Cover songs that should exist, but don't.

Cafe Society
1

I’ve never been able to convince anyone in the real world of the genius of this idea, but I have always thought that Aerosmith, particularly Permanent Vacation-era Aerosmith, should have, somewhere along the way, covered Dion’s Runaround Sue. I can’t hear all of the instrumentation in my head, but I can clearly hear Steven Tyler’s voice on the vocals. Work with me here. In particular, imagine the last line of the bridge:

Can’t you hear that patented Steven Tyler scream at the tail end of that line?

I suspect that the window of opportunity has passed for this. So, put on your record producer hats. What songs should get covered that haven’t been yet (or haven’t been done by the “proper” artist).

2

This cover might well have been done at some point, if not in recorded form then maybe informally at a concert:

I always thought Tina Turner would rock a cover of Bitch by The Rolling Stones.

3

I was always waiting to hear that Axl Rose covered Janis Joplin’s Another Piece of my Heart - Take another little piece of my heart baby whoa-ooo-whoa yeah!

4

Ray Charles - Bad Bad Leroy Brown (originally by Jim Croce)
Melissa Etheridge - Loving Touching Squeezing (originally by Journey)
Prince - 96 Tears (originally by ? and the Mysterians)

5

Inspired.

6

In an old review of a Del Shannon CD comp, the author said he wished Marvin Gaye or Otis Redding had got the chance to cover “Runaway”.

7

I just came in here say that we won’t be able to say “Samual L Jackson doing a Taylor Swift cover song.”
Because that now exists! - YouTube

8

Culture Club, after “Kissing to Be Clever” and before the other one, should have covered Son of a Preacher Man.

Taylor Swift should cover Mission San Miguel. That’d be nice.

9

Has Elvis Costello covered any Warren Zevon songs? If not, there any number of them he could do.

Also, did Joe Cocker ever cover Elton John’s “Take Me to the Pilot”? That always sounded like that should be a Cocker song.

10

As far as I know Nick Cave has never covered “Death of a Clown” by the Kinks, and this ought to be rectified immediately.

11

I Heard It Through the Grapevine should have been covered by Black Sabbath. It could have been awesome.

12

I’ve said it before: Bob Dylan needs to record “Stuck in the Middle With You”.

13

The Rolling Stones should have covered Like a Rolling Stone.

Just because.

Also, Joe Cocker and Every Single Beatles Song Ever. He’s done a bunch of them, and always does them well. At the very least, he needs to release a whole album composed only of Beatles covers.

14

You’re a little late to the party.

15

Oh, wow. Awesome!

16

A punk version of “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” by Culture Club.

17

The Violent Femmes did a cover of that one. They’re more acousti-punk though.

I’d love to hear a James Brown backed with a gospel choir version of The Dream Academy’s “Life in a Northern Town”. That’d be great to hear some soul in that song.

18

Cee-Lo Green should cover “Crazy.” I mean the one by Seal.

19

Ben Folds Five should have covered “Evil Woman” by ELO.

20

I’d like to hear Blues Traveler do “And When I Die” from Blood,Sweat & Tears