# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/21 "2006-03-23T23:03:56Z")
[QUOTE=Jenny Haniver] 1. You Can Leave Your Hat On – Etta James (Tom Jones?) [/QUOTE] Never heard the Tom Jones version; only the original, Randy Newman, and Joe Cocker’s cover. ---
**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, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/22 "2006-03-23T23:04:06Z")
whew! ---
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/23 "2006-03-23T23:29:15Z")
“Satisfaction” - PJ Harvey & Bjork, original by The Rolling Stones “The Thief” - Radiohead, original by Can “All Mine” - Tom Jones, original by Portishead “Hit Me Baby One More Time” - Ahmet & Dweezil Zappa, original by Britney Spears “Hallelujah” - Jeff Buckley ---
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/24 "2006-03-23T23:30:39Z")
[QUOTE=Ensign Edison] “Hallelujah” - Jeff Buckley [/QUOTE] Original, of course, by Leonard Cohen. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/25 "2006-03-23T23:38:16Z")
Cry Me a River" Joe Cocker (not the Justin Timberlake song. Julie London did this song fifty some years ago) “War” Bruce Springsteen (Edwin Starr) “I Will” Art Garfunkel (The Beatles) “Yesterday Once More” Redd Kross (Carpenters) “Kiss” Tom Jones (Prince) ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/26 "2006-03-24T00:17:58Z")
Percy’s Song - Fairport Convention (Bob Dylan) C’mon Everybody - NRBQ (Eddie Cochran) When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin (Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie) Money - The Beatles (Barrett Strong) Pressure Drop - The Clash (Toots and the Maytals) ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/27 "2006-03-24T00:30:34Z")
“Hey Jude” Wilson Picket (The Beatles) “Darkness Darkness” Mott the Hoople (Youngbloods) “It’s All Over Now” Rod Stewart (The Rollling Stones) “Mona/Who Do You Love” Quicksilver Messenger Service (Bo Diddly) “Goin’ Down” Hydra (Don Nix) (This is REALLY obscure, but you can hear a clip [here](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781CDF49A97620C8852D1599E620D210DF4BF58150234558C0B73844810473FD0FBADBCEAEF875B47FE3F824A65F05D6CBFE3681&sql=33:2fq6gg4mtv1z)). ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/28 "2006-03-24T00:38:16Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] Never heard the Tom Jones version; only the original, Randy Newman, and Joe Cocker’s cover. [/QUOTE] Yep, that’s what I said, only I forgot to put it _outside_ the quote. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/29 "2006-03-24T00:46:52Z")
“Time of the Season” by Trip Shakespeare (orig. Zombies) “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky” by Daniel Amos (orig. ?) “Drift Away” by Ringo Starr (orig. Dobie Gray) “Gimme Some Truth” by Sam Phillips (orig. John Lennon) “I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night” by Webb Wilder (orig. Electric Prunes) ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/30 "2006-03-24T00:54:17Z")
Only four come immediately to mind: 1. [**Jonathan Coulton’s**](http://www.jonathancoulton.com/songs/) soulful version of “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot 2. [**NOMEANSNO’s**](http://www.alternativetentacles.com/product.php?product=143&sd=up4Ix9W@JzmWvzNx1DQ) acapella version of “Forward to Death” by Dead Kennedys 3. [**Hanson’s**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B9EYEI/) live version of “Optimistic” by Radiohead. 4. [**Nirvana’s**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00001IV95/) version of “Molly’s Lips” by the Vaselines. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/31 "2006-03-24T01:55:44Z")
“Lovesong” Tori Amos (The Cult) “Sweet Dreams” Marilyn Manson (Eurythmics) “Word Up!” Korn (Cameo) “Rocky Road to Dublin” Dropkick Murphys (trad.) “The Fighting 69th” Dropkick Murphys (trad.) ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/32 "2006-03-24T02:21:09Z")
“Satisfaction”: Devo/The Rolling Stones “These Memories Can’t Wait”: Living Color/Talking Heads “Million Dollar Bash”: Fairport Convention/Bob Dylan “Peace Train”:10,000 Maniacs/Cat Stevens “Waiting, Crying, Hoping”: Marshall Crenshaw/Buddy Holly ---
**Author:** ![Foolonthehill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Foolonthehill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foolonthehill)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/33 "2006-03-24T02:26:35Z")
Only Five? _Gypsy Woman_ The Persuasions, (Curtis Mayfiels/Impressions) _Rosie_ Beat Farmers, (Tom Waits) _Bird on a Wire_ Johnny Cash, (Leonard Cohen) _Uncle John’s Band_ Indigo Girls, (Grateful Dead) _When I Paint My Masterpiece_ Grateful Dead, (Bob Dylan) Dylan, Waits, Cohen, Cash: We could do just covers of their songs and it would go for pages. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/34 "2006-03-24T02:34:01Z")
“Pride of Man” Quicksilver Messenger Service (Hamilton Camp) “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” Cowboy Junkies (Hank Williams) “You’ve Made Me so Very Happy” Blood Sweat & Tears (Brenda Holloway) “White Rabbit” Jefferson Airplane (Great Society) “Stoned Soul Picnic” 5th Dimesnion (Laura Nyro) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/35 "2006-03-24T02:35:34Z")
[QUOTE=yanceylebeef] 1. 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. [/QUOTE] Larry Williams in 1958. That other band did a cover. ---
**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 24, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/36 "2006-03-24T02:58:35Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Larry Williams in 1958. That other band did a cover. [/QUOTE] Dammit! that’s right. I hearby offer up my music nerd card to be shredded. I’ll go buy the latest Coldplay as pennance. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/37 "2006-03-24T02:58:41Z")
“Angie” Tori Amos (Rolling Stones) “Friend of the Devil” Grateful Dead (Robert Hunter) “Hurt” Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails) “Respect” Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding) “Tainted Love” Soft Cell (Gloria Jones) ---
**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 24, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/38 "2006-03-24T03:02:23Z")
[QUOTE=yanceylebeef] 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. [/QUOTE] I’m sitting hear listening to the ipod shuffle away, and I’d like to make a change, please. Replace Mandy by Me First… with the old 97s cover of Marty Robbins’ El Paso. There, now I can sleep tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Foolonthehill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Foolonthehill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foolonthehill)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/39 "2006-03-24T03:16:10Z")
And five more _End of the World_ Leigh Nash/Los Straightjackets, (Skeeter Davis) _Long White Cadillac_ Dwight Yokum, (Blasters) _Cocaine Blues_ Dave Van Ronk, (Johnny Cash) _San Diego Serenade_ Dion, (Tom Waits) _Jailhouse Rock_ Jeff Beck/Rod Stewart, (Elvis Presley) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622/40 "2006-03-24T05:40:45Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] “Angie” Tori Amos (Rolling Stones) “Friend of the Devil” Grateful Dead (Robert Hunter) “Hurt” Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails) “Respect” Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding) “Tainted Love” Soft Cell (Gloria Jones) [/QUOTE] I always thought that Robert Hunter was considered to essentially be part of the band. In any case, he wrote enough lyrics for the Dead that I don’t think any of his songs really qualify as covers. Someone please correct me if I am mistaken. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-top-five-desert-island-favorite-cover-songs/349622.md?page=3)