# Songs with enough covers to fill an album **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882 "2004-04-25T04:34:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/21 "2004-04-25T17:59:21Z")
> [@Suburban Plankton](#): > > My wife would like to remind you not to forget the U2 version, off of _Rattle and Hum_. “All I’ve got is a red guitar, three chords and the Truth”? Thanks, but we rather _would_ forget it. As an addition to the thread: Dylan’s _Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door_ and Cohen’s _Hallelujah_ could fill up an excellent CD. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/22 "2004-04-25T19:00:49Z")
How Soon is Now, Originally by the Smiths, also by Love Spit Love Snake River Conspiracy Everclear and at least 2 others that I have heard. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/23 "2004-04-25T22:31:33Z")
**Gary Numan - Cars** Nearly every DJ on the face of the planet has done a cover (or a mix - close enough). ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/24 "2004-04-26T00:14:59Z")
[Stairways to Heaven](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000005J65/ref%3Dase%5Fphilmann/102-6016170-4222515) ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/25 "2004-04-26T03:38:12Z")
I have an album called “Pachelbel’s Greatest Hit” - It a collection of vey different versions of Pachelbe’s Canon (baroque music). That counts as an album full of cover versions, I think. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/26 "2004-04-26T05:33:21Z")
I nominate: What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted A timeless, gentle breakup song with an easy vocal range…who can resist? I’ve seen no fewer than five versions of this. Classical Gas This has got to be the most covered, personalized, and butchered instrumental guitar song _ever_. It’s easy to see why, of course; it’s uncomplicated and incredibly catchy. Not quite a full CD, but still noteworthy: Take On Me - I’m a little surprised by this, as the range (if it’s being sung right) is absolutely brutal, and I was impressed that the original singer could pull it off. I’ve seen a eurobeat version on Beatmania IIDX and two covers. Boys of Summer - This one’s interesting; the original was melodic pop, and the two best-known covers are blistering hard rock and pop trance, respectively. Can you say “universal appeal”? (Or universal ripoffability. Whichever.) ---
**Author:** ![kurivaim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@kurivaim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurivaim)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/27 "2004-04-26T06:07:12Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > All the covers of [Black Sabbath songs](http://myspot.neteze.com/~space/cds/blacksab.htm) would fill up several dozen CDs, with some songs filling an entire CD alone. Lessee if I can C&P them all: > > “Black Sabbath” – Acheron, Dirty Lust, Hand of Doom, Iced Earth, Mudslinger, Sort Sol, Type O Negative, Anthrax. > “The Wizard” – Botch, Bullring Brummies, Rondellus, Scorn. > “Behind the Wall of Sleep” – The Macabre, Rondellus, Static-X. > “N.I.B.” – Anacrusis, Blood Coven, Cave-In, Dirty Lust, Opium Jukebox, Pitch Shifter, Premoniction, Primus, Ugly Kid Joe, White Stains. > “Evil Woman” – All Steel Coaches (not an original Sabbath song) > “Wicked World” – Spirit Caravan. > “Warning” – Eric Jerardi Band (not an original Sabbath song) > “War Pigs” – Bathory, Dream Theater, Faith No More, Hand of Doom, Loudness/Sly, Magdalen, Opium Jukebox, Rondellus, Sacred Reich, Sheavy, Vital Remains, Webstrarna. > “Paranoid” – The Clay People, Debauchary, Dirty Lust, Hand of Doom, The Lounge Brigade, Megadeth, Opium Jukebox, Oven & Stove, Ruder Than You, Skrewdriver, “A String Quartet Tribute to Black Sabbath”, Type O Negative, Ultraviolence. > …and so on… Don’t forget the Cardigans’ covers of “Iron Man” and “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”. They’re startlingly good. Do you count techno remixes of songs as covers? If so, Smokie’s “(Who the fuck is) Alice” has been covered repeatedly: a nearly identical acoustic cover by Roy Chubby Brown, a techno remix by Gompie, and then a techno remix of Gompie’s techno remix by Happy Hardcore. ---
**Author:** ![mrunlucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@mrunlucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrunlucky)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/28 "2004-04-26T06:49:55Z")
“The Look of Love”, I can easily come up with 15 versions and it seems like new ones pop up every year. Bacharach songs are fairly easy to find many covers of. “Caravan”, an old favorite to cover. I have at least 12 versions of that and that’s in addition to the 11 listed by the Covers Project. Jazz songs are always getting recycled by jazz musicians. “Cry Me A River”, easily 20 versions. People love to cover the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Covers Project gives 51 covers at the moment for “Paint it Black”, 29 versions of “Sympathy for the Devil”, 23 for “Satisfaction”, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Einmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Einmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Einmon)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/29 "2004-04-26T11:24:54Z")
“Sunny” by Bobby Hebb comes to my mind. And it’s [been done](http://www.sunny-the-song.de/) - on two albums, to boot! ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/30 "2004-04-26T12:03:23Z")
“Gloria” (“G-L-O-R-I-A”) has been recorded by many people. The Van Morrison original and Patti Smith cover versions may be the most well-known, but it’s also been done by The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, and The Them. I happened to hear a “Gloria” cover playing at Mister Donut today that I’d never heard before, so there’s at least one more out there! ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/31 "2004-04-26T12:57:13Z")
[Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart](http://www.coversproject.com/artist/Joy%2BDivision) At least 27 covers, or 28 since Swans did two versions. Great site! ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/32 "2004-04-30T06:45:21Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > I’d heard from somewhere that Tainted Love by Soft Cell was actually a cover by someone else. I decided to look for myself. Turns out the original was done by Gloria Jones in 1964, and has spawned a lot of covers. How many? [[http://www.coversproject.com/artist/Gloria+Jones](http://www.coversproject.com/artist/Gloria+Jones)]This]( [url) many. Quite enough to fill a CD, I believe. And by gum, I’m gonna try to do it. > > Any other massively covered songs? What’s the record, so to speak? I vaguely remember Rhino records did release several Cds made up as different covers of one song. ---
**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:** [April 30, 2004, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/33 "2004-04-30T12:36:30Z")
I just looked at that link and there are 24 covers of Golden Earring’s Radar Love. You could fill two CDs with that, and I still wouldn’t be bored of the song, well I might, but only because GE wasn’t doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/34 "2004-04-30T15:30:07Z")
I found an excellent CD of recordings of “Sentimental Journey.” The Chordettes’ (of “Mr. Sandman” fame) _a capella_ version is not to be missed, and the Lennon Sisters do a pretty fair version too. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/35 "2004-04-30T16:14:25Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > All the covers of [Black Sabbath songs](http://myspot.neteze.com/~space/cds/blacksab.htm) would fill up several dozen CDs, with some songs filling an entire CD alone… KGS, Your link got: The Import Only (?)[Eternal Masters](http://uk.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?from1=CJ&pfid=04992537762&AID=10273879&PID=1368627) (I think my copy is in Japanese), The more popular [Nativity In Black](http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=dqK3oHFug6&vcqty=1&ean=74646633526), Nativity in Black II and Hell Rules (the latter 2 I never heard) - but missed: The more obscure [Sabbatum](http://www.sabbatum.com/): A tribute album like no other – 12 Black Sabbath classic songs played by early music band (Medieval) Rondellus and sung in Latin language! (Listen to the links at the bottom of the page for something you’ve probably never heard - and may never want to hear again) Speaking of obscure, anyone else ever hear [**Tom’s Album** : A tribute CD to Suzanne Vega’s Tom’s Diner](http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=dqK3oHFug6&vcqty=1&ean=75021536326) or Rhino Records [The **Best of Louie Louie**](http://www.xs4all.nl/~tdg/dg/Comps/rhino2.html): A collection of the Kingsman’s classic? The version I recall had alot more versions than the link does - Not only Mongo Santamaria- but even a marching band cover. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/36 "2004-04-30T16:23:28Z")
**If I Had a Hammer** has been covered well over 500 times. My favorite is by the late Senator Sam Ervin, of Watergate committee fame. ---
**Author:** ![Coulbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Coulbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coulbean)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/37 "2004-04-30T16:50:44Z")
> [@Ryan K](#): > > Dylan (or was it a Dylan song done by Hendricks) It was a Dylan song done by Hendrix. And since it’s been mentioned, Dylan’s songs are probably some of the most covered as well. All Along the Watchtower is only one of many. I’ve been working on a compilation CD of all Dylan covers. Some of the best are: A Simple Twist of Fate - Concrete Blonde Hurricaine - Ani Difranco It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue - Echo and the Bunnymen Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right - Nick Drake I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight - Norah Jones Positively 4th Street - The Stereophonics Tangled Up in Blue - Indigo Girls Others who’ve covered Dylan fairly recently, well or not so well: Avril Lavinge (uck) Black Crowes Grateful Dead /Jerry Garcia Band (always good) Lucinda Williams Dave Matthews Band (others aside from Watchtower) Pearl Jam (good, but the recordings are always bad) Jeff Buckley Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies Ramones Red Hot Chili Peppers (This one’s good, just not my style) White Stripes U2 Johnny Cash This is just a sampling. There are many others. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/38 "2004-04-30T20:00:22Z")
“Whiskey in the Jar” has been done quite a few times – Metallica, Thin Lizzy, the Dubliners, the Pogues, every other Irish band that ever existed, thousands of drunken Irishmen in bars… There are more semi-big names, but they escape me at the moment. Of course, being a traditional song, the lyrics vary widely from version to version, but the gist is always the same. ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/39 "2004-04-30T20:58:49Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I also once read that _Pressure Drop_ by Toots & the Maytals is the most covered ska song, but I’ve only heard the Specials cover it. “Turning Japanese,” originally by the Vapors, might give “Pressure Drop” a run for its money. I’ve heard it covered by at least 4 other ska bands (and some punk bands to boot). A quick Google search turns up covers by Skankin’ Pickle, No Use for a Name, Sublime, Incubus, The Revs, The Hazies, and even Liz Phair! A local ska band in the area where I grew up (northern CA) called Blind Spot covered it in some of their shows. I think it’s done with great frequency by ska bands everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882/40 "2004-04-30T21:35:07Z")
Ghad… all those and I came in the thread expecting to be reading about songs like “Unchained Melody,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and “Mack the Knife.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-enough-covers-to-fill-an-album/241882.md?page=3)