# Established Songwriters who have done entire albums comprised of Cover Songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277 "2008-10-03T04:42:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/41 "2008-10-03T19:13:23Z")
**Willie Nelson** is probably at least as famous for doing covers as he is for writing songs, but he he definitely ‘established himself with his own original songs’, so fits the terms of the OP. _Stardust_ was at least one album that was all covers. (Probably there are more; this is the one I know of that is explicitly all covers). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/42 "2008-10-03T19:35:47Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > That was a good album – she’s underrated as a singer, IMHO. Her zydeco version of _Sunny Side of the Street_ is one of those can’t-not-dance songs for me. At the very least, it puts some pep in my step when I’m walking and it comes up on the playlist. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/43 "2008-10-03T19:44:56Z")
I’m currently listening to Ozzy Osbourne’s _Under Cover_. Up next is _Garbage Days Re-Regurgitated_ by Exhumed, though I don’t know how “established” you’d consider them. Does Emerson Lake & Palmer’s _Pictures at an Exhibition_ count as a cover album? ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/44 "2008-10-03T19:49:59Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > Oh, I forgot: Nanci Griffith, **Other Voices, Other Rooms** Holy crap! For years, I’ve thought that would be the coolest name ever for an album (it was Truman Capote’s first novel) and there it is! Good deal. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/45 "2008-10-03T21:01:00Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs collaborated to put out: [Under the Covers, Vol. 1](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_the_Covers,_Vol._1) 2006, 1960s Rock I came in to mention this one–it’s being played and played in my car CD player these days. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/46 "2008-10-03T21:32:35Z")
Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon each have an album of standards (_Both Sides Now_ and _Torch_). Didn’t care for either of them, though. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/47 "2008-10-03T21:38:52Z")
Although still fairly early on in his career, Bob Seger was fairly well-known when he released Smokin’ O.P.'s in 1972. His version of Love the One You’re With is my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/48 "2008-10-04T00:17:40Z")
Well, Todd did _half_ an album of covers, does that halfway count? On [Faithful](http://www.amazon.com/Faithful-Todd-Rundgren/dp/B0000032P5), he covers The Beatles, Dylan, Hendrix, The Beach Boys and The Yardbirds. Phish famously covered _Quadropenia_, _The White Album_, and _Remain In Light_ (those are the ones I know of, anyway) on their series of live albums. I think I’m the only one in the world who actually likes Pat Boone’s _In A Metal Mood_. So sue me. ---
**Author:** ![BuzzSaw101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@BuzzSaw101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuzzSaw101)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/49 "2008-10-04T01:51:52Z")
Bob Dylan released an album in 1973 called “Dylan.” It’s filled with horrible covers like “Mr. Bojangles,” “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Dylan didn’t want it to be released and it is rare. It has never been released on CD. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan\_(1973\_album)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_(1973_album)) I paid $2 for the album at a small record store in Memphis in the spring. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/50 "2008-10-04T04:14:39Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > What’s really interesting is when musicians cover another album from start to finish. Personally, I think that Petra Haden’s “The Who Sell Out” is almost as good as the original ( [http://www.petrahadenmusic.com/discog.html](http://www.petrahadenmusic.com/discog.html) ) ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/51 "2008-10-04T05:17:59Z")
Another entry in the catalogue: Jazz clarinetist Don Byron’s album of music by Mickey Katz, the comedy/yiddish songwriter. Don Byron has a lot of respect for Mickey Katz’s skills on the clarinet. Chaim Afen Range and Paisach in Portugal are some of my favourites on the album. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/52 "2008-10-04T16:47:42Z")
Shawn Colvin’s ‘Cover Girl’ is pretty great, esp ‘Naive Melody’ and '‘You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go’ MiM ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/53 "2008-10-04T16:49:42Z")
**The Church** did this with Box of Birds. “All the Young Dudes” by Bowie was the oddest choice-esp. since lead singer Steve Kilbey’s always been a big Bowie fan-he certainly could have made a better choice. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/54 "2008-10-05T00:07:40Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > Personally, I think that Petra Haden’s “The Who Sell Out” is almost as good as the original ( [http://www.petrahadenmusic.com/discog.html](http://www.petrahadenmusic.com/discog.html) ) I saw her and her group “The Sellouts” sing it live at the Ford Theater several years ago. A wonderful evening…the crowd loved it. ---
**Author:** ![bink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@bink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bink)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/55 "2008-10-05T00:18:15Z")
Todd Rundgren does some covers, but only half an album at a time (_Faithful_, and a bunch of songs on Utopia’s _Another Live_) unless you count _With a Twist_, which is him doing bossa nova covers of his own material. Firewater has an album of covers called _Songs We Should Have Written_. Oh, and David Bowie’s _Pin Ups_. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/56 "2008-10-05T00:34:53Z")
Lyle Lovett’s [Step Inside This House](http://www.amazon.com/Step-Inside-This-House-Lovett/dp/B00000C2CO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1223165020&sr=8-1) is a tribute to the (mostly) Texas singer-songwriters he learned from–some as colleagues, others as heroes who became colleagues. A fine album & a good way to send some royalty money the way of fine songwriters who have avoided stardom so far. Special emphasis on the tunes of legend Townes van Zandt & Walt Hyatt, of the even more legendary Uncle Walt’s Band; their royalties go to their estates. Plus two actual “folk” tunes. Legendary songwriter though he was, Townes always included “covers” in his set. Hear some of them in [Road Songs](http://www.amazon.com/Roadsongs-Townes-Van-Zandt/dp/B000000EX1/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1223165936&sr=1-17). How about “Dead Flowers”? Plus selections from Dylan, Springsteen & Joe Ely. And several tunes by Houston bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins–a big influence. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/57 "2008-10-05T01:14:03Z")
**Iced Earth** had [Tribute to the Gods](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribute_to_the_Gods) **Six Feet Under** (featuring former Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes) had [Graveyard Classics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyard_Classics) and [Graveyard Classics 2](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyard_Classics_2), the latter of which is a remake of “Back In Black” by AC/DC. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/58 "2008-10-05T07:09:51Z")
Harry Nilsson and his [Nilsson Sings Newman](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jxfqxqwrldfe) ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/59 "2008-10-05T11:44:11Z")
Mark Kozelek did an album of AC/DC covers called “If You Want Blood”. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277/60 "2008-10-05T12:04:06Z")
There’s a somewhat well known (but very small time) folk duo called Storyhill (which I love) that did an album of covers called “Duotones” after releasing 6 albums of their own songs (plus several live albums). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/established-songwriters-who-have-done-entire-albums-comprised-of-cover-songs/466277.md?page=4)