Noteworthy Covers of Famous Songs
July 13, 2022 9:34 AM Subscribe
I recently found a playlist of surprising and interesting covers of famous Bob Dylan songs. I really enjoyed it and am on the hunt for more. What are your favorite not-widely-known versions of songs that are themselves widely known? (In whatever circle you inhabit.) Thanks!
The Ramones have done a lot of good covers. So have the Lemonheads.
I prefer Soul Asylum's "Sexual Healing" to the original , which to me sounds a bit pervy in a cheesy way.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:50 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
I prefer Soul Asylum's "Sexual Healing" to the original , which to me sounds a bit pervy in a cheesy way.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:50 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Merle Travis classic Sixteen Tons covered by Stan Ridgway.
The AC/DC song Up To My Neck In You spun into an incredibly effective folk version by Mark Kozelek.
Sister Sledge's Lost in Music as rendered by The Fall
posted by bassomatic at 9:55 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
The AC/DC song Up To My Neck In You spun into an incredibly effective folk version by Mark Kozelek.
Sister Sledge's Lost in Music as rendered by The Fall
posted by bassomatic at 9:55 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Mary Lee Corvette does the entire Blood on the Tracks Bob Dylan album. I like it better than Bob's original. Here is her doing Simple Twist of Fate. Here is Tangled Up in Blue from the same album.
I love Johnny Cash doing Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down.
The Talking Heads Take Me to the River is a cover of Al Green's song. I think the cover is more widely known than the original. But Al kicks ass!
A lot of the Grateful Dead is covers. They do Bob Dylan songs. Big River (Johnny Cash), a bunch of Chcuk Berry songs, etc.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:59 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
I love Johnny Cash doing Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down.
The Talking Heads Take Me to the River is a cover of Al Green's song. I think the cover is more widely known than the original. But Al kicks ass!
A lot of the Grateful Dead is covers. They do Bob Dylan songs. Big River (Johnny Cash), a bunch of Chcuk Berry songs, etc.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:59 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Jeremy Jordan covering Celine Dion's It's All Coming Back to Me Now. Comic yet musically masterful. Even Jim Steinman is impressed in the comments.
From the same series, Jeff Heimbrook covering Part of Your World. Brings out the queer subtext of The Little Mermaid.
Adam Lambert covering Cher's Believe. Who knew that song could be so moving?
posted by Comet Bug at 10:14 AM on July 13, 2022 [6 favorites]
From the same series, Jeff Heimbrook covering Part of Your World. Brings out the queer subtext of The Little Mermaid.
Adam Lambert covering Cher's Believe. Who knew that song could be so moving?
posted by Comet Bug at 10:14 AM on July 13, 2022 [6 favorites]
Speaking of AC/DC: Gordon Duncan, Thunderstruck. (Although maybe a a live version captures the energy better.)
Richard Shindell, Willin'.
Martin Simpson, Highway 61 / Highway 61 Revisited.
posted by offog at 10:19 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Richard Shindell, Willin'.
Martin Simpson, Highway 61 / Highway 61 Revisited.
posted by offog at 10:19 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
A lot of these are blasphemous and I don't care:
INOJ "Time after Time"
Miley Cyrus "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
Indigo Girls "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"
Colin Meloy of the Decemberists has some great Morrisey covers
posted by honeybee413 at 10:20 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
INOJ "Time after Time"
Miley Cyrus "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
Indigo Girls "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"
Colin Meloy of the Decemberists has some great Morrisey covers
posted by honeybee413 at 10:20 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Amythyst Kiah's recent cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is pretty spectacular.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:21 AM on July 13, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:21 AM on July 13, 2022 [7 favorites]
Revolting Cocks - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy originally Rod Stewart
Afghan Whigs - Come See About Me Originally The Supremes
Local H - Toxic originally Britney Spears
Titus Andronicus - Breed originally Nirvana
Roosevelt -Everywhere originally Fleetwood Mac.
Hold Steady - Atlantic City Bruce Springsteen
Jesse Dayton - State Trooper Also Bruce. Bruce's versions of both of these songs are really spare, and these versions are not.
Dropkick Murphy's - Amazing Grace originally from church
Replacements - Cruella DeVile originally from 101 Dalmations
posted by The_Vegetables at 10:23 AM on July 13, 2022
Afghan Whigs - Come See About Me Originally The Supremes
Local H - Toxic originally Britney Spears
Titus Andronicus - Breed originally Nirvana
Roosevelt -Everywhere originally Fleetwood Mac.
Hold Steady - Atlantic City Bruce Springsteen
Jesse Dayton - State Trooper Also Bruce. Bruce's versions of both of these songs are really spare, and these versions are not.
Dropkick Murphy's - Amazing Grace originally from church
Replacements - Cruella DeVile originally from 101 Dalmations
posted by The_Vegetables at 10:23 AM on July 13, 2022
Love Tracy Chapman's cover of Stand By Me performed on Letterman.
posted by 10ch at 10:25 AM on July 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by 10ch at 10:25 AM on July 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
They Might Be Giants covering Jessica by The Allman Brothers might be one of the more improbable covers ever.
Phish did a one-off cover of Killing in the Name during a July 4th concert a few years ago. They do a lot of covers of both well-known and very obscure songs. Some they pull out on a semi-regular basis, some are extremely rare or just one-offs. Their version of TV on the Radio's Golden Age is one of my favorite things they do.
posted by bondcliff at 10:25 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Phish did a one-off cover of Killing in the Name during a July 4th concert a few years ago. They do a lot of covers of both well-known and very obscure songs. Some they pull out on a semi-regular basis, some are extremely rare or just one-offs. Their version of TV on the Radio's Golden Age is one of my favorite things they do.
posted by bondcliff at 10:25 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Have to add this curio: A surprisingly straight cover of Grateful Dead's Friend of the Devil by Ministry.
posted by bassomatic at 10:28 AM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by bassomatic at 10:28 AM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
The Fall - Victoria Originally by The Kinks, but their version is kind of terrible and jokingly sung. The Fall do it straight- perhaps the straightest song they have ever done. And The Fall's bridge straight up rocks whereas The Kinks does not.
posted by The_Vegetables at 10:31 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by The_Vegetables at 10:31 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Howard Tate -- Get It While You Can. (The more well-known cover of the Jerry Ragovoy and Mort Shuman blues song is by Janis Joplin, off the album Pearl.)
posted by virago at 10:32 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by virago at 10:32 AM on July 13, 2022
Amythyst Kiah's recent cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is pretty spectacular.
I was just coming in to recommend Kiah's cover of Sugar by Tori Amos. SO GOOD.
posted by mochapickle at 10:34 AM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
I was just coming in to recommend Kiah's cover of Sugar by Tori Amos. SO GOOD.
posted by mochapickle at 10:34 AM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
There are many MANY reasons you should get the Waterboys album Fisherman's Blues, but their cover of Van Morrison's song Sweet Thing is one of them.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:34 AM on July 13, 2022 [10 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:34 AM on July 13, 2022 [10 favorites]
Whiskey in the Jar originally by The Dubliners. I think? NSFW
posted by Splunge at 10:35 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by Splunge at 10:35 AM on July 13, 2022
The cover of Prince's Raspberry Beret by the Hindu Love Gods (REM minus Michael Stipe, with Warren Zevon on vocals) rocks
out.
As long as we're talking about Bob Dylan, I've always loved Any Day Now, Joan Baez's album of Dylan covers.
posted by virago at 10:43 AM on July 13, 2022
out.
As long as we're talking about Bob Dylan, I've always loved Any Day Now, Joan Baez's album of Dylan covers.
posted by virago at 10:43 AM on July 13, 2022
Al Green's cover of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" makes the Beatles' most innocent love song sound sexy as hell.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:45 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:45 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
I am here to recommend Stone Free, a worthy album of Jimi Hendrix covers. The masterful cover of Little Wing by Stevie Ray Vaughan is not on Stone Free, but is a must-listen..
posted by rekrap at 10:48 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by rekrap at 10:48 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Rhiannon Giddens covers the Staples Singers' "Freedom Highway."
Orville Peck covers Bobby Gentry's "Fancy."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:48 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Orville Peck covers Bobby Gentry's "Fancy."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:48 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oh - and I am IN NO WAY suggesting that this next cover is superior to the original. But Peter Gabriel did a cover of David Bowie's Heroes back in 2010 that just sort of flew under everyone's radars for years - and then it got used in a couple of episodes of Stranger Things.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:49 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:49 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
In general I like Cat Power's covers, like I Found a Reason, but perhaps especially Satisfaction, I also find this remix of her cover of Satisfaction fun.
posted by coffeecat at 10:51 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by coffeecat at 10:51 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Orville Peck's cover of "Ooh Las Vegas" is pretty good too.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:51 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:51 AM on July 13, 2022
Dave Mathews DMB does many covers live. Speaking of Peter Gabriel, I love the Sledgehammer version of Peter Gabriel's song. DMB Sledgehammer
Here is a list of all the DMB covers
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:54 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Here is a list of all the DMB covers
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:54 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Oh and Baby Huey's cover of Sam Cooke's classic "A Change is Going Come" might actually surpass the original for me. It really needs to be listened to at high volume.
posted by coffeecat at 10:55 AM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by coffeecat at 10:55 AM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
M Ward's cover of David Bowie's "Let's Dance" is smoldering and heartsick.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:57 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:57 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Barbara Lynn's version of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is funky and danceable.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:58 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:58 AM on July 13, 2022
Well-known in some circles, not so much in others:
Blood Sisters - Ring My Bell
Dead Kennedys - Viva Las Vegas
Rowland S. Howard and Lydia Lunch - Some Velvet Morning
Pansy Division f Calvin Johnson - Jackson
Nina Simone - Rich Girl
Oh, also and especially:
Olivia Rodrigo - Torn
posted by box at 10:58 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Blood Sisters - Ring My Bell
Dead Kennedys - Viva Las Vegas
Rowland S. Howard and Lydia Lunch - Some Velvet Morning
Pansy Division f Calvin Johnson - Jackson
Nina Simone - Rich Girl
Oh, also and especially:
Olivia Rodrigo - Torn
posted by box at 10:58 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
One more DMB. DMB with the Preservation Jazz Hall Band doing Dr. John's Right Place, Wrong Time. This is a great jazzy rocking song. Great video of the live show.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:00 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:00 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Caballero Reynaldo. Skip their first album. [Edit: antojitos vol 0. Not actually sure if it's their first album.]
posted by eotvos at 11:01 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by eotvos at 11:01 AM on July 13, 2022
Ostbahn Kurti und die Chefpartie Cover of Fire
Factory
in Austrian, translations by the singer and band. They covered several Springsteen Numbers, and some Paul Young, and others.
Ostbahn Kurti was the stage name of Willi Resetarits, an Austrian human rights activist. He died this past April.
posted by 15L06 at 11:03 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Factory
in Austrian, translations by the singer and band. They covered several Springsteen Numbers, and some Paul Young, and others.
Ostbahn Kurti was the stage name of Willi Resetarits, an Austrian human rights activist. He died this past April.
posted by 15L06 at 11:03 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Sly and Robbie doing the Theme from Sesame Street.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:04 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:04 AM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Speaking of Peter Gabriel covers - Harry Styles did his own cover of Sledgehammer as well, and in an interview he talked about why - he did one of his albums at Peter's Real World studios, and when they had some free time during recording he sheepishly asked the recording techies if he and his band could just give that song a try. According to Harry, they just sighed and said, "go ahead, everybody does that...."
And speaking of Peter Gabriel and covers - that cover he did of "Heroes" was part of this double-album idea he had, where he would record nothing but covers of other people's songs and then produce an album of other people doing covers of HIS songs. His cover album, Scratch My Back, came out in 2010, but the other album (called And I'll Scratch Yours) was delayed a couple years.
Scratch My Back also has Peter's cover of the Magnetic Fields' song The Book Of Love.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:09 AM on July 13, 2022
And speaking of Peter Gabriel and covers - that cover he did of "Heroes" was part of this double-album idea he had, where he would record nothing but covers of other people's songs and then produce an album of other people doing covers of HIS songs. His cover album, Scratch My Back, came out in 2010, but the other album (called And I'll Scratch Yours) was delayed a couple years.
Scratch My Back also has Peter's cover of the Magnetic Fields' song The Book Of Love.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:09 AM on July 13, 2022
Unlike Pluto and Joanna Jones' cover of TLC's No Scrubs is one of my recent faves. Has a very different vibe, but still expresses disdain for scrubs effectively.
posted by subocoyne at 11:10 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by subocoyne at 11:10 AM on July 13, 2022
Nick Lowe's cover of Elvis Presley's True Love Travels on a Gravel Road
Isaac Hayes' cover of Something by the Beatles
posted by Chenko at 11:13 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Isaac Hayes' cover of Something by the Beatles
posted by Chenko at 11:13 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Pomplamoose does a huge number of high quality fun covers.
posted by gregr at 11:16 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by gregr at 11:16 AM on July 13, 2022
I prefer U2's cover of Satellite of Love to Morrissey's.
Also speaking of Lou Reed, Bowie's cover of Waiting for the Man is excellent. (I read an interview once where Bowie basically said that he was just a bourgeois kid until he heard Reed's work.)
Jumping forward a few decades, if any part of your youth involved the 90s, Eric McKeown's cover of the Mountain Goats' Jenny is pure perfection.
posted by praemunire at 11:22 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also speaking of Lou Reed, Bowie's cover of Waiting for the Man is excellent. (I read an interview once where Bowie basically said that he was just a bourgeois kid until he heard Reed's work.)
Jumping forward a few decades, if any part of your youth involved the 90s, Eric McKeown's cover of the Mountain Goats' Jenny is pure perfection.
posted by praemunire at 11:22 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
More Dylan: Dylan's Gospel, a little-known but brilliant album by the Brothers and Sisters of Los Angeles.
"The Brothers and Sisters choir of Los Angeles were a cast of 27 singers that included Merry Clayton, the powerhouse singer best known for sparring with Mick Jagger on Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” (and star of the recent documentary 20 Feet from Stardom), and Edna Wright of The Honeycones and Gloria Jones of The Blossoms, best known as the co-writer of “Tainted Love”. Other members also included were Ruby Johnson, Shirley Matthews, Clydie King, Patrice Holloway, Julia Tillman and more. The groups producer was Lou Adler, noted for his work for Motown, the genesis behind the legendary Monterey International Pop Festival, and producer of Carole King’s mega-successful Tapestry."
posted by Dolley at 11:22 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
"The Brothers and Sisters choir of Los Angeles were a cast of 27 singers that included Merry Clayton, the powerhouse singer best known for sparring with Mick Jagger on Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” (and star of the recent documentary 20 Feet from Stardom), and Edna Wright of The Honeycones and Gloria Jones of The Blossoms, best known as the co-writer of “Tainted Love”. Other members also included were Ruby Johnson, Shirley Matthews, Clydie King, Patrice Holloway, Julia Tillman and more. The groups producer was Lou Adler, noted for his work for Motown, the genesis behind the legendary Monterey International Pop Festival, and producer of Carole King’s mega-successful Tapestry."
posted by Dolley at 11:22 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
...Also, I, um, apparently don't share some commenters' attitude towards the Dave Matthews Band, but Stevie Nicks's cover of "Crash" purges the sleaziness for pure slow-going sexiness.
posted by praemunire at 11:23 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by praemunire at 11:23 AM on July 13, 2022
Finally, there is a slew of rock steady/reggae covers of Beatles songs, so much so that there are multiple comps to choose from. Personally I enjoy Bob Marley's "And I Love Her", Prince Buster's "All my Loving," Jackie Mitto's Norwegian Wood, Dandy & The Israelites - Come Together, Demond Dekker's Ob-La-di, Ob-La-Da, The Paragon's "I want to go back," I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting, but it's fair to say this is wormhole with depth if it's of interest.
And while we're on the topic of Rock Steady/Reggae covers, the Toots and the Maytals cover of Louie Louie is the definitive version for me.
posted by coffeecat at 11:26 AM on July 13, 2022
And while we're on the topic of Rock Steady/Reggae covers, the Toots and the Maytals cover of Louie Louie is the definitive version for me.
posted by coffeecat at 11:26 AM on July 13, 2022
Devo’s cover of Satisfaction has long ago replaced the original for me.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:28 AM on July 13, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 11:28 AM on July 13, 2022 [8 favorites]
"Walking on the Moon", by the Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, and Otep covering "Royals".
posted by cobaltnine at 11:33 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by cobaltnine at 11:33 AM on July 13, 2022
Also, Veruca Salt’s cover of the Sex Pistols’ Bodies.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:33 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by Thorzdad at 11:33 AM on July 13, 2022
Phish is an amazing cover band. Here's a good PHISH COVERS playlist on Spotify.
Many of those on the list of one-offs, but some are in frequent rotation...
Try maybe Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground), or Crosseyed and Painless (Talking Heads), or Golden Age (TV On The Radio), or Drowned (The Who).
posted by Perplexity at 11:34 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Many of those on the list of one-offs, but some are in frequent rotation...
Try maybe Rock and Roll (Velvet Underground), or Crosseyed and Painless (Talking Heads), or Golden Age (TV On The Radio), or Drowned (The Who).
posted by Perplexity at 11:34 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Search: Sarah Jarosz When Doves Cry
posted by kingless at 11:34 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by kingless at 11:34 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
One more from Phish, since you mentioned Dylan, here's a nice Quinn the Eskimo
posted by Perplexity at 11:35 AM on July 13, 2022
posted by Perplexity at 11:35 AM on July 13, 2022
Warren Zevon's "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" is much more awesome than Linda Ronstadt's cover.
Shout out to Miley's "Jolene."
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 11:45 AM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Shout out to Miley's "Jolene."
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 11:45 AM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Morgan James has done many great covers, like It's a Man's, Man's World and Maps, but for something spine-tingling her version of Take Me To Church takes some beating.
London Grammar's cover of Wicked Game is just...wow (this specific cover, they've done a couple, but this is the one that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck)
Chet Faker's version of No Diggity takes some getting used to if you're a fan of the original, but after a few listens it creeps up on you and you fall in love with it.
+1 for Pamplemoose as mentioned above. My personal favourite is Everybody Wants to Rule The World but they've done many other wonderful covers.
Last but definitely not last is MEUTE, a "techno marching band" (thinks lots of brass instruments and percussionists) who've done loads of great covers of dance music. You And Me (Flume Remix) is probably the most watched, but there are loads to explore.
posted by underclocked at 11:47 AM on July 13, 2022
London Grammar's cover of Wicked Game is just...wow (this specific cover, they've done a couple, but this is the one that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck)
Chet Faker's version of No Diggity takes some getting used to if you're a fan of the original, but after a few listens it creeps up on you and you fall in love with it.
+1 for Pamplemoose as mentioned above. My personal favourite is Everybody Wants to Rule The World but they've done many other wonderful covers.
Last but definitely not last is MEUTE, a "techno marching band" (thinks lots of brass instruments and percussionists) who've done loads of great covers of dance music. You And Me (Flume Remix) is probably the most watched, but there are loads to explore.
posted by underclocked at 11:47 AM on July 13, 2022
I have a large and ever-growing collection of cover songs on Spotify (sorry), if you're interested in digging:
➔ Undercover playlist
It's currently at around 650 tracks, and will definitely absorb some of these great responses.
Here are some standout covers of high-profile originals that you can find on there:
Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer) by Florence + The Machine
Alison (Elvis Costello) by Linda Ronstadt
All Apologies (Nirvana) by Sinéad O'Connor
And I Love Her (Beatles) by Kurt Cobain
The Boxer (Simon & Garfunkel) by Emmylou Harris
Burning Down the House (Talking Heads) by Tom Jones + The Cardigans
A Case of You (Joni Mitchell) by James Blake
The Chain (Fleetwood Mac) by The Highwomen
Changes (Black Sabbath) by Charles Bradley
Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd) by Scissor Sisters
Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen) by Lucy Dacus
Don't You Forget About Me (Simple Minds) by The Wind and The Wave
Easy (Lionel Richie) by Faith No More
Faith (George Michael) by Lake Street Dive
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John) by Yola
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) by The Cranberries
Harvest Moon (Neil Young) by Poolside
I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Marvin Gaye) by The Slits
I Put A Spell On You (Screamin' Jay Hawkins) by Annie Lennox
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac) by Smashing Pumpkins
Lover, You Should've Come Over (Jeff Buckley) by Madison Cunningham
Nothing Compares 2 U (Prince) by Chris Cornell
Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode) by Johnny Cash
This Land Is Your Land (Woody Guthrie) by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
We Can Work It Out (Beatles) by Stevie Wonder
Wildflowers (Tom Petty) by The Wailin' Jennys
posted by D.Billy at 11:50 AM on July 13, 2022 [9 favorites]
➔ Undercover playlist
It's currently at around 650 tracks, and will definitely absorb some of these great responses.
Here are some standout covers of high-profile originals that you can find on there:
Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer) by Florence + The Machine
Alison (Elvis Costello) by Linda Ronstadt
All Apologies (Nirvana) by Sinéad O'Connor
And I Love Her (Beatles) by Kurt Cobain
The Boxer (Simon & Garfunkel) by Emmylou Harris
Burning Down the House (Talking Heads) by Tom Jones + The Cardigans
A Case of You (Joni Mitchell) by James Blake
The Chain (Fleetwood Mac) by The Highwomen
Changes (Black Sabbath) by Charles Bradley
Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd) by Scissor Sisters
Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen) by Lucy Dacus
Don't You Forget About Me (Simple Minds) by The Wind and The Wave
Easy (Lionel Richie) by Faith No More
Faith (George Michael) by Lake Street Dive
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John) by Yola
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) by The Cranberries
Harvest Moon (Neil Young) by Poolside
I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Marvin Gaye) by The Slits
I Put A Spell On You (Screamin' Jay Hawkins) by Annie Lennox
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac) by Smashing Pumpkins
Lover, You Should've Come Over (Jeff Buckley) by Madison Cunningham
Nothing Compares 2 U (Prince) by Chris Cornell
Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode) by Johnny Cash
This Land Is Your Land (Woody Guthrie) by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
We Can Work It Out (Beatles) by Stevie Wonder
Wildflowers (Tom Petty) by The Wailin' Jennys
posted by D.Billy at 11:50 AM on July 13, 2022 [9 favorites]
Vampire Weekend - I'm Going Down (originally Springsteen)
The Horrible Crowes - Teenage Dream (originally Katy Perry)
Ricki Lee Jones - Rebel Rebel (originally David Bowie)
Ben Lee - Float On (originally Modest Mouse)
Blue Rubies - When You Were Mine (originally Prince)
Elvis Costello - Ring of Fire (originally Johnny Cash). This is nice, but what's even better is a version by T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello that I have on mp3. Can't find it anywhere online right now, but it's worth looking for.
posted by Redstart at 11:57 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Horrible Crowes - Teenage Dream (originally Katy Perry)
Ricki Lee Jones - Rebel Rebel (originally David Bowie)
Ben Lee - Float On (originally Modest Mouse)
Blue Rubies - When You Were Mine (originally Prince)
Elvis Costello - Ring of Fire (originally Johnny Cash). This is nice, but what's even better is a version by T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello that I have on mp3. Can't find it anywhere online right now, but it's worth looking for.
posted by Redstart at 11:57 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Jerry Garcia Band, (or the Dead) doing Tangled Up and Blue…
posted by Windopaene at 11:59 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Windopaene at 11:59 AM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Bad Plus, Life on Mars.
Organissimo, Taxman (the whole B3tles album is great).
Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, This Wheel's On Fire.
posted by offog at 12:05 PM on July 13, 2022
Organissimo, Taxman (the whole B3tles album is great).
Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, This Wheel's On Fire.
posted by offog at 12:05 PM on July 13, 2022
Nouela - Black Hole Sun
Herbie Hancock (feat. Norah Jones) - Court and Spark
Ra - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Jamie Cullum - I Only Have Eyes For You
Stokley Williams - Make Me Say It again Girl
posted by fuse theorem at 12:11 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Herbie Hancock (feat. Norah Jones) - Court and Spark
Ra - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Jamie Cullum - I Only Have Eyes For You
Stokley Williams - Make Me Say It again Girl
posted by fuse theorem at 12:11 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Whether this is "widely known" definitely depends on your circle, but I was seizing people by the shirt collar forcing them to listen to Juanes's cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark".
posted by epj at 12:15 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by epj at 12:15 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
in the late 1990s, I'm pretty sure the only thing that kept me at work most days was the promise that on Friday after work I would go to the weird comic store that had bootleg CDs and treat myself. It didn't always work, but as a Tori Amos fan I found "Under The Covers" a worthwhile investment.
1 Ain't No Sunshine
2 Imagine
3 Sentimental Journey
4 A Case Of You
5 Whole Lotta Love
6 Love Song
7 Home On The Range
8 Famous Blue Raincoat
9 Tuesday Afternoon
10 Angie
11 American Pie
12 Smells Like Teen Spirit
13 Summertime
14 Candle In The Wind
15 Wrapped Around Your Finger
16 With A Little Help From My Friends
17 Landslide
18 I'm On Fire
Likewise, there was "Working Class Hero" with a ton of people covering John Lennon tunes. The Mary Chapin Carpenter "Grow Old with Me" is the canonical version, IMHO.
And somebody has to say it: Here's an ordering of the top 50 "Hallelujah" covers, which is suspicious partly because Leonard Cohen is on the list, and partly because the #1 is John Cale's on "I'm Your Fan"...which is another cover album and this rabbit hole is already kinda deep.
posted by adekllny at 12:46 PM on July 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
1 Ain't No Sunshine
2 Imagine
3 Sentimental Journey
4 A Case Of You
5 Whole Lotta Love
6 Love Song
7 Home On The Range
8 Famous Blue Raincoat
9 Tuesday Afternoon
10 Angie
11 American Pie
12 Smells Like Teen Spirit
13 Summertime
14 Candle In The Wind
15 Wrapped Around Your Finger
16 With A Little Help From My Friends
17 Landslide
18 I'm On Fire
Likewise, there was "Working Class Hero" with a ton of people covering John Lennon tunes. The Mary Chapin Carpenter "Grow Old with Me" is the canonical version, IMHO.
And somebody has to say it: Here's an ordering of the top 50 "Hallelujah" covers, which is suspicious partly because Leonard Cohen is on the list, and partly because the #1 is John Cale's on "I'm Your Fan"...which is another cover album and this rabbit hole is already kinda deep.
posted by adekllny at 12:46 PM on July 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
David Bowie doing Let's Spend the Night Together
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 12:48 PM on July 13, 2022
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 12:48 PM on July 13, 2022
Surprised not to see Cowboy Junkies' "Sweet Jane", the cover Lou Reed surprisingly liked the most, not mentioned yet here.
Low has some great covers of well-known but unexpected songs, including Let's Stay Together, Rihanna's Stay, and the Bee Gees' I Started a Joke.
Robyn Hitchcock has some great ones, in particular The Ghost in You and More Than This.
Nouvelle Vague's whole catalog is this, with special attention to 80s hits like Bizarre Love Triangle. Too many to list, but here's a playlist.
I don't know if Stereolab's Ping Pong is well-known to you, but I was surprised to hear any cover, especially this one by Ted Leo.
I hope you've already stumbled on Emma Swift's Blonde on the Tracks collection of Dylan covers.
posted by carrienation at 12:49 PM on July 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Low has some great covers of well-known but unexpected songs, including Let's Stay Together, Rihanna's Stay, and the Bee Gees' I Started a Joke.
Robyn Hitchcock has some great ones, in particular The Ghost in You and More Than This.
Nouvelle Vague's whole catalog is this, with special attention to 80s hits like Bizarre Love Triangle. Too many to list, but here's a playlist.
I don't know if Stereolab's Ping Pong is well-known to you, but I was surprised to hear any cover, especially this one by Ted Leo.
I hope you've already stumbled on Emma Swift's Blonde on the Tracks collection of Dylan covers.
posted by carrienation at 12:49 PM on July 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
13 years ago St Vincent was doing a cover of "Dig a Pony" at some of her live shows that remains lodged in my brain.
I've never watched The Man In the High Castle but there are some great songs on the covers album from the show (like Beck and Sharon Van Etten).
Whether Daniel Johnston is well-known depends on your circle, but Beach House did a rendition of "Some Things Last A Long Time" that stands on its own.
She & Him have done a few, though they themselves might qualify as too well-known to count?
Kelly Hogan's beautiful covers are some of my faves, though the originals aren't exactly super popular.
Love this question and listening through all these answers!
posted by moonbeam at 12:56 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've never watched The Man In the High Castle but there are some great songs on the covers album from the show (like Beck and Sharon Van Etten).
Whether Daniel Johnston is well-known depends on your circle, but Beach House did a rendition of "Some Things Last A Long Time" that stands on its own.
She & Him have done a few, though they themselves might qualify as too well-known to count?
Kelly Hogan's beautiful covers are some of my faves, though the originals aren't exactly super popular.
Love this question and listening through all these answers!
posted by moonbeam at 12:56 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love Canon does great bluegrass covers of generally 80s and 90s rock classics. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Here's a Russian band that nails Chicago's music. 25 or 6 to 4
posted by emelenjr at 1:05 PM on July 13, 2022
Here's a Russian band that nails Chicago's music. 25 or 6 to 4
posted by emelenjr at 1:05 PM on July 13, 2022
replicants is my fave covers album, especially destination unknown and the bewlay brothers.
mine neil young's bridge school concerts for other covers.
posted by j_curiouser at 1:17 PM on July 13, 2022
mine neil young's bridge school concerts for other covers.
posted by j_curiouser at 1:17 PM on July 13, 2022
Some of my favs…
Lincoln Park — Rolling in the Deep
The Foo Fighters’ tribute to the Bee Gees is really fun as the Dee Gees
Social Distortion’ — Ring of Fire
The Lemonheads — Mrs Robinson
Two of my favorite covers of Beatles songs:
Eddie Vedder - You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Joni Mitchell— For No One
I also love many [not all] of the performances at the White House, Kennedy Center Honors, or Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame.
I especially loved Esperanza Spalding honoring Stevie Wonder with “Overjoyed”
and Dave Grohl honoring Paul McCartney with “Band on the Run”
Both at the Obama White House.
So much to discover from all the answers--thanks for posting!
posted by calgirl at 1:34 PM on July 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Lincoln Park — Rolling in the Deep
The Foo Fighters’ tribute to the Bee Gees is really fun as the Dee Gees
Social Distortion’ — Ring of Fire
The Lemonheads — Mrs Robinson
Two of my favorite covers of Beatles songs:
Eddie Vedder - You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Joni Mitchell— For No One
I also love many [not all] of the performances at the White House, Kennedy Center Honors, or Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame.
I especially loved Esperanza Spalding honoring Stevie Wonder with “Overjoyed”
and Dave Grohl honoring Paul McCartney with “Band on the Run”
Both at the Obama White House.
So much to discover from all the answers--thanks for posting!
posted by calgirl at 1:34 PM on July 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Selo i Ludy are a Ukrainian band who do some super-fun covers involving accordion, balalaika, electric bass, and drums (and they're still livestreaming from a basement in Kharkiv when they can). There's a post about them here.
Here's a Soundcloud link to a whole bunch of their covers, which include Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana), Losing My Religion (R.E.M.), Enter Sandman (Metallica), Poison (Alice Cooper), I Can't Get No Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones), It's My Life (Bon Jovi), You're In The Army (Status Quo), and Yellow Submarine (The Beatles).
They really make "Poison" their own. It's a fantastic cover.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:36 PM on July 13, 2022
Here's a Soundcloud link to a whole bunch of their covers, which include Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana), Losing My Religion (R.E.M.), Enter Sandman (Metallica), Poison (Alice Cooper), I Can't Get No Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones), It's My Life (Bon Jovi), You're In The Army (Status Quo), and Yellow Submarine (The Beatles).
They really make "Poison" their own. It's a fantastic cover.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:36 PM on July 13, 2022
Tindersticks covering Pavement's Here
Sparklehorse covering Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here
Elvis Costello covering The Kinks' Days
Kirsty MacColl covering The Kinks' Days
Nick Cave and Shane MacGowan covering What a Wonderful World
Also Nick Cave: Helpless by Neil Young
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:43 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Sparklehorse covering Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here
Elvis Costello covering The Kinks' Days
Kirsty MacColl covering The Kinks' Days
Nick Cave and Shane MacGowan covering What a Wonderful World
Also Nick Cave: Helpless by Neil Young
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:43 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
I don't watch The Voice but stumbled on contestant Melanie Martinez and her covers are so good! Includes Britney's Toxic and The White Stripes Seven Nation Army. Really unusual arrangements. I'm dying to know if she did the arranging or worked with producers or what.
Toxic (Audition video)
Full studio performances of all songs on YouTube and Spotify.
posted by radioamy at 1:46 PM on July 13, 2022
Toxic (Audition video)
Full studio performances of all songs on YouTube and Spotify.
posted by radioamy at 1:46 PM on July 13, 2022
This is probably stretching the question a bit because I don't know how famous the punk band Seven Seconds ever was, but I loooove Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio)'s cover of Soul to Keep (from his split with Kevin Seconds)
posted by radioamy at 1:48 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by radioamy at 1:48 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
I really dig the Jam's version of the Kinks' "David Watts."
And the Damned's version of the Stooges' "I Feel Alright."
And Poison Idea's version of the Damned's "New Rose."
And Joanna Newsom did a very good cover of Karen Dalton's "Same Old Man."
Scout Niblett's version of Althea and Donna's "Uptown Top Ranking" is good.
I don't care for the Sex Pistols at all but I do kind of enjoy Megadeth's version of "Anarchy in the UK."
I never listen to "Lola" by the Kinks but I do find myself going back to "Lola" by the Raincoats often.
The Mountain Goats covered "Sometimes I Still Feel the Bruise" by Trembling Blue Stars, I don't think either is particularly well known but I think both are great, so I'm adding it here anyway, sorry.
Really like the Breeders' version of "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" by the Beatles. And Pixies version of "Head On" by Jesus and Mary Chain.
Not sure if your playlist has this, but PJ Harvey did Bob some justice on "Highway 61."
Stevie Wonder's cover of the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" is very good.
The excellent band Sloan covered the excellent Jonathan Richman song "Dignified and Old," and it's available on streaming these days.
You said, "In whatever circle you inhabit," and so I'd like to say that I've always enjoyed the Born Against version of X's great song "Riding with Mary."
Mel Tillis wrote a song called "Mental Revenge" which is probably best known as a Linda Ronstadt song and maybe a Hank Jr. song. But by far my favorite is this live version by the Flying Burrito Brothers.
But above all things, I'd like to lift up the Donny Hathaway/Roberta Flack cover of "I Who Have Nothing." It's incredible. I think it's a standard, probably best known as a Ben E. King song and something that shows up at karaoke as a Tom Jones song now and again. But the Donny/Roberta recording is phenomenal.
There is an excellent acoustic cover of the Cure's song "Catch," from maybe 20 years ago, by a woman in the larger indie rock space. I wish I could recommend it here, maybe the hive mind knows. It's not Anna Waronker's version.
posted by kensington314 at 2:08 PM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
And the Damned's version of the Stooges' "I Feel Alright."
And Poison Idea's version of the Damned's "New Rose."
And Joanna Newsom did a very good cover of Karen Dalton's "Same Old Man."
Scout Niblett's version of Althea and Donna's "Uptown Top Ranking" is good.
I don't care for the Sex Pistols at all but I do kind of enjoy Megadeth's version of "Anarchy in the UK."
I never listen to "Lola" by the Kinks but I do find myself going back to "Lola" by the Raincoats often.
The Mountain Goats covered "Sometimes I Still Feel the Bruise" by Trembling Blue Stars, I don't think either is particularly well known but I think both are great, so I'm adding it here anyway, sorry.
Really like the Breeders' version of "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" by the Beatles. And Pixies version of "Head On" by Jesus and Mary Chain.
Not sure if your playlist has this, but PJ Harvey did Bob some justice on "Highway 61."
Stevie Wonder's cover of the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" is very good.
The excellent band Sloan covered the excellent Jonathan Richman song "Dignified and Old," and it's available on streaming these days.
You said, "In whatever circle you inhabit," and so I'd like to say that I've always enjoyed the Born Against version of X's great song "Riding with Mary."
Mel Tillis wrote a song called "Mental Revenge" which is probably best known as a Linda Ronstadt song and maybe a Hank Jr. song. But by far my favorite is this live version by the Flying Burrito Brothers.
But above all things, I'd like to lift up the Donny Hathaway/Roberta Flack cover of "I Who Have Nothing." It's incredible. I think it's a standard, probably best known as a Ben E. King song and something that shows up at karaoke as a Tom Jones song now and again. But the Donny/Roberta recording is phenomenal.
There is an excellent acoustic cover of the Cure's song "Catch," from maybe 20 years ago, by a woman in the larger indie rock space. I wish I could recommend it here, maybe the hive mind knows. It's not Anna Waronker's version.
posted by kensington314 at 2:08 PM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Angelique Kidjo with an African band covering Talking Heads' whole album Remain In Light,
including Once In a Lifetime and all the rest.
posted by JonJacky at 2:45 PM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
including Once In a Lifetime and all the rest.
posted by JonJacky at 2:45 PM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Maybe not that obscure, but I love Aretha Franklin's cover of The Weight by The Band.
In another vein Red, Hot & Blue is an amazing album of Cole Porter covers by the likes of Iggy Pop, Neneh Cherry, Sinead O'Connor and others
posted by brookeb at 3:29 PM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
In another vein Red, Hot & Blue is an amazing album of Cole Porter covers by the likes of Iggy Pop, Neneh Cherry, Sinead O'Connor and others
posted by brookeb at 3:29 PM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Lowen & Navarro doing Into the Mystic, the first track on their album Hogging the Covers. Wait for the harmony.
posted by jocelmeow at 4:07 PM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by jocelmeow at 4:07 PM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
If I Were A Carpenter (Carpenters tribute album) is just great. My personal favorite is Shonen Knife's cover of Top of the World, but the whole thing is gold. Also seconding "Red Hot & Blue."
posted by cyndigo at 4:09 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by cyndigo at 4:09 PM on July 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
"Joy of my Life" by Chris Stapleton. I think it's sexier than John Fogerty's original.
"Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts: by Joan Baez. I was given this album by my absent father when I was 12. I'd never heard of Joan Baez at that time - it's still my all time favorite. I've always preferred her version of this song to Dylan's.
"Sound of Silence" by Disturbed. THis one I really really love.
posted by annieb at 4:29 PM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
"Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts: by Joan Baez. I was given this album by my absent father when I was 12. I'd never heard of Joan Baez at that time - it's still my all time favorite. I've always preferred her version of this song to Dylan's.
"Sound of Silence" by Disturbed. THis one I really really love.
posted by annieb at 4:29 PM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
I also love many [not all] of the performances at the White House, Kennedy Center Honors, or Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame.
Heart's performance of Stairway to Heaven at the Kennedy Center Honors tribute to Led Zepplin still stands out as one of the best covers.
posted by fuse theorem at 5:34 PM on July 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
Heart's performance of Stairway to Heaven at the Kennedy Center Honors tribute to Led Zepplin still stands out as one of the best covers.
posted by fuse theorem at 5:34 PM on July 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
Wow so much amazing stuff here. To add one to the huge pile, I love Amason’s haunting, shimmery version of “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner (the video is cool too).
posted by lovableiago at 6:06 PM on July 13, 2022
posted by lovableiago at 6:06 PM on July 13, 2022
Front Line Assembly's cover of Madonna's "Justify My Love" appears on Virgin Voices Volume 1. That album (along with Volume 2) is a compilation of industrial/electronic/house covers of Madonna songs. It includes:
KMFDM - Material Girl
Spahn Ranch - Swim
...and many more!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:25 PM on July 13, 2022
KMFDM - Material Girl
Spahn Ranch - Swim
...and many more!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:25 PM on July 13, 2022
I like Daisy Clark's cover of Complicated.
Also the great piano covers by Peter Buka of Dance Monkey, Spider-Man No Way Home, Perfect and Believer. Plus the Buka family cover of "Hallelujah".
Megan Davies cover of "Time After Time".
Austin Brown cover of "Unchained Melody".
posted by forthright at 6:48 PM on July 13, 2022
Also the great piano covers by Peter Buka of Dance Monkey, Spider-Man No Way Home, Perfect and Believer. Plus the Buka family cover of "Hallelujah".
Megan Davies cover of "Time After Time".
Austin Brown cover of "Unchained Melody".
posted by forthright at 6:48 PM on July 13, 2022
A few of my favorites.
Patti Smith, Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears)
This Mortal Coil, Mr. Somewhere (The Apartments)
The Chameleons, Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles)
posted by perhapses at 7:07 PM on July 13, 2022
Patti Smith, Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears)
This Mortal Coil, Mr. Somewhere (The Apartments)
The Chameleons, Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles)
posted by perhapses at 7:07 PM on July 13, 2022
Triple J Radio has a ton of in studio sessions called like a version on youtube.
Arctic Monkeys cover Tame Impala 'Feels Like We Only Go Backwards'
AURORA covers Massive Attack 'Teardrop' for Like A Version
Petit Biscuit covers Phoenix '1901' for Like A Version
posted by ljesse at 7:34 PM on July 13, 2022
Arctic Monkeys cover Tame Impala 'Feels Like We Only Go Backwards'
AURORA covers Massive Attack 'Teardrop' for Like A Version
Petit Biscuit covers Phoenix '1901' for Like A Version
posted by ljesse at 7:34 PM on July 13, 2022
I love a good cover version of a song. Just came across this one this evening -
Travis Yee covering / reinterpreting the theme to Fresh Prince of Bel Air to the tune of Wagon Wheel
REM's cover of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" (as Bingo Hand Job)
The KLF's straight-up cover of "Born Free"
The Gourds' folk cover of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice"
Erasure did both their Abba-esque EP and a full album called "Other People's Songs"
Don't know if it's well known, but Lil Nas X's cover of "Jolene" is stunning.
Moxy Fruvous' cover of "Psycho Killer"
Bigod20's cover of "Like a Prayer"
The Regrettes cover of "Helpless" from Hamilton
Seaweed's cover of "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac
and I'll close with Lindzey Rae's cover of "Take On Me"
posted by neilbert at 8:36 PM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Travis Yee covering / reinterpreting the theme to Fresh Prince of Bel Air to the tune of Wagon Wheel
REM's cover of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" (as Bingo Hand Job)
The KLF's straight-up cover of "Born Free"
The Gourds' folk cover of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice"
Erasure did both their Abba-esque EP and a full album called "Other People's Songs"
Don't know if it's well known, but Lil Nas X's cover of "Jolene" is stunning.
Moxy Fruvous' cover of "Psycho Killer"
Bigod20's cover of "Like a Prayer"
The Regrettes cover of "Helpless" from Hamilton
Seaweed's cover of "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac
and I'll close with Lindzey Rae's cover of "Take On Me"
posted by neilbert at 8:36 PM on July 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Etta James’ cover of The Eagles “Take It To The Limit- Live from San Francisco”will blow you away. Everyone I’ve played it for has demanded I send them the mp3.
(Sorry for the huge link text, my phone is being obstinate tonight.)
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:48 PM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
(Sorry for the huge link text, my phone is being obstinate tonight.)
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:48 PM on July 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
There are whole websites and podcasts devoted to this kind of thing -- haven't listened to Coverville in a while but it was my access point for quite a few of the songs above.
The various Dylan references plus the Robyn Hitchcock reference above combined in my mind to make me search out his cover of Dylan's Open the Door Homer -- this version I'm pretty sure is from his Mountain Stage set in the early 90s but I believe it's on and off part of his live repertoire too.
posted by sesquipedalia at 9:15 PM on July 13, 2022
The various Dylan references plus the Robyn Hitchcock reference above combined in my mind to make me search out his cover of Dylan's Open the Door Homer -- this version I'm pretty sure is from his Mountain Stage set in the early 90s but I believe it's on and off part of his live repertoire too.
posted by sesquipedalia at 9:15 PM on July 13, 2022
I have a lot of these but can't do a nice big post of them until sunday. Here is a quick blast:
Nomeansno covering Joy Division live (Radio Transmission).
Jawbreaker covering REM (Pretty Persuasion).
posted by vrakatar at 10:27 PM on July 13, 2022
Nomeansno covering Joy Division live (Radio Transmission).
Jawbreaker covering REM (Pretty Persuasion).
posted by vrakatar at 10:27 PM on July 13, 2022
Since these haven't been mentioned yet...
The Staves - I'm On Fire
The Wailin Jennys - Loves Me Like a Rock
I'm With Her - Hannah Hunt
posted by telegraph at 4:08 AM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Staves - I'm On Fire
The Wailin Jennys - Loves Me Like a Rock
I'm With Her - Hannah Hunt
posted by telegraph at 4:08 AM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oh my goodness. Joni Mitchell, at age 19, performing House of the Rising Sun
posted by dmd at 5:23 AM on July 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by dmd at 5:23 AM on July 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Sun Kil Moon’s album Tiny Cities is all acoustic Modest Mouse covers. I love this album.
Many other greats above.
I’d add the Head Over Heels cover by Japanese Breakfast which caught my ear sometime in 2020 and made me really emotional, and I listened to it maybe 10 times straight.
posted by glaucon at 9:45 AM on July 14, 2022
Many other greats above.
I’d add the Head Over Heels cover by Japanese Breakfast which caught my ear sometime in 2020 and made me really emotional, and I listened to it maybe 10 times straight.
posted by glaucon at 9:45 AM on July 14, 2022
Wye Oak--Strangers
Gillian Welch--Black Star
(Real talk: That Gillian Welch cover is my all-time favorite Radiohead cover)
posted by thivaia at 10:39 AM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Gillian Welch--Black Star
(Real talk: That Gillian Welch cover is my all-time favorite Radiohead cover)
posted by thivaia at 10:39 AM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Sadly, no studio version of this, but I saw Melissa Etheridge do this cover of You Shook Me All Night Long on the tour this bootleg video comes from and it justifiably brought the house down.
posted by jocelmeow at 11:43 AM on July 14, 2022
posted by jocelmeow at 11:43 AM on July 14, 2022
Oh, keeping with the AC/DC theme, how could I forget Rick Astley doing Highway to Hell?
posted by jocelmeow at 11:45 AM on July 14, 2022
posted by jocelmeow at 11:45 AM on July 14, 2022
More Rick Astley: You'd expect him to do Bill Withers' Ain't No Sunshine well, of course, but his cover of abcdefu is better than it has a right to be.
Not quite a cover: Sub-Radio's bending of "Stacy's Mom" into Stacy's Dad is completely charming.
posted by jocelmeow at 11:53 AM on July 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
Not quite a cover: Sub-Radio's bending of "Stacy's Mom" into Stacy's Dad is completely charming.
posted by jocelmeow at 11:53 AM on July 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
I live in Bob Dylan's birthplace, Duluth MN. We (Duluth and Bob Dylan) have a complicated relationship, but we also have a wonderful music scene that has created some amazing recordings of Dylan's songs. They are, yes, obscure, but really ... give em a listen. They include our hometown kids Low, Trampled by Turtles, Charlie Parr and Cloud Cult.
posted by RedEmma at 12:08 PM on July 14, 2022
posted by RedEmma at 12:08 PM on July 14, 2022
Or, in the other direction, Dylan has recorded some covers of his own: 'Paths of Victory' (Odetta), 'Who Killed Davey Moore?' (Pete Seeger), 'Farewell Angelina' (Joan Baez), 'With God on Our Side' (Joan Baez again, dang) are some of my favorites.
posted by box at 12:52 PM on July 14, 2022
posted by box at 12:52 PM on July 14, 2022
Swedish speed-metal guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen does a great cover of ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!".
I also love the cover of "Don't Fear the Reaper" (originally by Blue Öyster Cult) by The Beautiful South.
posted by alex1965 at 1:15 PM on July 14, 2022
I also love the cover of "Don't Fear the Reaper" (originally by Blue Öyster Cult) by The Beautiful South.
posted by alex1965 at 1:15 PM on July 14, 2022
Response by poster: You all are amazing. This is AMAZING. I am listening and working on a playlist and it is bring me a hell of a lot of joy. Thank you.
posted by jeszac at 1:47 PM on July 14, 2022
posted by jeszac at 1:47 PM on July 14, 2022
Kevin Morby & Waxahatchee with a beautiful cover of Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe"
Spoek Mathambo with a cover, and stunning video, of Joy Division's "She's Lost Control"
posted by maupuia at 2:09 PM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Spoek Mathambo with a cover, and stunning video, of Joy Division's "She's Lost Control"
posted by maupuia at 2:09 PM on July 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
There's quite a lot of recordings of Dylan covering Elvis songs, but Elvis covered Dylan too (including Tomorrow is a long time, Don't Think Twice, and see especially I Shall Be Released).
Unrelated, here's Schnieder™ & Kptmichigan covering The Smith's 'There Is a Light That Will Never Go Out', The Light 3000, and it's rather perfect and also means you get to enjoy the song without having to listen to Morrissey.
posted by Joeruckus at 2:25 PM on July 14, 2022
Unrelated, here's Schnieder™ & Kptmichigan covering The Smith's 'There Is a Light That Will Never Go Out', The Light 3000, and it's rather perfect and also means you get to enjoy the song without having to listen to Morrissey.
posted by Joeruckus at 2:25 PM on July 14, 2022
German country band The BossHoss covering Nelly's Hot in Herre
posted by jedicus at 10:29 AM on July 15, 2022
posted by jedicus at 10:29 AM on July 15, 2022
Maxence Cyrin - Where is my mind? (The Pixies) piano cover
posted by Acey at 10:31 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Acey at 10:31 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Paola - Rainbow in the Dark
Big Blood - She sells sanctuary
Big Blood - Our Love Will Still Be There
Les Reines Prochaines - Wicked Game
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:34 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Big Blood - She sells sanctuary
Big Blood - Our Love Will Still Be There
Les Reines Prochaines - Wicked Game
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:34 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
how could I forget Rick Astley doing Highway to Hell?
...
More Rick Astley: You'd expect him to do Bill Withers' Ain't No Sunshine well, of course, but his cover of abcdefu is better than it has a right to be.
And still more Rick Astley (sort of) - The Foo Fighters were at a music festival in Japan, and Rick was there too, so the Foos brought him out to sing lead on their cover of Never Gonna Give You Up.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:36 AM on July 15, 2022
...
More Rick Astley: You'd expect him to do Bill Withers' Ain't No Sunshine well, of course, but his cover of abcdefu is better than it has a right to be.
And still more Rick Astley (sort of) - The Foo Fighters were at a music festival in Japan, and Rick was there too, so the Foos brought him out to sing lead on their cover of Never Gonna Give You Up.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:36 AM on July 15, 2022
Oh, and how could I forget?
Gnarls Barkley - Reckoner (Radiohead)
posted by Acey at 10:38 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Gnarls Barkley - Reckoner (Radiohead)
posted by Acey at 10:38 AM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Devo’s cover of Satisfaction has long ago replaced the original for me.
Not to mention the one by The Residents: I Can't Get No Satisfaction
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:19 AM on July 15, 2022
Not to mention the one by The Residents: I Can't Get No Satisfaction
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:19 AM on July 15, 2022
I like Sharon van Etten's piano cover of Bruce Springsteen's Drive All Night.
Calico's dreamy version of Idioteque is a trip.
When it comes to Dylan covers, I don't think the world has enough. Glad to see other folks already mentioned The Brothers & Sisters' "Dylan's Gospel" and Mary Lee's Corvette. See also Jimmy LaFave's kinda country You're A Big Girl Now.
posted by daveliepmann at 11:38 AM on July 15, 2022
Calico's dreamy version of Idioteque is a trip.
When it comes to Dylan covers, I don't think the world has enough. Glad to see other folks already mentioned The Brothers & Sisters' "Dylan's Gospel" and Mary Lee's Corvette. See also Jimmy LaFave's kinda country You're A Big Girl Now.
posted by daveliepmann at 11:38 AM on July 15, 2022
Get your silly grins ready: SAHB sing Delilah. (Oh. Times change: TW for tragi-comedy violence.)
posted by StephenB at 12:05 PM on July 15, 2022
posted by StephenB at 12:05 PM on July 15, 2022
Another Dylan cover - Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny singing If You Gotta Go, Go Now - in French! - Si Tu Dois Partir
posted by JonJacky at 12:57 PM on July 15, 2022
posted by JonJacky at 12:57 PM on July 15, 2022
Linda Jones' version of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's Your Precious Love
posted by aesop at 1:32 PM on July 15, 2022
posted by aesop at 1:32 PM on July 15, 2022
Erykah Badu and D'Angelo's version is a sentimental favorite.
posted by box at 2:00 PM on July 15, 2022
posted by box at 2:00 PM on July 15, 2022
The Flying Lizards, "Money."
I love "I Put a Spell on You," and the Natacha Atlas and Marilyn Manson versions are both fun.
Grace Jones doing "Use Me" by Bill Withers.
More Dylan: Emmylou Harris doing "When I Paint My Masterpiece" and Beck doing "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat."
More Grateful Dead, from Burning Spear doing an amazing reggae version of "Estimated Prophet."
Tricky doing Public Enemy's "Black Steel" ("in the Hour of Chaos").
And my favorite cover of all time, Joan Jett's blistering take on the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog."
posted by vitia at 2:11 PM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
I love "I Put a Spell on You," and the Natacha Atlas and Marilyn Manson versions are both fun.
Grace Jones doing "Use Me" by Bill Withers.
More Dylan: Emmylou Harris doing "When I Paint My Masterpiece" and Beck doing "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat."
More Grateful Dead, from Burning Spear doing an amazing reggae version of "Estimated Prophet."
Tricky doing Public Enemy's "Black Steel" ("in the Hour of Chaos").
And my favorite cover of all time, Joan Jett's blistering take on the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog."
posted by vitia at 2:11 PM on July 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
In my original answer I forgot to include Jack Vidgen's powerful cover of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" for your consideration. Also Susan Boyle's cover of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables.
And to push my luck, David Phelps "cover" (live performance) of Nessun Dorma.
posted by forthright at 3:50 PM on July 15, 2022
And to push my luck, David Phelps "cover" (live performance) of Nessun Dorma.
posted by forthright at 3:50 PM on July 15, 2022
Dave Mathews DMB does many covers live. Speaking of Peter Gabriel, I love the Sledgehammer version of Peter Gabriel's song. DMB Sledgehammer
Here is a list of all the DMB covers
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:54 AM on July 13
I love the Peter Grabriel version too but this is fantastic. That's some classic Dave dancing there too!
posted by bluesky43 at 4:23 PM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Here is a list of all the DMB covers
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:54 AM on July 13
I love the Peter Grabriel version too but this is fantastic. That's some classic Dave dancing there too!
posted by bluesky43 at 4:23 PM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Geez, there's a lot of good stuff in here.
Lemme add: The Afghan Whigs covering TLC's Creep.
posted by mhoye at 5:01 PM on July 15, 2022
Lemme add: The Afghan Whigs covering TLC's Creep.
posted by mhoye at 5:01 PM on July 15, 2022
Someone's already mentioned the Cardigans doing Iron Man, so instead I'll post another one of their other Black Sabbath covers, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.
The Lucksmiths do an amazing duet version of There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.
Ivy has an album of covers called Guestroom that contains a great version of the Blow Monkeys' Digging Your Scene.
Finally, the Japanese math rock band tricot do a glorious, time signature-shifting cover of Belle from the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. If you're only going to listen to one of my picks this is the one.
posted by chrominance at 5:36 PM on July 15, 2022
The Lucksmiths do an amazing duet version of There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.
Ivy has an album of covers called Guestroom that contains a great version of the Blow Monkeys' Digging Your Scene.
Finally, the Japanese math rock band tricot do a glorious, time signature-shifting cover of Belle from the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. If you're only going to listen to one of my picks this is the one.
posted by chrominance at 5:36 PM on July 15, 2022
Johnny Cash covering Nick Lowe: The Beast In Me
If memory serves, Lowe wrote the song for Cash, and only after writing it did it occur to him "Wait just a minute -- I wrote this for Johnny Cash? Who do I think I am?"
Both are excellent; I favor the Nick Lowe version, probably only because I heard it first, on the record The Impossible Bird. Which is also great.
posted by dancestoblue at 7:54 PM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
If memory serves, Lowe wrote the song for Cash, and only after writing it did it occur to him "Wait just a minute -- I wrote this for Johnny Cash? Who do I think I am?"
Both are excellent; I favor the Nick Lowe version, probably only because I heard it first, on the record The Impossible Bird. Which is also great.
posted by dancestoblue at 7:54 PM on July 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Another Metafilter post introduced me to Everyone But The Girl's version of Simon and Garfunkel's The Only Living Boy in New York
First Aid Kit covering Paul Simon's America
First Aid Kit also did an incredible cover of Kate Bush's Running Up that Hill before its Stranger Things comeback
Girlyman covers Cyndi Lauper All Through the Night
Bon Iver covers Linda Rhondstat I Can't Make You Love Me
Aimee Mann covers Coldplay The Scientist
Check out the YouTube channel Postmodern Jukebox - here is a soul cover of the Cranberries Zombie that is stunning
Brandi Carlile covers Black Hole Sun
Darlingside covers Smashing Pumpkins 1979
Lily Allen covers Somewhere Only We Know by Keane
Sleeping at Last does a lot of ethereal acoustic versions of radio hits - here's I'm Gonna be 500 Miles by the Proclaimers
I don't think anyone mentioned Weezer covering Toto's Africa but they also do Rosanna which I love more
Finally, Phantogram does Phil Collins Take Me Home
posted by wannabecounselor at 12:05 AM on July 16, 2022
First Aid Kit covering Paul Simon's America
First Aid Kit also did an incredible cover of Kate Bush's Running Up that Hill before its Stranger Things comeback
Girlyman covers Cyndi Lauper All Through the Night
Bon Iver covers Linda Rhondstat I Can't Make You Love Me
Aimee Mann covers Coldplay The Scientist
Check out the YouTube channel Postmodern Jukebox - here is a soul cover of the Cranberries Zombie that is stunning
Brandi Carlile covers Black Hole Sun
Darlingside covers Smashing Pumpkins 1979
Lily Allen covers Somewhere Only We Know by Keane
Sleeping at Last does a lot of ethereal acoustic versions of radio hits - here's I'm Gonna be 500 Miles by the Proclaimers
I don't think anyone mentioned Weezer covering Toto's Africa but they also do Rosanna which I love more
Finally, Phantogram does Phil Collins Take Me Home
posted by wannabecounselor at 12:05 AM on July 16, 2022
Pony Face's spooky cover of You're the One That I Want from Grease
Aboriginal Australian country group Warumpi Band doing Dead Flowers by the Stones
Eddie Hazel doing California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas
This was very popular at the time but I never hear it anymore and it's still outrageous: Scissor Sisters, Comfortably Numb
posted by happyfrog at 3:23 AM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Aboriginal Australian country group Warumpi Band doing Dead Flowers by the Stones
Eddie Hazel doing California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas
This was very popular at the time but I never hear it anymore and it's still outrageous: Scissor Sisters, Comfortably Numb
posted by happyfrog at 3:23 AM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oh and the Flying Lizards again but this time doing James Brown's Sex Machine, it's weirrrrrrd
posted by happyfrog at 3:26 AM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by happyfrog at 3:26 AM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Six Months In a Leaky Boat by Ted Leo.
(Pedantic muso note: "True Love Travels On A Gravel Road" is Duane Dee cover.)
posted by donpardo at 8:32 AM on July 16, 2022
(Pedantic muso note: "True Love Travels On A Gravel Road" is Duane Dee cover.)
posted by donpardo at 8:32 AM on July 16, 2022
And Joan Jett's version of the Mary Tyler Moore Show theme ("Love Is All Around") rocks joyfully more than one might expect.
posted by vitia at 9:35 AM on July 16, 2022
posted by vitia at 9:35 AM on July 16, 2022
Sinead O'Connor: Gloomy Sunday
The Sun Ra Arkestra: Pink Elephants on Parade
Fatoumata Diawara: Sinnerman
Fever Ray: Mercy Street
posted by droomoord at 11:08 AM on July 16, 2022
The Sun Ra Arkestra: Pink Elephants on Parade
Fatoumata Diawara: Sinnerman
Fever Ray: Mercy Street
posted by droomoord at 11:08 AM on July 16, 2022
Tori Amos did a great, super bleak version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 12:59 PM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 12:59 PM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Nina Gordon covering Straight Outta Compton
posted by janepanic at 2:01 PM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by janepanic at 2:01 PM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Cassandra Wilson's version of Love is Blindness, from her album of covers New Moon Daughter, is utterly haunting.
I just came across Sleepy Sun's intense version of The Chain the other day. Man.
posted by gottabefunky at 4:05 PM on July 16, 2022
I just came across Sleepy Sun's intense version of The Chain the other day. Man.
posted by gottabefunky at 4:05 PM on July 16, 2022
I dunno how widely known Charli CXC is tbh, but Wolf Alice’s cover of her song Boys (with a nod to The Cure’s Boys Don’t Cry) is dreamy summer fun.
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 5:39 PM on July 16, 2022
posted by EXISTENZ IS PAUSED at 5:39 PM on July 16, 2022
I was so convinced that I heard this cover of Running Up That Hill in this season of Stranger Things I had to go back and watch bits over again and check the credits to make sure they hadn't snuck it in somewhere. I think it's because I never really understood all the words in the original but I can actually sing along to this one.
I can't convince many people to like David Bay's dance-y Love Will Tear Us Apart, maybe somebody else here will like it?
I went to see Danz (née Computer Magic) really hoping she would do her cover of Self Control. She did! A whole room full of people liked it, so I'm less worried there are no other fans.
I think part of the problem is that it's hard to like a cover of an original you really love, which is the kind of thing that happens when you first hear Poolclvb cover Shooting Stars by Bag Raiders, especially if you have been listening to the original, but then what happens to me is that I find myself humming bits out of the cover version and I realize there is something in it that adds a bit to the original.
I suppose that's why I sometimes I think I like covers that sound pretty close to the original, like Lucy Dacus doing Dancing in the Dark, but then there are covers like Moqita doing Boys Don't Cry that I have to admit are exceptions.
And in further evidence that the kids are not all right, my teenage darling daughter got what I thought was the best music assignment of all time, which was to find a song, and a cover, and do a compare and contrast! She was complaining so much I thought she must have picked some really terrible music, but then she was starting with Arctic Monkeys' Do I Wanna Know, as rendered by Chvrches. How bleak must adolescence be if this isn't the kind of assignment that gets you going?
posted by pulposus at 1:42 PM on July 17, 2022
I can't convince many people to like David Bay's dance-y Love Will Tear Us Apart, maybe somebody else here will like it?
I went to see Danz (née Computer Magic) really hoping she would do her cover of Self Control. She did! A whole room full of people liked it, so I'm less worried there are no other fans.
I think part of the problem is that it's hard to like a cover of an original you really love, which is the kind of thing that happens when you first hear Poolclvb cover Shooting Stars by Bag Raiders, especially if you have been listening to the original, but then what happens to me is that I find myself humming bits out of the cover version and I realize there is something in it that adds a bit to the original.
I suppose that's why I sometimes I think I like covers that sound pretty close to the original, like Lucy Dacus doing Dancing in the Dark, but then there are covers like Moqita doing Boys Don't Cry that I have to admit are exceptions.
And in further evidence that the kids are not all right, my teenage darling daughter got what I thought was the best music assignment of all time, which was to find a song, and a cover, and do a compare and contrast! She was complaining so much I thought she must have picked some really terrible music, but then she was starting with Arctic Monkeys' Do I Wanna Know, as rendered by Chvrches. How bleak must adolescence be if this isn't the kind of assignment that gets you going?
posted by pulposus at 1:42 PM on July 17, 2022
Emilie-Claire Barlow has a bunch of tasty covers. Some of my favorites include:
posted by TwoToneRow at 4:37 PM on July 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
- Ces bottes sont faites pour marcher (These Boots are Made for Walkin'
- The Beat Goes On
- La Belle Dame Sans Regret
- Don't Think Twice It's Allright
- Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head*
posted by TwoToneRow at 4:37 PM on July 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Mountain Goats' cover of The Sign by Ace of Bass (their live versions are the best but it was also put out on a compilation album). It has about 1/1000th the number of plays as the original on Spotify.
Lemonheads' cover of Linda Ronstadt's version of Different Drum (which isn't the original but is the most well-known version), which has 1/25th the plays of Linda's version.
The Chills doing Neil Diamond's Solitary Man.
Straitjacket Fits doing Leonard Cohen's So Long Marianne.
posted by Pink Frost at 5:20 PM on July 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
Lemonheads' cover of Linda Ronstadt's version of Different Drum (which isn't the original but is the most well-known version), which has 1/25th the plays of Linda's version.
The Chills doing Neil Diamond's Solitary Man.
Straitjacket Fits doing Leonard Cohen's So Long Marianne.
posted by Pink Frost at 5:20 PM on July 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
And I don't think anyone has mentioned Who Sampled, which lists connections between songs, including covers. So for example it tells me about a cover of the song I take my username from (one I'd never heard of even though I have several albums by the covering band).
posted by Pink Frost at 5:24 PM on July 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Pink Frost at 5:24 PM on July 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
Chris Cornell's take on Billie Jean is pretty terrific. Audio only, sadly.
posted by elected_potato at 6:35 PM on July 17, 2022
posted by elected_potato at 6:35 PM on July 17, 2022
Wrecking Ball, as covered by Sarah Blackwood of Walk Off The Earth, Jenni Pleau of Trouble and Daughter, and Emily Bones of The Anti-Queens.
posted by clawsoon at 1:01 PM on July 19, 2022
posted by clawsoon at 1:01 PM on July 19, 2022
I have an ironic one: I prefer some of Kris Kristofferson's versions of his own songs, though it was other artists who made them famous:
For the Good Times: Ray Price made it famous; Kristofferson's version.
Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down: Johnny Cash made it famous; Kristofferson's version.
posted by clawsoon at 9:01 AM on July 20, 2022
For the Good Times: Ray Price made it famous; Kristofferson's version.
Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down: Johnny Cash made it famous; Kristofferson's version.
posted by clawsoon at 9:01 AM on July 20, 2022
Nina Simone covering L.Cohen's Suzanne is a masterwork and my trump card in the argument over who was a better songwriter, Leonard Cohen or that guy who won that big prize. Her arrangement is brilliant _obviously_ but it's built on an absolute mountain of a song.
The whole album, To Love Somebody is Nina Simone doing covers and they are all exceptional.
But this one is exquisite.
posted by From Bklyn at 8:10 PM on July 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
The whole album, To Love Somebody is Nina Simone doing covers and they are all exceptional.
But this one is exquisite.
posted by From Bklyn at 8:10 PM on July 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
to think
i killed a cat
Sid Vicious My Way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDyb_alTkMQ
also Cowboy Junkies Walkin After Midnight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg6Uw2cGhQE
Thomas Dolbyʻs cover of Dan Hicksʻs I Scare Myself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXW3LjPsFM8
posted by Droll Lord at 1:33 AM on July 21, 2022
i killed a cat
Sid Vicious My Way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDyb_alTkMQ
also Cowboy Junkies Walkin After Midnight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg6Uw2cGhQE
Thomas Dolbyʻs cover of Dan Hicksʻs I Scare Myself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXW3LjPsFM8
posted by Droll Lord at 1:33 AM on July 21, 2022
Heart famously covered a number of Led Zeppelin songs, often ending their concerts with Rock and Roll.
In a similar vein, Frank Zappa heard a European fan (in Helsinki as recorded in the YCDTOSA series, and other places as well according to Dweezil) scream out a request for Whippin’ Post. He and the band weren’t prepared, but he quickly added it to his repertoire and it was often the final song of his concerts.
posted by TedW at 11:16 AM on July 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
In a similar vein, Frank Zappa heard a European fan (in Helsinki as recorded in the YCDTOSA series, and other places as well according to Dweezil) scream out a request for Whippin’ Post. He and the band weren’t prepared, but he quickly added it to his repertoire and it was often the final song of his concerts.
posted by TedW at 11:16 AM on July 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Both from George Martin's 1998 In My Life album:
• I Am the Walrus with vocals by Jim Carrey.
• Here, There and Everywhere with vocals by Celine Dion.
posted by bz at 12:17 PM on July 25, 2022
• I Am the Walrus with vocals by Jim Carrey.
• Here, There and Everywhere with vocals by Celine Dion.
posted by bz at 12:17 PM on July 25, 2022
Oh! And Lang Lang's incredible rendition of Chopin's Polonaise in A Flat Op 53.
posted by bz at 12:20 PM on July 25, 2022
posted by bz at 12:20 PM on July 25, 2022
Shortly after Warren Zevon's death, someone organized a tribute album with a bunch of people doing Warren Zevon covers. They got Adam Sandler to do Werewolves of London, and blessedly he stayed pretty faithful.
George Martin's 1998 In My Life album
Oh, this explains why I saw a clip of Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin doing a cover of Come Together.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:48 AM on August 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
George Martin's 1998 In My Life album
Oh, this explains why I saw a clip of Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin doing a cover of Come Together.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:48 AM on August 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Feist does a pretty job of capturing Leonard Cohen's Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye.
My half-baked theory is that if you want to be covered by a whole bunch of great artists, be a great poet with an... uh... unconventional singing voice, in the style of Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen.
posted by clawsoon at 11:30 AM on August 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
My half-baked theory is that if you want to be covered by a whole bunch of great artists, be a great poet with an... uh... unconventional singing voice, in the style of Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen.
posted by clawsoon at 11:30 AM on August 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have more:
My half-baked theory is that if you want to be covered by a whole bunch of great artists, be a great poet with an... uh... unconventional singing voice, in the style of Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen.
Or Tom Waits.
Other covers:
One of Great Big Sea's first big hits was a cover of Slade's song "Run Runaway". Later they did a cover of REM's "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" in which they actually play faster than REM, to the point that their cover is a full minute shorter than the original.
And since things are getting Irish-tinged - there is an Irish ballad called "On Raglan Road" that gets covered a lot - however, most times people give it a treatment like this one, from Van Morrison and the Chieftains; slow and sad, but also kind of mawkishly sentimental, the kind of thing you hear Irish bars in small towns play on St. Patrick's Day or you hear on PBS pledge drives sung by the team behind Celtic Women or whatever.
But....then there's Glen Hansard's cover. People, it gave me chills.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:30 AM on February 23, 2023
My half-baked theory is that if you want to be covered by a whole bunch of great artists, be a great poet with an... uh... unconventional singing voice, in the style of Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen.
Or Tom Waits.
Other covers:
One of Great Big Sea's first big hits was a cover of Slade's song "Run Runaway". Later they did a cover of REM's "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" in which they actually play faster than REM, to the point that their cover is a full minute shorter than the original.
And since things are getting Irish-tinged - there is an Irish ballad called "On Raglan Road" that gets covered a lot - however, most times people give it a treatment like this one, from Van Morrison and the Chieftains; slow and sad, but also kind of mawkishly sentimental, the kind of thing you hear Irish bars in small towns play on St. Patrick's Day or you hear on PBS pledge drives sung by the team behind Celtic Women or whatever.
But....then there's Glen Hansard's cover. People, it gave me chills.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:30 AM on February 23, 2023
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Tainted Love is a cover of the much better original by Gloria Jones.
Slightly not what you asked for but Marvin Gaye's Wie Schon Das Ist and The Supreme's Baby, Baby, Wo Ist Unsere Liebe should absolutely be played in preference to the originals at all opportunities.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:43 AM on July 13, 2022 [4 favorites]