# what are your top five, desert island favorite cover songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622 "2006-03-23T18:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/1 "2006-03-23T18:39:03Z")
in an homage to one of my top five favorite [movies](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146882/) , I give you this thread, but first, let’s lay down some ground rules: 1. The first rule of . . . wait, wait, wrong rules. Ok, the first rule is that for the purposes of this thread, a cover song is a live or recorded performance of a previously recorded song – with this caveat: the songwriter cannot cover his or her own song (e.g. Willie Nelson’s live performance or recording of “Crazy” is not a cover of the Patsy Cline song “Crazy” because Willie wrote the song); 2. Renditions of traditional/folk songs will be considered covers (e.g. the Thin Lizzy or Metallica rendition of “Whiskey ion the Jar”) – with this caveat: no holiday songs; 3. Let’s stay away from borrowed melodies or substantial re-writes (e.g. the P. Diddy f/k/a Puff Daddy song “I’ll Be Missing You,” for the purposes of this thread, will not be considered a “cover” of the Police song “Every Breath You Take.”); 4. Please provide name of original and covering artist; 5. No repeats. If yours is taken think of another (though please give props to a good selection, “Aw, man that was mine” or somesuch); and 6. I think this goes without saying here, but feel free to correct someone, especially me. here goes, my desert island, top five cover songs in no particular order are: Sweet Jane – Cowboy Junkies’ cover of the Lou Reed/Velvet Underground classic. Tangled Up in Blue – Grateful Dead live performance of one of Dylan’s best songs He Was a Friend of Mine – Willie Nelson cover of a folk song of [disputed origin](http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/HE1WASA.HTM) My Way – the Sid Vicious verion of the Anka-Sinatra lounge standard Baker Street – Foo Fighters masterful performance of the Gerry Rafferty original What are yours? ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/2 "2006-03-23T18:48:31Z")
[QUOTE=whole bean] in an homage to one of my top five favorite [movies](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146882/) , I give you this thread, but first, let’s lay down some ground rules: What are yours? [/QUOTE] Corrine Corrina: Bob Dylan’s version of what I believe is a traditional tune. Tecumseh Valley: Nanci Griffith’s version of the Townes Van Zandt classic Black Magic Woman: Santana’s version of the Fleetwood Mac song. Spanish Harlem Incident: The Byrds doing Dylan Turn on Your Lovelight: And version by Pigpen of the Grateful Dead. Dunno who wrote it. ---
**Author:** ![Jacob\_Silj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Jacob\_Silj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jacob_Silj)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/3 "2006-03-23T18:48:45Z")
1. All Along the Wathctower- Hendrix (Dylan)- best cover ever? 2. Spirits in the Night- Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (Springsteen) 3. Hurt So Bad- Linda Ronstadt (Little Anthony & the Imperials) 4. Alone Again Or- The Damned (Love) 5. Only Love Can Break Your Heart- St. Etienne (Neil Young) ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/4 "2006-03-23T19:57:28Z")
I’m kind of afraid to do this, since I’m not as musically literate as some dopers, but I do love a good cover: 1. Wild Horses – The Sundays (Rolling Stones) 2. Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love) – Joan Jett feat. Bad Religion (Cole Porter) 3. Everybody Knows – Concrete Blond (Lenard Cohen) 4. You Can Leave Your Hat On – Etta James (Tom Jones?) 5. Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin (Roger Miller) I had to leave off Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies because it seemed unfair to pick just one song! ---
**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:** [March 23, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/5 "2006-03-23T20:10:01Z")
1. Memory–Dudu Fisher in Hebrew (Elaine Paige). 2. Bottle of Wine–The Firebirds (Tom Paxton) 3. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts–Joan Baez (Bob Dylan) 4. Hey Jude–Wilson Pickett (The Beatles) 5. Maniac/Superstar–Sandra Bernhardt (Jimi Hendrix/Murray Head) ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/6 "2006-03-23T20:16:09Z")
[QUOTE=Jenny Haniver] 1. Wild Horses – The Sundays (Rolling Stones) [/QUOTE] Solid pick [QUOTE=Jenny Haniver] 5) Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin (Roger Miller) [/QUOTE] Kris Kristofferson, not Roger Miller, and I don’t know that Kris recorded it before Janice, making this very similar to the Willie/Patsy example I gave. ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/7 "2006-03-23T20:27:06Z")
Awww, but I went and looked that one up and everything! Roger Miller recorded it first (1969), and it was a hit on the country charts at the time. [Cite 1](http://www.janisjoplin.net/friends/kris/kristofferson.html) [Cite 2](http://ntl.matrix.com.br/pfilho/html/lyrics/m/me_and_bobby_mcgee.txt) Kristofferson did write it though, mea culpa. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/8 "2006-03-23T20:34:05Z")
1. Allman Brothers Band – _Statesboro Blues_ (in a pinch I’d take Taj Mahal’s or Alice Stuart’s version, though) 2. Bonzo Dog Band – _Monster Mash_ 3. Joe Cocker – _The Letter_ (a tough choice over _With a Little Help From My Friends_ and _Feelin’ Alright_. 4. The Who – _Summertime Blues_ 5. The Youngbloods – _Speedo_ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/9 "2006-03-23T21:00:29Z")
In no particular order of preference (but the covering artist is listed first): “Slack Motherfucker” – Firehose (Superchunk) “All Along the Watchtower” – Jimi Hendrix (Dylan) “Strawberry Letter 23” – Brothers Johnson (Shuggie Otis) “Alone Again Or” – The Damned (Love) “The Tears of a Clown” – English Beat (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/10 "2006-03-23T21:14:00Z")
[QUOTE=Jenny Haniver] Awww, but I went and looked that one up and everything! Roger Miller recorded it first (1969), and it was a hit on the country charts at the time. [Cite 1](http://www.janisjoplin.net/friends/kris/kristofferson.html) [Cite 2](http://ntl.matrix.com.br/pfilho/html/lyrics/m/me_and_bobby_mcgee.txt) Kristofferson did write it though, mea culpa. [/QUOTE] you’re right, definitely qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/11 "2006-03-23T21:18:54Z")
1. Think Again- Mighty Mighty Bosstones (Minor Threat) 2. Hard to Handle- Grateful Dead (Otis Redding) 3. Ace of Spades- Hayseed Dixie (Motorhead) 4. Take This Job and Shove It- Dead Kennedys (Johnny Paycheck) 5. You Can’t Judge a Book By Looking At The Cover- Bo Diddly (Willie Dixon) ---
**Author:** ![Jenny\_Haniver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Jenny\_Haniver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenny_Haniver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/12 "2006-03-23T21:23:57Z")
I just realized my whole list is songs by men that were covered by women. From this, I guess we can deduce that my reaction to a cover song is directly proportional to whether or not the new version makes it easier for me to sing along in the car. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/13 "2006-03-23T21:41:59Z")
Wow, some great picks so far. I never thought I would see firehose name checked anywhere… Anyway my top five are in no particular order 1. Common People by Bill Shatner Featuring Joe Jackson. Actually better than the original by Pulp. 2. The Dukes of Hamburg Women. Original by The Zombies 3. Cocaine Blues Hank III, Original by the great J. Cash. 4. Mandy by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Original by He WHo Shall Not Be Named. 5. Dizzy Miss Lizzy by The Kaisers. I think the original was by some rock combo in the 60s, Buggles? No, Beatniks? No, I’ll think of it later. ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/14 "2006-03-23T21:42:17Z")
[QUOTE=Jenny Haniver] 1. You Can Leave Your Hat On – Etta James (Tom Jones?) Randy Newman wrote it; I’m not sure whether he or Joe Cocker recorded it first. [/QUOTE] 1. Indigo Girls’ version of Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up in Blues” 2. Jimmy Buffett’s version of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” 3. Lyle Lovett & Keb’Mo’s version of Bob Seger’s “Till It Shines” 4. The Eagles’ version of Tom Waits’ “Old 55” 5. Sting’s version of Jimi Hendrix’ “Little Wing” ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/15 "2006-03-23T22:07:56Z")
1. Ry Cooder, with Flaco Jimenez _He’ll Have To Go_ Jim Reeves 2. David Lindley, _Mercury Blues_ I first heard it by Steve Miller, don’t know who wrote it. 3. Derek And The Dominos, _Little Wing_ Hendrix 4. Ry Cooder, _My Old Kentucky Home_ (not the Stephen Foster one) Randy Newman 5. Van Morrison, _Lonely (Black) and Blue_ Fats Waller. With a few changed words, a song about racism becomes a “missing you” song. Sting’s _Little Wing_ cover was fine, but I prefer Derek’s. ---
**Author:** ![Logan\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Logan\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logan_5)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/16 "2006-03-23T22:16:13Z")
Ziggy Stardust - Bauhaus (David Bowie) Tomorrow Never Knows - The Mission U.K. (The Beatles) Into The Void - Kyuss (Black Sabbath) I Fought the Law - Dead Kennedys (Sonny Curtis) Do Ya think I’m Sexy - Revolting Cocks (Rod Stewart) ---
**Author:** ![Jacob\_Silj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Jacob\_Silj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jacob_Silj)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/17 "2006-03-23T22:21:02Z")
Obscure Mississippi bluesman KC Douglas wrote and orignally recorded “Mercury Blues” ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/18 "2006-03-23T22:52:29Z")
[QUOTE=Logan 5] I Fought the Law - Dead Kennedys (Sonny Curtis) [/QUOTE] Now, does it count as a repeat if I have I Fought the Law - The Clash/Sonny Curtis on my list? Can we get the line judge over here please? My other four: Dear Prudence - Siouxsie and the Banshees/the Beatles Take Me to the River - Talking Heads/Al Green Wild Thing - X/The Troggs Alabama Song - The Doors/I’m actually not sure who _originally_ performed this Kurt Weill song ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/19 "2006-03-23T23:02:13Z")
never heard Sting do it and the Dominoes are ok, but Stevie Ray’s version of “Little Wing” is the better cover, IMHO [QUOTE=delphica] Now, does it count as a repeat if I have I Fought the Law - The Clash/Sonny Curtis on my list? Can we get the line judge over here please? [/QUOTE] nope, different cover of the same song, it’s ok. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/20 "2006-03-23T23:03:51Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] 3. Ace of Spades- Hayseed Dixie (Motorhead) [/QUOTE] nice [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622.md?page=2)