# 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:** 5
**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 20, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/81 "2004-07-20T15:54:25Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > There is a section on Maiden’s Main Details page, however, that lists “Performed Songs By”, and this includes Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott, the early-70s proto-metal band Mountain, and Tull’s Ian Anderson. But I’m having a hard time tracking these down. They released a studio version of Tull’s “Cross-Eyed Mary” as a B-side. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/82 "2004-07-20T15:54:41Z")
> [@slu](#): > > 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 that the version where it sounds like Pete gets tired of playing the riff halfway through and reverts to power-chord mode? Someone did mention them but that must have been back on page 1. Pink Floyd. It wouldn’t seem right somehow them doing a cover. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/83 "2004-07-20T16:47:51Z")
> [@dwc1970](#): > > I don’t think Iron Maiden has ever done any covers. Now someone will probably come along and tell me one of their songs I thought was an IM original is actually a cover. Nope. Iron Maiden has definately never released any covers, and I can’t even think of any covers that they’ve ever performed in concert before (unless you want to count Always Look On the Bright Side of life) ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/84 "2004-07-20T16:50:45Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Has Weird Al Yankovic ever released an _entire_ cover song? There was a very straight and very unnescessary cover of the theme from George of the Jungle on the Dare to be Stupid album. He’s released countless cover songs, reworked to be polkas. It was never released, but Al used to perform a straight cover of The Who’s My Generation in concert, mainly as an excuse to smash his accordion on stage ---
**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 20, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/85 "2004-07-20T17:34:48Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Nope. Iron Maiden has definately never released any covers, and I can’t even think of any covers that they’ve ever performed in concert before (unless you want to count Always Look On the Bright Side of life) [This site](http://www.delta.se/~henke/maiden/covers.htm) lists 16 covers recorded by Iron Maiden. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/86 "2004-07-20T18:34:11Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > [This site](http://www.delta.se/~henke/maiden/covers.htm) lists 16 covers recorded by Iron Maiden. [Digging a little deeper](http://www.delta.se/~henke/maiden/indeks.htm#wiu), it appears that all of these covers appear as as B-sides, or on 12" releases, or on bootlegs. Although Maiden does not quite fit the OP’s requirement, I think it’s safe to say that Maiden’s covers are only of peripheral importance to their overall recording career. I’m hard pressed to think of a band as notable who have relied less on covers than Iron Maiden, ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/87 "2004-07-20T18:36:30Z")
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Boston’s “More Than A Feeling” (though not a cover version) is definitely a rip-off of the Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie” ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/88 "2004-07-20T19:27:22Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Boston’s “More Than A Feeling” (though not a cover version) is definitely a rip-off of the Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie” 😕 I’m not a huge fan, but have the Doobie Brothers covered anything? ---
**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 20, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/89 "2004-07-20T19:49:48Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > I’m not a huge fan, but have the Doobie Brothers covered anything? One of their earliest hits was the Byrds’ “Jesus Is Just Alright.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/90 "2004-07-20T19:59:08Z")
I might add that the individual members of ABBA recorded SWEDISH versions of many a song. If that counts as covering. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/91 "2004-07-20T20:04:56Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > I’m not a huge fan, but have the Doobie Brothers covered anything? Also, one of the hits from their “comeback” album Cycles was “Need a Little Taste of Love”, originally recorded by **The Isley Brothers**. I think I’m pretty safe with **The Cars**. They count as major, right? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/92 "2004-07-20T20:08:43Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Boston’s “More Than A Feeling” (though not a cover version) is definitely a rip-off of the Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie” I thought More Than a Feeling was a ripoff of Smells Like Teen Spirit 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/93 "2004-07-20T20:15:22Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > One of their earliest hits was the Byrds’ “Jesus Is Just Alright.” That was by The Byrds?? I never knew! If we’re counting live albums, then Bon Jovi also covered Nancy Sinatra’s “My Baby Shot Me Down” on one, as a segue into “Runaway” of all things. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/94 "2004-07-20T20:38:04Z")
> [@Pashnish Ewing](#): > > I think I’m pretty safe with **The Cars**. They count as major, right? [Allmusic.com](http://Allmusic.com) is backing you up on [The Cars](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll) (scroll to bottom, look right). ---
**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 20, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/95 "2004-07-20T21:17:23Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > 😕 > I’m not a huge fan, but have the Doobie Brothers covered anything? “Take Me In Your Arms (rock me)” was originally done by Kim Weston. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/96 "2004-07-20T21:32:38Z")
I nominate **The Police**. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/97 "2004-07-20T21:45:32Z")
I can’t think of any cover’s by these bands, but feel free to correct me if I’m mistaken: Tool, Skinny Puppy, the Misfits, the Jesus Lizard, Scratch Acid, Motorhead, the Deftones, the Melvins. ---
**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 20, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/98 "2004-07-20T22:09:13Z")
Sorry, but Tool covered Zeppelin’s ‘No Quarter’ on one of their albums (the title of which escapes me at the moment…) ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/99 "2004-07-20T22:23:28Z")
Hmm…right you are, on “Lateralus”. Apparently that album had Nugent’s “Stranglehold”, too. No need to apologize, BTW, you won’t hurt my feelings. 🙂 ---
**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 20, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/100 "2004-07-20T23:11:30Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > [Digging a little deeper](http://www.delta.se/~henke/maiden/indeks.htm#wiu), it appears that all of these covers appear as as B-sides, or on 12" releases, or on bootlegs. Although Maiden does not quite fit the OP’s requirement, I think it’s safe to say that Maiden’s covers are only of peripheral importance to their overall recording career. I’m hard pressed to think of a band as notable who have relied less on covers than Iron Maiden, I would say more than a dozen covers would count them Out. Or else Journey, Styx, Foreigner and The Eagles are In. Notability is relative… > [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Boston’s “More Than A Feeling” (though not a cover version) is definitely a rip-off of the Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie” Well stop saying it. It was more of a riff on “Walk Away Renee”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678.md?page=6)