# Most Covered Song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635 "2002-06-30T02:01:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/21 "2002-06-30T07:50:29Z")
> [@](#): > > **I mean like radio type songs.** What genres are you including then? English only? American only? This century? I’m not trying to be an ass, but if you narrow it down to that then we could probably just ask the RIAA. They’re a rabid enough organisation to probably keep tabs on things like this and be able to give a definitive answer. BTW, I’m sure I’ve heard most of the songs mentioned so far on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/22 "2002-06-30T10:11:58Z")
Unchained Melody - Must be right up there along with My way. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/23 "2002-06-30T10:17:24Z")
Sigh. Seeing as how we’re only 2 years into this century, allow me please: :smack: Okay, let’s say since phonographs were starting to get popular instead. If we stick to songs that get airplay, we might find out at [Billboard.com](http://Billboard.com). Problem is you need to be a member to search stuff. Anyone have a subscription? No, **Lola** , you don’t win. Looking back at the OP I realized that **Opal** was looking for most covers/remakes of a song, not most performed like I quoted Unca Cece (though that doesn’t neccesarily rule out “HB”). That calls for a double shot: :smack::smack: I would say that the older a song is the more likely it is to have been covered many times. Some Cole Porter songs come to mind. “Yesterday” is probably a pretty good candidate too. Hey! My first legit smackie! One more time! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/24 "2002-06-30T13:23:25Z")
George Whiting / Walter Donaldson’s standard, **"My Blue Heaven**", has been covered dozens of times (notably, by the Smashing Pumpkins). ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/25 "2002-06-30T13:50:21Z")
Just to state the obvious, ‘Happy Birthday’ doesn’t count because it’s the most _performed_ song not the most _covered_. I don’t even know if there’s a public database on point. I’d guess the ultimate source is the song owner…is that (in relation to ‘Yesterday’) still Michael Jackson ? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/26 "2002-06-30T15:10:07Z")
Didn’t his record company confiscate the rights temporarily when the production costs of Jacko’s latest album approached the 2001 Nasa budget? Which one’s that, Sony? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/27 "2002-06-30T15:26:45Z")
From [NME.com](http://NME.com) News, 3 April 2002: "The troubled star [Michael Jackson] bought the entire [publishing] rights to [most of] The Beatles songs in 1985 for around £32 million. He sold half of them to Sony in 1991 for £70 million. He then used Sony as guarantors on a £140 million loan he raised in the mid-90s. They were happy to guarantee the loan if he put the remaining 50% up as surety. The Fox News Network ([foxnews.com](http://foxnews.com)) now reports that Sony are ready to call in the loan. “Sony will pick up the debt, and the hugely valuable catalogue. It is estimated to be worth £420 million.” ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/28 "2002-06-30T16:09:33Z")
That’s what I meant, thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/29 "2002-06-30T19:22:40Z")
Yeah, we have to be a bit more specific about what a ‘cover’ is. I don’t know if there is a standard definition, but for our purposes I’d say that we’re talking about a song that was originally recorded, that a copyright still exists on, and that has been re-recorded for sale by other artists. If that’s the standard, then I think “Yesterday” is the winner. The Guinness Book of World Records says so, as does I believe ASCAP. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/30 "2002-06-30T21:23:58Z")
I’d like to throw out the fact that I’m really annoyed by the number of versions of _Tainted Love_ that are out there right now. I think my mom has even covered that one. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/31 "2002-06-30T22:24:34Z")
I can’t find a cite, but I remember a fellow Beatleofile telling me he heard on the radio that “Yesterday” had been eclipsed as most-covered song by “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”. This was around 1997. FUS ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/32 "2002-06-30T23:59:26Z")
Dnt know if it is the most covered, but Bridge Over troubled Waters has had over 145 version of it recorded. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/33 "2002-07-01T00:54:20Z")
I’ve heard it’s _Yesterday_ too. So how come I’ve never even heard a single band cover it? I’ve never even heard of a band that did. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/34 "2002-07-01T02:07:45Z")
I guess ‘Yesterday’ doesn’t fit with your average rock band image. FWIW, I tend to think of it more as crooner or single artist territory. Another one in that vein that I haven’t seen mentioned here is ‘My Way’. All of a sudden I’m quite interested in ‘The Top 10 Funeral Parlour Songs’…that would be kind of interesting to know. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/35 "2002-07-01T02:20:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*All of a sudden I’m quite interested in ‘The Top 10 Funeral Parlour Songs’…that would be kind of interesting to know. \*\* I saw one in the paper a few months back. It included “My Heart Will Go On” (:eek: ) from _Titanic_ and “Amazing Grace”. No sign at all of “Another One Bites the Dust” or “We Didn’t Start the Fire”. ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/36 "2002-07-01T02:35:55Z")
Just for fun, I started collecting covers of “Amazing Grace” by different artists. There are versions by just about everyone, and I only get one from each artist. At last count, I had close to 200 versions. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/37 "2002-07-01T02:49:16Z")
Who covered Lennon & McCartney’s _Yesterday_? These are just some cover versions that are still in print: Reggie Paul, The Day Trippers, Travis Edmonson, Hill & Wiltschinsky, Shirley Bassey, Ray Charles, Arthur Fiedler/ Boston Pops Orchestra, Florence Ballard, Alma Cogan, Bilk Acker, Warren Evans, Andy Williams, Ray Conniff, Bill Sveglini, Eric Reed, Ebony Steelband, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Panpipes, Richard Clayderman, Anna-Lisa, Peter Breiner & His Symphonic Pop Orchestra, Ann Horstick, The Swingle Singers, Murphy’s Law, Cilla Black, Matt Monro, Rab Howat, Julie Blue, Andrew Thomas Harling, Patty Pravo, Elvis Presley, Pete Drake, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London, Gabor Szabo, Hollyridge Strings, Tom Jones, Ornella Vanoni, Franck Pourcel, European Jazz Trio, Nathan Parker, Howard Keel, Chris Montez, Lisa Ono, Vassar Clements, Joan Matey Mallory, Perry Como, The Turtle Creek Chorale, 101 Strings, Tammy Wynette, Alice Babs, Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats, The King’s Singers, Sharp Five, Fred Benedetti & Peter Pupping, Bobby Goldsboro, Music Machine, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Yawar, Buddy Merrill, Chet Atkins, Bradlee, Roger Williams, Hanan Harchol, Jan & Dean, The Ventures … … and several hundred more ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/38 "2002-07-01T03:06:28Z")
Not only is “Yesterday” the world’s most broadcast song of the modern era with over seven million airplays in the U.S. alone, but it is the world’s most recorded popular song, with over 3,000 cover versions. From this [release](http://docs.yahoo.com/docs/pr/release784.html) . ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/39 "2002-07-01T04:31:52Z")
Well, a quick search of Tower Records’ web site inidates that there are at least 1,222 recordings of “Silent Night” out there, by acts as varied as… Chet Atkins Jimi Hendrix Brenda Lee Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen The Platters The Mantovani Strings Jewel 98 Degrees The Drifters Burl Ives Eddie Fisher Elvis Presley Gene Autry Amy Grant Jackie Wilson Frank Sinatra The London Philharmonic Deana Carter Jon Secada Babyface Cyndi Lauper Andy Williams The New Christy Minstrels The Temptations Olivia Newton-John Leon Russell Bing Crosby Mahalia Jackson Neil Diamond Dave Koz Harry Belafonte Dwight Yoakam Vienna Boys Choir Glenn Miller Boyz II Men Dion & the Belmonts Bruce Cockburn Enya Linda Ronstadt Luciano Pavarotti Charlotte Church Captain Kangaroo Johnny Cash Chicago The Gatlin Brothers Shirley Temple Willie Nelson Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute Melanie The Air Supply Merle Haggard Gladys Knight & the Pips The Chieftains Al Hirt Glenn Campbell Spike Jones Patti LaBelle Mario Lanza Elmo and Patsy Rosemary Clooney The Carpenters Dean Martin John Denver Shawn Colvin Al Green Ella Fitzgerald Joan Baez Fats Domino As I said earlier, I don’t know that this makes “Silent Night” the most recorded song ever, but I still suspect that it or some other Christmas chestnut holds that distinction. The problem is, since most traditional Christmas carols have been in the public domain for a long time, hardly anybody tracks them! After all, you don’t have to pay royalties to Felix Mendelssohn if you record “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” ---
**Author:** ![trainwreck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/fbc32d/32.png) [@trainwreck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trainwreck)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635/40 "2002-07-01T04:35:20Z")
I was led to understand that the two big Beatle’s tunes (Yesterday and Something) were not the most covered tunes, but the ones played the most on radio…although I could be mistaken. JC [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-covered-song/116635.md?page=3)