# Cover songs worth a listen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099 "2004-06-18T19:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/41 "2004-06-22T10:33:04Z")
> [@Eurograff](#): > > Tori Amos is responsible for several excellent covers, Smells Like Teen Spirit obviously being the most popular. I’m fond of her version of Losing My Religion. On the flip side, there’s Voltaire’s version of her Caught a Light Sneeze. He also does a pretty good version of Bjork’s Bachelorette. The section: > [@](#): > > if you forget my name > you will go astray > like a killer whale > trapped in a bay SHOULD sound irredeemably stupid - but Bjork and Voltaire both manage to make it…not. (I think it helps that both are a little bit off the plumb to begin with.) Out of Your Mouth does a pretty damn good version of Madonna’s Music. (Listing to which prompted me to post to this thread.) ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/42 "2004-06-22T15:32:16Z")
[QUOTE=Laughing Lagomorph] Are you sure it is him? Jon Wesley Harding did a cover of this song 10-15 years ago and his vocal style is not unlike Elvis Costello’s. QUOTE] You know, it probably is Harding. I heard the song a couple of times down in L.A. but never heard who actually did it. I just figured from the vocals that it was Costello. I even checked in with the office Costello nut and she wasn’t familiar with it either. Thanks for the tip. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/43 "2004-06-22T15:33:58Z")
Arrghhh…Damn you Quote Tags…Damn you to HEEEELLLLLL… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/44 "2004-06-22T15:52:25Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Eva Cassidy’s version of _Time After Time_. And her cover of _Fields of Gold_ \ ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/45 "2004-06-22T16:34:02Z")
I usually _hate_ covers of Beatles songs, but The Brothers Johnson did a really creative cover of “Come Together”. Dave Edmunds’ version of “The Promised Land” sounds more like Chuck Berry than Chuck’s version, which I found to be severely lacking in comparison. Andy Kim’s cover of The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” is a lot better than the original, IMO. Barbra Streisand’s cover of “Since I Fell For You” is better than _anybody’s_. Rod Stewart’s cover of “Reason To Believe” is better than anybody’s, too. His version of “(I Know) I’m Losing You” is a radical departure from Motown, but it works very well. Rick Derringer is now a jazz musician (or at least he plays in a Wes Montgomery style nowadays). He did an album of covers of his old songs, rearranged in Lite Jazz or Funk Lite or some such description, a couple of years back. The versions of “Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo” and “Frankenstein (Smooth Frank)” on it are fairly awesome. If you find the album, please skip over “Free Ride”, though, or you’ll want to wash your brain in bleach, and even that won’t help! ---
**Author:** ![ookpik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c68b51/32.png) [@ookpik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ookpik)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/46 "2004-06-22T20:47:12Z")
You can’t always get what you want by Luther Allison Rockin’ Pnemonia by Phoebe Snow ---
**Author:** ![WaryEri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ea666f/32.png) [@WaryEri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WaryEri)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/47 "2004-06-23T01:39:39Z")
Sinead O’Conner does a rather sweet version of Elton John’s _Sacrifice_ REM doing U2’s _One_ isn’t all that different from the original, but still nice enough to make my playlist. Holly McNarland’s cover of \* In The Air Tonight\* is pretty good. Of all the Tori Amos covers I’ve heard, I think _I’m Not In Love_ is the best. And, though not quite a cover, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden sings the most beautiful _Ave Maria_ I’ve ever heard. (on preview: would have seemed a more interesting list if I’d left that “playslit” typo in, I imagine…) ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/48 "2004-06-24T00:29:31Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > You know, it probably is Harding. I heard the song a couple of times down in L.A. but never heard who actually did it. I just figured from the vocals that it was Costello. I even checked in with the office Costello nut and she wasn’t familiar with it either. Thanks for the tip. Well, if it is Harding his version is available on this album: > **[AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands](https://www.allmusic.com/?p=amg&sql=Ajtkvu3q5anxk&uid=UIDMISS70406191653501406)** > > AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own. And also this compilation album: > **[AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands](https://www.allmusic.com/?p=amg&sql=Autf5zfg1eh5k&uid=UIDMISS70406191653501406)** > > AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/49 "2004-06-24T01:06:28Z")
Some of these have already been mentioned, but what the hell… **I Am The Walrus** (The Beatles) by **The Pop-O-Pies** **Computer Age** (Neil Young) by **Sonic Youth** **California Uber Alles** (Dead Kennedys) by **The Disposable Heroes of Hiphopracy** **Shot Down** (The Sonics) by **The Cynics** **Satisfaction** (The Rolling Stones) by **Devo** **Paranoid** (The Beatles) by **The Dickies** **Naked** (Moby Grape) by **Cat Power** **Goo Goo Muck** (Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads) by **The Cramps** **Wuthering Heights** (Kate Bush) by **The White Flag** ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/50 "2004-06-24T02:43:29Z")
Re: Whiskey in the Jar > [@nitroglycerine](#): > > I like The Pogues version best. Me too. Other favorite covers: The Pogues “Honky Tonk Women” (Rolling Stones) The Sundays “Wild Horses” (Stones) Me First & the Gimme Gimmes “Rocket Man” (Elton John) Me First & the Gimme Gimmes “Danny’s Song” (Loggins & Messina) The Cardigans “Iron Man” (Black Sabbath) ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/51 "2004-06-24T03:06:32Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Apocalyptica’s Metallica covers are amazing. I especially like their version of “One,” and their “Nothing Else Matters” is, oddly enough, probably the most beautiful piece for a cello quartet I’ve ever heard. Angels of Venice does a harp-based cover of “Nothing Else Matters” which I quite enjoy. In fact, you can listen to it (in its entirety, no less!) at the [AoV website](http://www.angelsofvenice.com/mainframe.html) (click on “Discography” and scroll down to the second album). I also like The Cure’s cover of “Purple Haze”. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/52 "2004-06-24T05:03:49Z")
Me First & the Gimme Gimmes cover I like is their version of the Muppet’s **Rainbow Connection** ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/53 "2004-06-24T06:21:39Z")
Besides Stewie’s rendition of Rocket Man, I’d have to say: Easy - Faith No More You Showed Me - Lightning Seeds Nothing’s Gonna Change My World - Fiona Apple (damn she makes that sultry) Summer Breeze - Type O Negative Cars - Fear Factory All of Miscelaneous Debris - Primus Of course, anything off of In a Metal Mood - Pat Boone Beatallica IMO does the best parodies next to Weird AL, that’s almost like a cover. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/54 "2004-06-24T06:27:53Z")
Oh, one I didn’t think of earlier - The Cruxshadows’ version of Happy Xmas (War is Over). I actually prefer it to Lennon’s. (The mention of Angels of Venice brought them to mind…I was introduced to both bands by the same CD.) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/55 "2004-06-24T07:21:31Z")
Joan Osborne did a cover of _Son of a Preacher Man_ that knocked my socks off. > [@wolf\_meister](#): > > Perhaps everybody’s #1 all-time favorite cover version has to be > **Jimi Hendrix** ’s rendition of Dylan’s “ **All Alnog The Watchtower** ”. I respectfully disagree. That title belongs to Aretha’s R.E.S.P.E.C.T. ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/56 "2004-06-24T12:30:11Z")
These ones spring to mind, though so many more are on the tip of my tongue… Ben Folds - Tiny Dancer (available on Ben Folds Live) Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Grace) George - Under The Milky Way (haven’t seen/heard a hard copy) ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/57 "2004-06-24T17:37:53Z")
It’s back a page now, but I _need_ to correct myself… it was of course, Black Sabbath who did the orginal version of Paranoid… and not the Beatles. :smack: Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![wheelie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wheelie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheelie)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/58 "2004-06-24T19:01:36Z")
I Am The Walrus (The Beatles) by Oingo Boingo Whipping Post (Allman Brothers) by Frank Zappa Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash?) by Frank Zappa Black Dog (Led Zeppelin) by Tony Levin Band Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen) by California Guitar Trio ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/59 "2004-06-24T20:00:45Z")
I just remembered another good one. Tears for Fears’ “Mad World”, remade for the _Donnie Darko_ soundtrack by Michael Andrews. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099/60 "2004-08-30T15:37:49Z")
I just heard a _great_ cover of a Beatles song! “Help” by [John Farnham](http://www.johnfarnham.info/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-worth-a-listen/251099.md?page=4)