# Major bands who have never recorded a cover song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2004, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678 "2004-07-18T11:37:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/41 "2004-07-19T05:19:30Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I don’t think REM has ever done a cover, have they? Yep, _Superman_ on **Life’s Rich Pageant** ; can’t remember who it was written by though. And they did a superb version of _First We Take Manhattan_ on the Leonard Cohen tribute album _I’m Your Fan_. According to AMG they’ve covered songs by 15 different composers apart from band members, including David Bowie, Iggy Pop and (gulp) Roger Miller - I’d forgotten that dreadful _King of the Road_ they did once, I can only assume as a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/42 "2004-07-19T05:29:36Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > So what have The Rolling Stones covered? I think they did Little Red Rooster also. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/43 "2004-07-19T06:20:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Have The Who done any covers? Their first LP featured covers of the James Brown songs “Please Please Please” and “I Don’t Mind”, and the B-side of My Generation was a cover of “Shout and Shimmy”. In addition, they covered “Heatwave”, by Martha and the Vandellas, on their second LP, and “Eyesight to the Blind” on Tommy was a Sonny Boy Williamson cover. They also performed a number of covers in concert, including “Summertime Blues”, “Twist and Shout”, “Smokestack Lightning” and “Barbara Ann”. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/44 "2004-07-19T06:33:20Z")
Pushing “major” bands, but Heart? ELO? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/45 "2004-07-19T06:40:13Z")
> [@](#): > > I am not as huge of a Pink Floyd fan as others are, but I don’t think they have released a cover song. I once heard that _Shine on you Crazy Diamond Pt. 2_ was a cover of some Louis Armstrong song or something… ---
**Author:** ![Lando\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f17d59/32.png) [@Lando\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lando_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/46 "2004-07-19T06:42:31Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Jimmy Page also admitted that he ripped off the main riff and the title for “Dazed and Confused” but I don’t remember who he swiped it from. Jake Holmes, off of “The Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes”. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/47 "2004-07-19T06:43:13Z")
> [@AndrewT](#): > > Yep, _Superman_ on **Life’s Rich Pageant** ; can’t remember who it was written by though. > > And they did a superb version of _First We Take Manhattan_ on the Leonard Cohen tribute album _I’m Your Fan_. > > According to AMG they’ve covered songs by 15 different composers apart from band members, including David Bowie, Iggy Pop and (gulp) Roger Miller - I’d forgotten that dreadful _King of the Road_ they did once, I can only assume as a joke. I just skimmed your post initially, so I was going to mention their, um, unique version of King of the Road. A good half of the songs on Dead Letter Office appear to be covers. However, my copy of Life’s Rich Pageant just says “All songs Berry Buck Mills Stipe” with no separate writing credit for Superman, which would indicate that it isn’t a cover. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lodoen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b3f665/32.png) [@Jeff\_Lodoen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lodoen)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/48 "2004-07-19T08:05:24Z")
This is hard! The Moody Blues did mostly covers before 1967 and none again until 2002 for a Christmas album (covering John Lennon tips the scales). Foreigner - no studio covers, Not Fade Away and Love Maker were recorded live. Styx, out. Journey, out. Bad Company - Mick Ralph recorded Ready For Love with Mott The Hoople first. Eagles - Only “Please Come Home For Christmas” I think… Alan Parsons Project - I think their clean! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/49 "2004-07-19T11:23:27Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > ELO? “Roll Over Beethoven” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/50 "2004-07-19T11:28:43Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > Pushing “major” bands, but Heart? > ELO? Ironically enough, Heart covers Led Zeppelin all the time in concert. Not sure if they ever released recordings though. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/51 "2004-07-19T11:34:11Z")
I just want to say that I’ve been avoiding this thread all night because I thought the title was: _Major bands who have never recorded a song_! I kept thinking: How the hell would we know?! I’d say most rappers/rap groups (despite what Puff Daddy would lead you to believe) have never recorded a cover song. Also, I don’t know how major they would be considered, but I don’t think Bad Religion has ever done a cover, mainly because everybody else is too busy covering them. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/52 "2004-07-19T11:52:00Z")
**Ilsa\_Lund** wrote: > [@](#): > > Buddy Holly and the Crickets? Ting-a-ling (originally by the Clovers, I believe) Brown Eyed Handsome Man (Chuck Berry) Rip it Up (Little Richard) Blue Monday (Fats Domino) Blue Suede Shoes (Cark Perkins) Shake, Rattle and Roll (Big Joe Turner) Ain’t Got No Home (Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry) Bo Diddley (Bo Diddley) That’s My Desire (The Flamingoes did it in 1953, but I believe there was a Louis Armstrong version earlier than that) Jole Blon (Traditional) Slippin’ and Slidin’ (Little Richard) Love is Strange (Mickey and Sylvia) Smokey Joe’s Cafe (The Robins) Not all of these are with the Crickets, mind you, but even as much as Buddy Holly is best known for his original material, he did his share of covers. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/53 "2004-07-19T12:08:21Z")
> [@Ms Macphisto](#): > > I just skimmed your post initially, so I was going to mention their, um, unique version of King of the Road. A good half of the songs on Dead Letter Office appear to be covers. > > However, my copy of Life’s Rich Pageant just says “All songs Berry Buck Mills Stipe” with no separate writing credit for Superman, which would indicate that it isn’t a cover. “King Of The Road.” Peter Buck says that Roger Miller should be able to sue them for what they did to the song. And “Superman” is definitely a cover - one that Stipe heard some time ago (a '60s Mod band, perhaps?) and wanted to record. Also, did AC/DC ever record a cover? I’m pretty sure they’ve never done a ballad, at least. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/54 "2004-07-19T12:22:10Z")
> [@AndrewT](#): > > And they did a superb version of _First We Take Manhattan_ on the Leonard Cohen tribute album _I’m Your Fan_. I was trying to think of an REM cover…I can’t believe I didn’t think of this. I love that song. And the Rolling Stones did You Gotta Move. I love that song too. Err…The Velvet Underground? ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/55 "2004-07-19T14:22:35Z")
> [@Jeff Lodoen](#): > > Eagles - Only “Please Come Home For Christmas” I think… They did a nice cover of Tom Waits’ “Ol’ 55” on _On the Border_ ---
**Author:** ![lemon\_martini2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@lemon\_martini2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lemon_martini2)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/56 "2004-07-19T14:48:18Z")
Beautiful South?AFAIK I have all their albums and the only cover is one of Nilsson’s Everybody’s Talking… ---
**Author:** ![slu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@slu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slu)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/57 "2004-07-19T17:09:19Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Their first LP featured covers of the James Brown songs “Please Please Please” and “I Don’t Mind”, and the B-side of My Generation was a cover of “Shout and Shimmy”. In addition, they covered “Heatwave”, by Martha and the Vandellas, on their second LP, and “Eyesight to the Blind” on Tommy was a Sonny Boy Williamson cover. They also performed a number of covers in concert, including “Summertime Blues”, “Twist and Shout”, “Smokestack Lightning” and “Barbara Ann”. The Who also recorded and released a single with “Under my Thumb” and “The Last Time” by the Stones to protest one of the times the Stones were busted for drugs. “The Last Time” is on 30 Years of Maximum R&B…don’t know where to find the other tune though. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/58 "2004-07-19T23:05:38Z")
Wire never recorded any covers that ended up on any of their albums or singles, although Colin Newman did put one on _Not To_. Which reminds me, REM covered Wire’s “Strange” on Document. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/59 "2004-07-19T23:12:02Z")
Also New Order if you’re not counting live stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/60 "2004-07-19T23:12:24Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Also, I don’t know how major they would be considered, but I don’t think Bad Religion has ever done a cover, mainly because everybody else is too busy covering them. They’re a pretty important band in my opinion. In their AllMusic Guide “Performed Songs by” entry, only Bad Religion members are listed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678.md?page=4)