Great Cover Versions

[Wiggen]

This topic has probably been done before, but here's my very short list of great rock (and I use the term loosely) cover versions:

1. 'Hurt', Johnny Cash. He takes a song that was depressing in the original and turns it into something poignant and very sad.

2. 'Helter Skelter', U2. "This is a song that Charles Manson stole from The Beatles. Well, we're stealin' it back".

3. 'Hey Joe', Jimi Hendrix. Takes a throwaway rock and roll song by The Leaves and turns it into something special.

4. 'I'm Down', The Beatles. An even better cover version of Little Richard's 'Long Tall Sally' that the Beatles cover version of 'Long Tall Sally'.

5. 'Learnin' the Game', Waylon Jennings and Mark Knopfler. One of the last Buddy Holly songs, given a great vocal treatment by Jennings and a simple but emotional lead guitar by Knopfler.

[marshallz]

Zappa's version of the venerable Allman Brothers' classic "Whipping Post"

Smokin'

[Cochise22]

A few good fun covers.
1.) Come On Eileen - Save Ferris (Dexy's Midnight Runners)
2.) Take on Me - Reel Big Fish (Aha)
3.) Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm (Michael Jackson)
4.) Ma na ma na - Cake (?)
5.) Kiss Me - New Found Glory (Sixpence None the Richer)


My favorite covers
1.) Hurt - Johnny Cash (NIN)
2.) Whiskey In the Jar - Metallica (Thin Lizzy)
3.) No Quarter - Tool (Led Zeppelin)
4.) Another Brick In the Wall - Korn (Pink Floyd)
5.) Turn the Page - Metallica (Bob Seger)



Also, has anyone heard the new Godsmack cover of Good Times, Bad Times? The members of Led Zeppelin are usually quite stubborn about who gets to play their songs. What were they thinking by allowing Godsmack of all bands to do a cover of their song? I mean I don't think it is an all bad cover, but I can think of a lot of bands I would rather hear cover Led Zeppelin's music.

[marshallz]

Wall of Voodoo's science-fiction new wave cover of the Johnny Cash classic "Ring of Fire"

You ain't gonna bleev this one

[John F]

Joe Cocker -- A Little Help from my friends. Throw away song that supported the "concept album" motif from Sgt. Pepper (that's about all that's notable about it) and Cocker makes it a soulful, blues number.

The Monkees -- I'm a Believer. Come on, do you remember this song as a Neil Diamond tune or a Monkee classic?

I was thinking about the subject a lot recently (great covers) and now I can't remember some of the others that came to mind.

[bedir than average]

Stone Cold Crazy by Metallica, a great example of what metal can be
Come on Eileen and Take on Me from Cochise's list are both excellent, and both always remind me of what is essentially a ska cover album the soundtrack to Baseketball.

[Top Cat]

Wiggs,

Go to youtube and dial in Eva Cassidy. In my humble opinion, there isn't a single artist ever that covered better than she did. EVER

Here are a few of her best covers. In no particular order.

1. People Get Ready
2. Songbird
3. Fields of Gold
4. Imagine
5. Bridge Over Troubled Water
6. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
7. What a Wonderful World
8. Time After Time
9. Tennesee Waltz
10. Ain't No Sunshine

The world lost an angel. This woman has no peer IMO. Many of the above, are simply better than the originals.

[Wiggen]

I'll check it out, Top. Thanks for the tip.

[John F]

Speaking of Youtube covers, there is this Argentine guy under the name Hapri who does some pretty good amateur acoustic covers as well. But he forces it sometimes.

Anyone ever hear Stevie Wonder's version of "We Can Work it Out"?

[Wiggen]

Yes. Very nice. My favorite Beatles cover is Jeff Beck's version of "A Day in the Life". Instrumental perfection.

For a really nice take on the Beatles, I'd nominate Randy Travis' version of "Nowhere Man". I guess if the Beatles can do Buck Owens, Randy can do them.

[kflo]

built to spill does a killer version of cortez the killer
jeff buckley owns hallelujah
beach boys sloop john b
johnny cash's version of i see a darkness
nirvana's where did you sleep last night
sinead's nothing compares to you
dinosaur jr's just like heaven
vanilla fudge does keep my hanging on
faith no more covering easy
pumpkins version of landslide

and check youtube for travis covering britney spears hit me baby

[SugarBaby]

Originally Posted by John F

Joe Cocker -- A Little Help from my friends. Throw away song that supported the "concept album" motif from Sgt. Pepper (that's about all that's notable about it) and Cocker makes it a soulful, blues number.

The Monkees -- I'm a Believer. Come on, do you remember this song as a Neil Diamond tune or a Monkee classic?

I was thinking about the subject a lot recently (great covers) and now I can't remember some of the others that came to mind.

Who originally did "Unchain My Heart'? Cocker does a great version of this one. I've seen him in concert, he kicks butt.

The Monkees...Of course! I have an original Monkees album signed by all four of them. A friend of mines mother ran the motel where they stayed when they came through Greenville. I have the motel room key too. Boy was I popular at school the next day.

And the Great Johnny Cash is an instant classic, no matter what he did.

[jtur88]

Are you saying Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere" is better than Hank Snow's original?
The first "Unchain My Heart" I ever heard way by Ray Charles. Hard to improve on him, too.

[SugarBaby]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Are you saying Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere" is better than Hank Snow's original?
The first "Unchain My Heart" I ever heard way by Ray Charles. Hard to improve on him, too.

I was never a big fan of Hank Snow. But each to his own. I do love everything Johnny ever did.

Yeah, Ray. You're right no improvement needed there, but Cocker is a great performer.

[John F]

One of the songs I was trying to remember from my past thought rambles just came back to me:

I plead ignorance because I ddin't know Van Morrison originally did this number (I knew Johnny Rivers did a cover version of it though) but I really like John Mellencamp and Me'Shell Ndegeocello's cover of "Wild Night"