks * Do The Pop *
The Mighty Caesars *Career Opportunities *
Rasputina, “Wish You Were Here” (Pink Floyd)
Radiohead, “Wish You Were Here”
Jawbox, “Cornflake Girl” (Tori Amos)
Tricky (w/Martine, I think), “Black Coffee” (Peggy Lee)
I’d have to agree with Hendrix doing “All along the watchtower” & the Talking Heads doing “Take me to the River”
Other’s I like:
Always look on the bright side of Life - Art Garfunkel (Monty Python)
Dear Prudence - Siouxsie & the Banshees (the Beatles)
Working class hero - Marianne Faithfull (John Lennon)
Light my fire - Jose Feliciano (the Doors)
Jolene - the Whitestripes (Dolly Parton)
Walking in the Rain - Grace Jones (Flash in the Pan)
Blue - Sarah Mclachlan (Joni Mitchell)
Howie Day - Karma Police (Radiohead)
This is one of the best covers I have ever heard… At the end of the song he records a sample of his guitar, and then records a bass line over that, then the drums, and then the guitar solo… Very cool…
Actually anything Howie Day covers turns out pretty well…
Toto - Africa
At the Stars - Better than Ezra #41 Dave Matthews
Only the good die young - Billy Joel
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