# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/101 "2004-07-20T23:16:58Z")
The answer to the question is obviously Little Richard. Because if you ask him, (and even if you don’t he’ll tell you anyway) he is the originator of everything, everyone else copied him, and he sure as hell is “major”. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/102 "2004-07-21T04:48:20Z")
> [@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) Maiden performed “I’ve Got the Fire” in many of their early concerts, and a live version of that song was released as a b-side on one of their early singles. Also, “Women in Uniform” was released as an A-side single and also had a music video recorded for it. Granted, the band admits that EMI kinda pushed them into that one. 🙂 In addition to “Warning”, **Black Sabbath** covered “Evil Woman” (originally by Crow) on their debut album – although it only appeared on the UK version until the remastered CD was produced. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/103 "2004-07-21T05:17:14Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > This question is probably going to require a band that shined brightly very briefly, then vanished for one reason or another. > > To mention one such band, Nirvana nearly fits the OP’s bill. They recorded only one cover on their three studio albums, the Shocking Blue’s “Love Buzz” on _Bleach_. There were a few covers on their _Unplugged_ album (Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World”, most notably), but none on _The Muddy Banks of the Wishkah_. Nirvana’s not even close. You have all the covers recorded you mentioned, plus the Vaselines covers on _Insesticide_. Maybe not one of their canonical recordings, being composed of B-Sides and miscelleny, but still far from being an obscure, collectors-only type release. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/104 "2004-07-21T12:06:02Z")
Has anyone gotten back to me about The Velvet Underground? I can’t think of any. I just saw the Pixies last week, I think thet might qualify (plus I want to brag about seeing the Pixies last weekend. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Twin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@Twin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twin)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/105 "2004-07-21T13:12:21Z")
Barenaked Ladies did a cover of “Lovers In A Dangerous Time” by Bruce Cockburn. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/106 "2004-07-21T14:08:49Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > Maiden performed “I’ve Got the Fire” in many of their early concerts, and a live version of that song was released as a b-side on one of their early singles. Also, “Women in Uniform” was released as an A-side single and also had a music video recorded for it. Granted, the band admits that EMI kinda pushed them into that one. 🙂 Can you cover yourself though? Maiden did a version of Dickinson’s Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter which was written and performed by Bruce outside of Maiden for one of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. Maiden later redid it and I think it’s their only number 1 song. I’m not sure if Ozzy has any covers on his albums, well excpet for live ones, and those are Black Sabbath albums so it brings us back to can you cover yourself. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/107 "2004-07-21T19:19:20Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > Has anyone gotten back to me about The Velvet Underground? I can’t think of any. > > I just saw the Pixies last week, I think thet might qualify (plus I want to brag about seeing the Pixies last weekend. 🙂 ) The Pixies scored a minor hit with their cover of “Head On,” originally by the Jesus and Mary Chain. (And I can’t wait…I’m seeing them in November.) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/108 "2004-07-21T23:13:16Z")
So, would Genesis and Pink Floyd be the winners? Both Genesis and Pink Floyd have released a substantial number of albums with any covers. ---
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/109 "2004-07-22T02:36:09Z")
Supertramp ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/110 "2004-07-22T02:49:42Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > They covered Chuck Berry’s “School Days” on their first Australian album, _T.N.T._ > > You’re right about the ballad thing, though…unless you count “Night Prowler”? 🆒 \*T.N.T. \* was their second album. ([www.acdcrocks.com](http://www.acdcrocks.com) ) Listen to “Love Song” on the Australian _High Voltage_ (their first album). I’ve tried to refrain from calling this song a ballad, but I think 4 out of 5 dentists surveyed would consider it one. Also on that album is a cover of “Baby, Please Don’t Go”. ---
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/111 "2004-07-23T01:58:35Z")
The Doors (except when they covered the Ajax jingle “Stronger Than Dirt”) ---
**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 23, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678/112 "2004-07-23T02:35:12Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > The Doors (except when they covered the Ajax jingle “Stronger Than Dirt”) You’re forgetting “Alabama Song,” “Back Door Man” and “Crawling King Snake,” in addition to various covers on their live albums. So far Genesis and Pink Floyd seem to me to be the best answers. The Velvet Underground is a good one, too, but they didn’t have a very lengthy career, so their record is less impressive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-bands-who-have-never-recorded-a-cover-song/255678.md?page=5)