I guess these would all fall under Category 1:
Collective Soul’s “Jealous Guy” and “I Will Follow.” (Lennon and U2)
Train’s “Ramble On.” (Led Zepplin)
Stavesacre’s “Fascination Street.” (The Cure)
Pearl Jam’s “Baba O’Reilly.” (The Who)
(Just a side note, if you’ve never heard of Stavesacre, I’d highly recommend them.)
New Winner for Category two:
Run Like Hell by Kittie. Originally by Pink Floyd, it totally rocks, I mean ball-crushing, fist pumping, stone cold ROCKS.
K.
LC
Even though we ain’t got money
I’m still in love with you, honey
And everything will bring a chain (?)
of luh - uh - uh - uh - uv (“love” drawn out 5 full notes)
That’s Danny’s Song (1970), originally by one of Kenny Loggins’ early bands – Gator Creek – and covered most notably by Anne Murray.
This song has been covered dozens of times – check this link and see if your band is there:
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dMagnate33, I back you up on Collective Soul’s Jealous Guy*. Brian Ferry also covers that Lennon track very well.
AL GREEN - “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?” (Bee Gees)- I defy anyone not listen to the Rev. Al’s version and not feel emotionally spent by the end.
Head Like a Hole by Devo
Girlfriend in a Coma by Mojo Nixon
Ziggy Stardust by Bauhaus
War as covered by DOA
phish - Gin and Juice
Acover of a Snoop Doggy Dogg song, which is absolutely hysterical and catchy and great. The only work by either Snoop or Phish that I’ve ever enjoyed. Brilliant.
Radiohead wrote Creep. It is not a cover. Perhaps you’re thinking of the Too Much Joy cover that I have never heard, but am told by a friend that it’s better than Radiohead’s original version. Like hell.
If you’re thinking of the “Over the Rainbow” that was featured prominently in the promos for that new TV show “Undeclared”, that’s not Less than Jake. It’s “Me First and the Gimme Gimme’s”. It’s a punk band that does nothing but cover songs. They also are the punk band that you’re probably thinking of that covered “Danny Boy”.
The Talking Heads cover of “Take Me to the River” comes to mind.
And I don’t know that you could call it a “cover” in the strictest sense, since it’s just another version of a traditional song, but the Animals rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” certainly redefined the song for all time!
I Shot the Sherrif- Eric Clapton
Stairway To Heaven- Frank Zappa
Satumaa- Frank Zappa
Well, You Know I Love You- John Lennon and Frank Zappa
All Along the Watchtower- Jimi Hendrix
High Flying Bird- Jefferson Airplane
Ball and Chain- Janis Joplin
Summertime- Janis Jpolin