# Cover versions we have actually liked **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2000, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555 "2000-02-05T17:17:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/121 "2000-02-11T20:43:00Z")
Just a couple to add. Probably most of you don’t know most of these, but _I_ like them: Fuzzy, “Girl Don’t Tell Me” (Beach Boys) Mary’s Danish, “Foxy Lady” (Hendrix) Sam Phillips (not the Sun Records guy) “Gimme Some Truth” (John Lennon) The Reivers, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” (Willie Nelson) ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/122 "2000-02-11T20:47:00Z")
Just a couple to add. Probably most of you don’t know most of these, but _I_ like them: Fuzzy, “Girl Don’t Tell Me” (Beach Boys) Mary’s Danish, “Foxy Lady” (Hendrix) Sam Phillips (not the Sun Records guy) “Gimme Some Truth” (John Lennon) The Reivers, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” (Willie Nelson) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/123 "2000-02-12T10:21:00Z")
> [@](#): > > spankboy: > Speaking of Blackfoot, was their song ‘Train, Train’ a cover? According to the credits, Train, Train was written by Shorty Medlocke. I think Shorty is Rick’s father; the CD doesn’t list a copyright date on the tune, so it could have been written and recorded some time earlier, and covered by Blackfoot. I don’t know the who, when or where of the original, though, if that’s the case. BTW, Shorty is credited with Train, Train’s harmonica prelude, but on the song itself, Brownsville Station’s Cub Koda plays harmonica. On that same album, Blackfoot covered Spirit’s I got A Line On You and Free’s Wishing Well. Another favorite: Serves You Right To Suffer (live) – J. Geils Band (John Lee Hooker) ---
**Author:** ![spankboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@spankboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankboy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/124 "2000-02-12T11:11:00Z")
Yep, Shorty is Rick’s dad. I guess he used to be quite the local musician in Florida; he’s mentioned in some of the Skynyrd bios as an early influence. Thanks for the info-I don’t have the album anymore, maybe I’ll go get it today… -sb * * * They say the Lord loves drunks, fools and little children. Two out of three ain’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![Pixoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pixoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixoid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/125 "2000-02-14T15:53:00Z")
Some of these have been mentioned before: I like: Natalie Merchant - One Fine Day - (?) Save Ferris - Come On Eileen - Dexy’s Midnight Runners Dave Matthews Band - Me and Julio (Down by the Schoolyard) - Simon and Garfunkel Aerosmith - Come Together - Beatles Guns N’Roses - Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door - Bob Dylan I _really_ dislike: Amy Grant - Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/126 "2000-02-14T19:29:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by beatle: > \*\* > Another Dylan cover - “Baby Blue” as per the 13th Floor Elevators.\*\* Now _ **that** _ is a band you don’t see referenced every day! That brings the total number of people I’ve ever heard mention that band to three. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2000, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/127 "2000-02-14T20:39:00Z")
As long as we’re talking Dylan, how about some covers of Dylan songs by Country artists: It Ain’t Me Babe —Johnny Cash How Does it Feel? ----Lester Flatt Other good covers on the Country side: Streets of Bakersfield ----Covered by Dwight Yoakam (Orig. by Buck Owens) Hobo’s Lullabye ----Covered by Emmylou Harris (Orig. by ???) ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/128 "2000-02-15T01:04:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Drain Bead: > \*\* Then again, I also like David Lee Roth’s cover of “Just a Gigolo,” so my tastes might be suspect as well.\*\* Drain, I am so disappointed… 🙂 * * * I am a redhead, you see, and I do not tempt. I insist. -Cristi ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/129 "2000-02-15T04:35:00Z")
friend spoke, > [@](#): > > Hobo’s Lullabye > ----Covered by Emmylou Harris > (Orig. by ???) i am not positive, but i think hobo’s lullabye was originally arlo guthrie * * * “don’t get strung out by the way that i look, don’t judge a book by it’s cover” (tim curry as dr. franknfurter in rhps) ---
**Author:** ![Animator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@Animator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Animator)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/130 "2000-02-20T02:57:00Z")
I didn’t feel like scanning through all three pages of this, but hasn’t anybody mentioned Sting’s version of Hendrix’s “Little Wing”? Red Hot Chili Peppers doing “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder, or “Fire” by Jimi Hendrix. Shows how Jammin’ the Chilis really are. Both those songs were great to begin with, and the Chili Peppers versions smoke them. And Devo doing Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced” is highly recommended. Worst? Anything on the “Working Man” Tribute to Rush CD. Just goes to show that nobody does it better than Alex, Geddy, and Neil. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/131 "2000-02-20T03:03:00Z")
Re: Nothing Compares To You. Prince wrote it for a band called The Family; theirs was the first released version. I haven’t heard it but I sure do like Sinéad’s version. ---
**Author:** ![Tzar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@Tzar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzar)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/132 "2000-02-20T11:36:00Z")
Yay, my first post. Not necessarily my favorite cover, but one that I think really redefined the original - Natalie Merchant - Space Oddity (Bowie) I’ve heard that live, not sure if any studio recording was done. Oh, really gotta give it up for Phish’s Gin 'n Juice too. Can’t hear it without gettin a big grin. As for worst… agreeing with several other opinions here. PJ’s “Last Kiss” & Madonna’s “American Pie”. WHY the hell are these even getting airtime? Proof positive that payola continues, folks. Add to the list almost every single rap or r&b cover of anything. My opinion is that 95% of rap/r&b is pure talentless crap, and I find it quite disturbing that it constitutes such a vast portion of youth’s audio diet. But that’s a rant for another day. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/133 "2000-02-20T17:33:00Z")
Does anybody know whether Three Dog Night recorded _Your Song_ before Elton John? If they did, does that mean that he actually covered it, even though he wrote it? ---
**Author:** ![Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19adc/32.png) [@Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/134 "2000-02-20T17:50:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Little Nemo: > \*\*Any cover version by Michael Bolton, David Lee Roth, or Natalie Merchant is bad. > \*\* I’m not a big David Lee Roth fan, but I really liked his cover of Louis Prima’s “Just a Gigolo”. I also saw Garth Brooks do an acoustic version of “American Pie” in concert a few years ago that was very impressive. * * * If you won’t question what you think, why call it thinking? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/135 "2000-02-21T15:48:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Libertarian: > Does anybody know whether Three Dog Night recorded _Your Song_ before Elton John? According to my old Keener 13 hit charts, Elton John’s version was released in November, 1970. I’ve never heard Three Dog Night’s cover: when was it released? Which reminds me: Chest Fever – Three Dog Night (The Band) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2000, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/136 "2000-02-21T15:55:00Z")
Oh yeah; **George Benson** did a couple of great covers: 1. **On Broadway** (Orig. by ???), and 2. **Masquerade** (previously recorded by Leon Russell; Orig by ???) Also, The **Cowboy Junkies** did a fantastic cover of **Dreaming My Dreams** (Orig. by Waylon Jennings) ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2000, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/137 "2000-02-26T05:45:00Z")
I personally love George Throughgood’s (sp) cover of one burbon, one scotch, and one beer * * * knuckle-dragging hose mongerer. SDMB Self-Righteous Clique ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/138 "2000-02-27T10:13:00Z")
David Essex’s “Rock On” as recorded by Silverfish The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” as recorded by Devo I like every cover of “Little Wing” I’ve heard. Which is weird. None of them is as good as Jimi’s version, but the covers are cool in their own ways. Generally if the cover isn’t better than the original I hate it… David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” as recorded by Bauhaus. “Telegram Sam” as recorded by Bauhaus. The original was either T. rex or The Troggs. Can’t remember which T. rex’s “Bang A Gong” as recorded by The Power Station. Yeah I know The Power Station are one of the goofiest supergroups to come down the pike, but I’ve gotta have some guilty pleasures, right? Igor Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” as recorded by Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. Not as good as the original, but the original didn’t have drum machines in it… ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/139 "2000-02-27T15:36:00Z")
friend spoke, you asked: > [@](#): > > 1. Masquerade (previously recorded by Leon Russell; Orig by ???) this masquerade was written by leon russell, and was on the second side of teh carney album, (about 1972) * * * Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity -Kahlil Gibran ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555/140 "2000-02-27T16:29:00Z")
Orgy - Blue Monday Bauhaus - Ziggy Stardust [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-we-have-actually-liked/17555.md?page=8)