# Same song different artists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 29, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805 "2013-07-29T12:00:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/1 "2013-07-29T12:00:28Z")
Looking through my music tonight I realised I have the song “Hurt” Sung by Nine inch nails Johnny Cah and Kermit the frog See I tend to like songs rather than necessarily the artist. Some songs I hate the originals but love the covers. So folks what sort of artist variation do you have singing the same song. (I have always wondered how hard it would be to collect all the commercially released versions of Stairway to heaven - you know just for fun) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/2 "2013-07-29T12:06:38Z")
I’ve mentioned this quite a few times, but if you like covers, listen to the podcast [Coverville](http://coverville.com/). It’s a podcast of nothing but cover songs. I’ve always liked cover songs. So that podcast has suited me quite well for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/3 "2013-07-29T12:29:09Z")
:smack:Oh and that was Johnny CASH:smack: by the way ---
**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 29, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/4 "2013-07-29T12:31:57Z")
I have versions of “Statesboro Blues” by Willie McTell, Taj Mahal, the Allman Brothers, Alice Stuart, and and others. I also have several versions of “Rhapsody in Blue.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/5 "2013-07-29T13:08:50Z")
The song I’ve got the most versions of is Basket Case. Aside from [Green Day’s original](http://youtu.be/NUTGr5t3MoY), I have 3 versions by Japanese women: [Puffy](http://youtu.be/ZrdXj-Vj3TI), [Haruna Ikezawa](http://youtu.be/tYP0VtWj8Zg) and Nina Kitade ([You may wish to turn down your volume a bit before opening this one…](http://youtu.be/33fvti_Dgh4) Seriously, trust me.). I love them all. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/6 "2013-07-29T13:18:27Z")
I’ve got several covers of _I’m on Fire_ on my computer. There’s far more available than I have. Neil Young has a few songs that get covered frequently. There’s probably 500 versions of _The Needle and the Damage Done_. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/7 "2013-07-29T13:34:05Z")
_Worried Life Blues_: I’ve got 6 different artists covering it. _Bring it on Home to Me_: I’ve got 4. I think the winner is\* Stormy Monday\*, with 14 different recordings by 11 different artists. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/8 "2013-07-29T14:31:39Z")
I’ve found many songs on my iPod that were performed by two different acts, but none by more than two. Among them 1. “And Your Bird Can Sing” by both the Beatles and Guadalcanal Diary 2. “Well, All Right” by Buddy Holly and Blind Faith 3. “I’m Down” by the Beatles and Aerosmith 4. “You Shook Me” by the Jeff Beck Group and Led Zeppelin 5. “(I Know) I’m Losing You” by the Temptations and Rod Stewart 6. “All Shook Up” by Elvis Presley and the Jeff Beck Group 7. “Words of Love” by Buddy Holly and the Beatles 8. “Every Little Thing” by the Beatles and Yes ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/9 "2013-07-29T15:33:10Z")
The Internet Archives has somewhere between 25 and 30 artists covering _Riders in the Sky_. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/10 "2013-07-29T15:42:52Z")
Here’s two of my favorite covers, that I always bring up in these threads, and found because of Coverville that I mentioned upthread. [While My Keytar Gently Weeps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ioD3KcVSE), by Lemon Demon [Comfortably Numb](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqQFWXWVBNA) by Dar Williams and Ani DiFranco ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/11 "2013-07-29T15:46:55Z")
[This is one of the most interesting albums I have.](http://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-blues-vol-2-blues-standard-catfish-blues-rolling-stone-mw0001509002) It’s 14 different artists doing versions of Catfish Blues/Rolling Stone showing how the song was developed and changed over time. Muddy Waters’ songs became the prototype for everything that came after, but there are some really interesting different takes in there. I also have versions of the song by Jimi Hendrix, Gregg Allman, Skip James, and Honeyboy Edwards and maybe a couple of others. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/12 "2013-07-29T15:50:05Z")
The most I can think of is five versions of “Both Sides Now:” Joni Mitchell Judy Collins Nana Mouskouri (in French) Jason Falkner Natalie Cole (my least favorite version) ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/13 "2013-07-29T16:27:26Z")
'Twould be interesting to know which popular song is the most oft-covered. One of my great favorites, [Four Strong Winds](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjfTDPhMdTk), that quintessentially Canadian folk song by Ian Tyson must surely come close. Covered by: Neil Young Sarah McLachlan Hank Snow The Seekers Judy Collins the Chad Mitchell Trio Bob Dylan Marianne Faithfull The Searchers John Denver Bobby Bare The Brothers Four The Kingston Trio Trini Lopez Waylon Jennings Chad and Jeremy The Wolfe Tones The Tragically Hip Joan Baez Vanity Fare Glenn Yarborough Tony Rice Johnny Cash The Carter Family Schooner Fare Bobby Bare “Mot ukjent sted” by The Vanguards (Norwegian version) “Mot okänt land” recorded by The Hep Stars (Swedish version) Hard to say which is the best. Aside from the original Ian & Sylvia recording, Johnny Cash’s somber version is perhaps the most moving, and Tyson has stated it is his own favorite of all the covers. SS ---
**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 29, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/14 "2013-07-29T16:47:40Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > 'Twould be interesting to know which popular song is the most oft-covered. “Yesterday” is commonly cited as the most-covered pop song, and has been listed as such in the Guinness Book of Records. Wikipedia says there are over 2,200 recorded versions. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/15 "2013-07-29T17:29:59Z")
Then there are all those covers of [Stairway to Heaven](http://youtu.be/_QFDsUgjqIo) by famous people. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/16 "2013-07-29T17:36:13Z")
If this includes Christmas songs, then _Silent Night_ possibly outnumbers _Yesterday_. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/17 "2013-07-29T17:55:54Z")
One of my most interesting covers is the E.L.O. song “Can’t Get it Out of My Head” by Velvet Revolver. I also have “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan, Guns ‘N Roses, and Eric Clapton. And Mötley Crüe had a hit with the old Brownsville Station tune "Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room." ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/18 "2013-07-29T17:59:35Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > One of my most interesting covers is the E.L.O. song “Can’t Get it Out of My Head” by Velvet Revolver. I also have “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan, Guns ‘N Roses, and Eric Clapton. And Mötley Crüe had a hit with the old Brownsville Station tune "Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room." You might as well pick up the Warren Zevon version too. He did it right before he died. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/19 "2013-07-29T18:14:02Z")
I have this LP: _[The Best of Louie Louie](http://http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-louie-louie-vol-1-mw0000652173)_ ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805/20 "2013-07-29T18:16:31Z")
I have [this CD.](http://www.amazon.com/Love-That-Louie-The-Files/dp/B000067A5I/ref=dp_return_1?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music)15 versions of “Louie, Louie” - from the original Richard Berry and the best-known Kingsmen versions, through reggae, The Kinks, Beach Boys, Paul Revere and the Raiders. I also have the Black Flag and Ike&Tina Turner versions. I have both the Trashmen and the Ramones versions of “Surfin’ Bird”. ETA: Semi-Ninja’d!!! Same concept, different album with a different track listing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-song-different-artists/664805.md?page=2)