# I Like These Songs So Much I Gotta Hear All The Cover Versions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890 "2008-07-27T01:22:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/1 "2008-07-27T01:22:18Z")
Some songs get covered over and over. Dylan and the Beatles get covered to death. Sometimes if you like a song, you want to hear all the versions of it. **Dark End of the Street** (8)I have the James Carr original, plus covers by Richard and Linda Thompson, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, and Eva Cassidy. **Hallelujah** (5) I have the original Leonard Cohen version and covers by John Cale, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, and Bono Both of these songs have been covered more than that, but these are the versions I actually have. They’re easy to collect in the mp3 era. What songs do you listen to a lot of covers of? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/2 "2008-07-27T01:43:29Z")
[QUOTE=Ataraxy] **Dark End of the Street** (8)I have the James Carr original, plus covers by Richard and Linda Thompson, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, and Eva Cassidy. [/QUOTE] My favorite cover of this one is by Diamanda Galas and John Paul Jones. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/3 "2008-07-27T02:06:00Z")
I have a copy of an album called “Pachelbel’s Greatest Hit” which is a collection of versions of his Canon. Fun. and I still get mesmerized by this tune. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/4 "2008-07-27T02:06:46Z")
**Statesboro Blues**. So far, I have the original Blind Willie McTell version, the Allman Brothers’s electric version, [Taj Mahal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=359QibQrD1Q), Alice Stuart\* (lovely acoustic guitar version) and another I just found recently. b]Rhapsody in Blue\*\* – many versions, including one by Oscar Levant, George Gershwin (from player piano rolls) and my aunt (who’s a Julliard trained pianist). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/5 "2008-07-27T02:12:06Z")
Apparently I have 35 versions of “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” Only 3 are by Joy Division. There might be one more version from a “Best of” that I haven’t bothered ripping. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/6 "2008-07-27T02:36:04Z")
“I Fought the Law”- my favorite version is by The Clash. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/7 "2008-07-27T02:38:12Z")
I used to collect versions of “I Put a Spell on You,” which happened to be the first song I ever had two versions of. Off the top of my head, I had it by: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Nina Simone Creedence Clearwater Revival Manfred Mann Arthur Brown Fever Tree The Five Americans The Animals Audience Alan Price I always wanted Roxy Music to record it. Eventually Bryan Ferry _did_ record a version, but the arrangement was nothing like what I had in mind. Leon Russell recorded a song of his own called “I Put a Spell on You” (on the same album as another song titled “Give Peace a Chance” that wasn’t the Lennon song). Too bad, as he would have done a good job with the original. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/8 "2008-07-28T15:40:16Z")
I have lost count of how many versions I have of “Amazing Grace.” I just love that song, even though as a Roman Catholic I reject its theological content. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/9 "2008-07-28T17:57:36Z")
I collected a bunch of versions of “The Wild Side of Life” and “I Know You’re Married (But I Love You Still).” ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/10 "2008-07-28T18:00:54Z")
[QUOTE=Ronald C. Semone] I have lost count of how many versions I have of “Amazing Grace.” I just love that song, even though as a Roman Catholic I reject its theological content. [/QUOTE] At the risk of hijacking the thread: Why so? ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/11 "2008-07-28T18:07:48Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] At the risk of hijacking the thread: Why so? [/QUOTE] On one of the most important differences between Roman Catholic and most Protestant theologians, how is salvation achieved? through “good works” (the RC position) or by God’s grace (the Protestant position), the song comes down solidly on the side of “God’s grace.” ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/12 "2008-07-28T18:21:31Z")
I enjoy listening to covers of _Here Comes the Sun_ – Richie Havens’ well-known version is probably my favorite. On the other side of the emotional spectrum, I really like _Everyday Is Like Sunday_; it’s about the only Morrissey/Smiths song that I can listen to at all. The Pretenders and 10,000 Maniacs both have lovely versions of it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/13 "2008-07-28T19:12:01Z")
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] I used to collect versions of “I Put a Spell on You,” which happened to be the first song I ever had two versions of. Off the top of my head, I had it by: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Nina Simone Creedence Clearwater Revival Manfred Mann Arthur Brown Fever Tree The Five Americans The Animals Audience Alan Price I always wanted Roxy Music to record it. Eventually Bryan Ferry _did_ record a version, but the arrangement was nothing like what I had in mind. Leon Russell recorded a song of his own called “I Put a Spell on You” (on the same album as another song titled “Give Peace a Chance” that wasn’t the Lennon song). Too bad, as he would have done a good job with the original. [/QUOTE] Bette Midler also covered it, in the film _Hocus Pocus_. ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/14 "2008-07-28T19:19:25Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Bette Midler also covered it, in the film _Hocus Pocus_. [/QUOTE] ALACAZAM! That is all. I just wanted to bump because I like cover versions. Ooh, wait, how about Frente! doing Bizarre Love Triangle? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/15 "2008-07-28T19:52:20Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] **Rhapsody in Blue** – many versions, including one by Oscar Levant, George Gershwin (from player piano rolls) and my aunt (who’s a Julliard trained pianist). [/QUOTE] A great piece, but to me, it absolutely lives or dies based on the performance. Sometimes it’s too fast, sometimes it’s too slow, sometimes it’s too mechanical, sometimes it’s so overly interpretted that the rhythm is lost. My favorite version is a Telarc release of the Cincinnati Pops. Someday, I want to go to a live performance with really talented musicians and the original arrangement. If you want to get a little creative in cover versions, try to find _Rhapsody in Bob_, performed by piano and a cappella quartet (The Bobs). I was in the audience when that was recorded. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/16 "2008-07-29T15:36:47Z")
I like the song “Lovesong” by The Cure. And Tori Amos. And 311. And Seafood. And Andberlin. And Death Cab for Cutie. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/17 "2008-07-29T15:49:53Z")
I have five different covers of **Dancing Barefoot** : Patti Smith Mission UK Concrete Blonde Simple Minds U2 I guess I’m not as OCD as some people. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/18 "2008-07-29T16:03:26Z")
I love the song Shenandoah and have a load of versions of it. I also love The Lowlands of Holland and The Sally Gardens which I own several versiosn of too. These don’t count so much in that they’re all somewhat traditional songs to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/19 "2008-07-29T16:12:26Z")
[QUOTE=Ataraxy] **Dark End of the Street** (8)I have the James Carr original, plus covers by Richard and Linda Thompson, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, and Eva Cassidy. [/QUOTE] The Afghan Whigs also did a cover of this song, on their “What Jail Is Like” EP. > [@elfkin477](#): > > I like the song “Lovesong” by The Cure. And Tori Amos. And 311. And Seafood. And Andberlin. And Death Cab for Cutie. I don’t know if they’ve released it officially, but A Perfect Circle has also covered this song – there’s a live recording floating around the ether that pairs it with a cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Diary of a Madman”. I love the Irish song “The Wind that Shakes the Barley,” and so far I’ve collected versions of it by Dead Can Dance, the Chieftans, the Clancy Brothers, Fire + Ice, the Dubliners, and Solas. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890/20 "2008-07-29T16:16:49Z")
Without really trying, I have versions of “All Along The Watchtower” by Bob Dylan Jimi Hendrix Dave Mason Michael Hedges Dave Matthews Band Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush Pat McGee Band Affinity Eric Clapton and Lenny Kravitz (don’t know where that came from) and a 7+ minute jam from _Night of the Guitar_ featuring Steve Howe (Yes) Leslie West (Mountain) Robby Kreiger (Doors) Randy California (Spirit) Steve Hunter (Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel) Pete Haycock (Climax Blues Band) Andy Powell & Ted Turner (Wishbone Ash) Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) Well, it _is_ a lot of fun to play. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-these-songs-so-much-i-gotta-hear-all-the-cover-versions/457890.md?page=2)